Bay of Plenty

fishing report

March 6, 2020

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Sunday looks to be a pearla of an opportunity to get out fishing, but thankfully we are getting a few settled spells making life good while the last few weeks of summer are still in full swing. The harbour is still fishing very well for nice pan sized snapper, the most popular method still being a long running trace with a 6 – 12 oz ball sinker getting the business down into the current.

Best places are Omokoroa Channel, and the Te Puna channel where the river comes in, and around Motuhoa Island.

Also the channel between Motuhoa and Rangiwaea Island can be good. The idea is to fish the banks trying to find where the fish are holding or coming up to feed, and running a berley trail down the channel if you are shallow enough, can bring fish up the line before your berley is miles away in the current.

Off the other side of the Matakana Island out to seaward from the Katikati entrance right down past Karewa to the mount is still producing good fishing in the right conditions also.

Fishing either side of the tide changes and any change of light is always a good way to increase your odds of a good result.

Out wider the terakihi fishing remains solid but the fish tend to be holding a bit deeper in 80 odd metres plus. We are doing well at Astrolabe and the back of Motiti for these guys.

There’s still a ton of bait around the Astrolabe, kahawai, blue mao mao and trevs, so the big predators will be there or thereabouts for certain.

We’ve hooked and happily lost a couple of very acrobatic mako sharks on livies around here. Thankfully not having the same experience as the chaps whose boat was randomly cannonballed by a huge free jumping mako that landed right on their windscreen, smashing it and causing over $5,000 damage! Thanks for coming! The dry cleaning bill for everyone’s undies has not been disclosed.

Albacore and skipjack are still fishing well, with some real monster skippies up to 7 kgs being landed out wider where the water gets over 20 degs.

If you want to target these fish on light gear it can be great fun, and albies grow to a decent size, plus there’s always the chance of a wee stray yellowfin this year.

There have been a few seiners cleaning up the little tuna, but they won’t have got them all so fish like you mean it!

For chasing albacore for fun check here:

https://www.nzfishingworld.co.nz/posts/how-and-where-to-catch-fillet-and-cook-albacore

Even 23 miles or so out the water temp is still relatively cool at 20.6 or so, but does not seem to be deterring the gamefish.

Kingies are definitely hanging out around the reefs. We talked to some very advanced free diving boys that reported some absolutely thumping kingies off the Okaparu Reef, and around Plate Island.

Pudney and Brewers shoals would also be worth a look, as these reef structures generally fish best between December and April.

Penguin Shoals is also still holding plenty of bait and other species won’t be far away.

Mayor is fishing well, with some nice deep dropping results off the knolls in 250 – 300 metres, bluenose and gemmies. We even got a nice king in over 150 metres on a puka rig.

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See you out there

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Cheers

Russ