Captain
Darren Knapping
Member since August 2017
Paihia, New Zealand
- Background
- Capt. Darren has fished around the world for years before coming back to the Bay of Islands. Growing up around these waters, Darren learned a great deal about the local fisheries in the ocean and the marine life. While serving in the New Zealand Navy for 5 and a half years, Darren traveled the world and then got his captain’s license. He later engaged in commercial Tuna fishing. Eventually, Capt. Darren has come back to his native fisheries and now runs charter fishing trips. He has accommodated many repeat customers. His vessel is one of the finest in the area. Capt. Darren will work to put you on fish and make your trip an enjoyable adventure.
- Techniques
- With salt in my veins I like to try several different methods to catch either inshore or offshore fish. Its the live bait we catch on the way out that can mean the difference. Our snapper which are a all year round fish can be caught with jigs /soft plastics or cut bait. Having a full walk around it's a breeze to target these Fish.The best way to catch them is with a nice big live bait slowly feeding down a burly trail and wait for the pick up and run!or with a light tackle soft plastic this is a must For the mighty yellow tail kingfish there are many different types and ways to target this hard fighting fish. From catching your live bait and slow trolling down to deep diving lures. Or using the surface popper that gives you the thrill of seeing these fish climb all over the lure [my fav]. And With the introduction of soft plastics and slow jigging the fishing has jumped up a level. So every day out is different .lets go fishing all gear supplied. Proudly sponsored Okuma tackle
Hey, I'm Captain Darren Knapping
- Background
- Capt. Darren has fished around the world for years before coming back to the Bay of Islands. Growing up around these waters, Darren learned a great deal about the local fisheries in the ocean and the marine life. While serving in the New Zealand Navy for 5 and a half years, Darren traveled the world and then got his captain’s license. He later engaged in commercial Tuna fishing. Eventually, Capt. Darren has come back to his native fisheries and now runs charter fishing trips. He has accommodated many repeat customers. His vessel is one of the finest in the area. Capt. Darren will work to put you on fish and make your trip an enjoyable adventure.
- Techniques
- With salt in my veins I like to try several different methods to catch either inshore or offshore fish. Its the live bait we catch on the way out that can mean the difference. Our snapper which are a all year round fish can be caught with jigs /soft plastics or cut bait. Having a full walk around it's a breeze to target these Fish.The best way to catch them is with a nice big live bait slowly feeding down a burly trail and wait for the pick up and run!or with a light tackle soft plastic this is a must For the mighty yellow tail kingfish there are many different types and ways to target this hard fighting fish. From catching your live bait and slow trolling down to deep diving lures. Or using the surface popper that gives you the thrill of seeing these fish climb all over the lure [my fav]. And With the introduction of soft plastics and slow jigging the fishing has jumped up a level. So every day out is different .lets go fishing all gear supplied. Proudly sponsored Okuma tackle
My Charter Listing
angler's choice
Fishing Reports
Big bay of islands Snapper
On light tackle these hard fighting fish are what we all love to catch nows the time Read Full Report →
Pre school fish starting to turn up
Starting early in the morning to catch some live bait we hit the light spin gear for an hour or so then on to the bait and burly which was sure to bring on the bite. Not disappointed. Read Full Report →
Healthy winter snapper on the chew sha
Get on board book early for the up coming season in the stunning bay of islands New Zealand Read Full Report →
Snapper in full swing
with water temps hitting 20 deg plus the snapper have started to hit the mid reefs lots of action and great for a summer break get out and give it a go shared or private give us a call Read Full Report →
Big snapper moving in
With a nice early start or a late arvo fish you wont be disappointed book early trips are filling fast and the fish are on the chew don't wait Read Full Report →
Snapper on the bite in the Bay of Island
With the water temp up the snapper are starting to move into the shallow reefs in preperation to spawn book now so you dont miss out Read Full Report →
Summer snapper
Today in the bay the snapper were hard on the bite using sort plastics and were eating a new lure called the savage blue looks like a resl life pilchard . November is shapping up to be a stunning… Read Full Report →
Snapper moving in great fight good cond
Gary and Kaleb with some nice solid bay of islands snapper great fun with live jack mackerel as bait. They cant resist them Read Full Report →
Summer snapper are starting to move into
With the early arrival of some stunning snapper starting to turn up this could be a early and late spawn this year. A steady burly trail with some live jack mackerel or casting softplastics into or over foul ground… Read Full Report →
summer snapper not far away book early f
leaving either in the morning or afternoon these fish are a must do if in the bay of islands .Largest center console in bay of islands Read Full Report →
Stunning spring snapper
While i wait for my new boat to arrive [Days out fishing charters] Hopefully running end September i thought id get out there and show you guys that this is going to be a bumper season here in bay… Read Full Report →