Bay of Islands
fishing report
October 7, 2021
We’re still really waiting for the spring weather to settle into its rhythm, and recently it’s still been pretty blowy. When it occasionally is good enough to get out there, the fishing is on fire with good fish being caught shallow and out wide. The middle ground in towards Tapeka Point, either drifting with a live bait or soft baiting, has been producing some healthy fish with the odd male starting to milk.
It could be an early start to our annual scouts (a few pioneering males) coming in.
On the kingfish side, there are large schools of anchovies in the middle ground with kingfish with them.
Every now and then, I find if the common dolphins are with the bait, the kingfish are there in large numbers. Without the dolphin we’ve found there a fewer kings around.
Sometimes the reefs around the 50 metre contour line can hold lots of fish, but the sharks are still a problem, so getting the fish up in a hurry is often the only way of landing a tax-free unit.
At the moment, it can be hard finding fish out in the deep.
There have been some good puka and bass on the banks of the Cavalli Islands, and further out, the guys have been getting onto some great blue dogs (blue nose).
Over the next few weeks, we should begin to see schools of fish starting to move into the bay in preparation for the spawning season, so hit the reefs like Whale Rock, and under the bait schools in the middle ground there are some nice fish starting to turn up.
If you’re looking for the bait schools, try over towards Kemp Passage and on the inside of Roberton Island.
Be safe, have fun, and don't forget to let someone know your plans or time you intend to be back!
Darren
https://www.fishingdaysout.co.nz/
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