New Zealand Fishing Reports

springs on its way sea temp is rising there are heaps snapper in outer gulf work-up everywhere never seen so many dolphins and whales gannets every where large snapper deep they all getting ready to come into the shallows Mussel farms fishing well nice 350 450 mm snapper with big snapper about landed a couple 5 kg snapper this week big Kahawai and Gurnard are showing up and odd king fish looking good for spring fishing look at moon better three days after the full moon chance for high tides dropping easier to fish

It seems that the weather is finally settling down a bit after a very wet and windy winter that has limited the fishing out in the bay. The snapper fishing has remained very good throughout the winter period with very good size and numbers in the shallows. Stray lining with live baits has been the best way to target the better fish. However the live baits have sometimes been difficult to catch with only small schools being scattered in the bay. Kingfish are in prime condition at the moment, fattening up getting ready for spawning. They have been scarce in the bay but good fishing out on the coast at places like Cape Brett and Wairere rock producing some solid kings when the weather has allowed. Hapuku are also fattening up getting ready for spawning. The next couple of months is thee best time of the year to get among these as they gather to spawn so are full of roe as well. May the weather be kind so we can get out there. Tight lines.

There are still plenty of marlin about and they have finally moved in closer with fish being caught as close as the 80 metre line. We hope the weather settles to get out on those epic big game fishing trips! Snapper fishing in the bay has been great with many good snapper in the shallows. It is nearly as November-fishing at the moment with some beauties to release for breeding! Stray lining with fresh or live mackerel has been producing the goods in 10 metres or less. Also there are plenty of snapper on the deeper rocks of 60 metres or deeper. Kingies have been sparse in the bay. The odd patch here or there on the bait schools but difficult and inconsistent. There are fish on the deeper reefs however, the weather and sea conditions has been challenging and not allowed many days out deeper. Sharks are around still sometimes though, so watch out!. Tight lines.

The hot summer fishing in the Bay of Islands is just MORE than normal! We have the big numbers of marlin out off the bay and good size snapper and kingi close in. It is all so accessible! Snapper have finished spawning and have spread themselves out. Stray lining with fresh bait in shallow water of less than ten metres deep has been producing some nice fish. The rock-hoppers are having a great time catching good size snapper in the shallows. Kingies have remained to be on and off. The deep reefs have still been producing however the fish in the shallows have been a little elusive and the sharks are ever present. Early mornings they can be seen hunting around the wharf. The game fishing season is proving to be one out of the box with large numbers of marlin out off the bay. The last day we were out we had plenty of nibbles all day until the big a pack attack happened. We got a treble hook up, which happens now and then, but this time we managed to catch all three by tagging two and landing one for the smoker. The Easterly winds have been relentless though and preventing many boats from getting out to the game fishing grounds. Here’s hoping for the weather patterns to change soon as I am sure the second half of the season will be fantastic. Tight lines. SpotX Fishing Charters

3 striped marlin hooked up at the same time after plenty of nibbles all day! Our incredible team managed to tag two of them and landed the third - very professional and magic team work in a very intense period of time, approximately 45 minutes in total before the bubbles went off! Our awesome anglers, father and son, did an amazing job, fully focused and followed instructions all way through! Father tagged one and landed one and his son tagged one, that was the biggest one, but got off the hook after being tagged, as extreme fighters they are! Amazing day and fabulous result! WELL DONE TEAM!!!

Awesome fishing - snapper, kingfish, marlin, tuna - all here in the Bay of Islands, NOW! What a great start to the big game season. Starting on the 1st of December with a couple of striped marlin and a yellowfin caught, there have been numerous marlin, yellowfin tuna and shortbilled spearfish caught since with water temperatures up over 24 degrees. Very warm for the time of the year. Can’t wait to get out there. The snapper are still plentiful in the bay with every session producing plenty of large snapper. Baits and lures are all working very well. Kingies are back in the bay on the bait schools and there are plenty on the deeper reefs as well. So at the moment the fishing is great all round. Get out there and enjoy it. Also be aware the new rules applying to the marine mammals starts today so be careful when travelling out in the Bay of Islands. Tight lines