October 2010 - Part One
Bay of Islands Fishing Report
2nd October - Our trip today was composed of three family groups so we had a good mix of age groups and experience. Our first stop (and as it turned out, our only stop) was in an area where a large number of gannets and dolphins had obviously just completed a feeding frenzy. At first I thought that Skipper Terry had got it wrong but it only took five minutes of fishing to prove that fish were still in the area.
The Snapper were biting right from the start and improved all the time. Unfortunately the wind moved to the south and started to pick up in intensity and for a while the catch rate dropped off considerably. We debated whether to move or not but there was just enough fish coming on board to make it worth staying. In the end, I think we made the right decision, we got the best Snapper of this winter plus we caught John Dory, Gurnard, Terakihi, Barracuda, a large Stingray and we were visited by a Thresher Shark (couldn't hook that one though.)
The Snapper were biting right from the start and improved all the time. Unfortunately the wind moved to the south and started to pick up in intensity and for a while the catch rate dropped off considerably. We debated whether to move or not but there was just enough fish coming on board to make it worth staying. In the end, I think we made the right decision, we got the best Snapper of this winter plus we caught John Dory, Gurnard, Terakihi, Barracuda, a large Stingray and we were visited by a Thresher Shark (couldn't hook that one though.)
Things are looking up. There have been lots of bait fish appearing over the past few days, the quality of the fish is improving and the Snapper are starting to produce Roe. These photos
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4th October - It's amazing the change that you get in conditions in just two days. The formerly calm seas had been replaced by a metre high swell and that, coupled with a stiff SE wind, made for a chilly trip.
We braved the swells for a while as the slack tide was perfect time for checking the area for Hapuka pups but without luck. We checked out three different areas after that but although there were fish on the sounder the 20knt winds (estimated and definitely not forecast) were having an effect on the fish and they were not biting.
Shortly after the shorter 4hr charter trips passed us on their way home, the wind dropped and finally the fish started to bite in earnest. Then we got a keeper at last. I'd been really worried that for the very first time we were going to come home with nothing. A few minutes later we got a few more keepers and it was starting to look good.
Unfortunately, the wind started to strengthen again and the bites stopped completely (again). Pretty strong evidence that the wind was probably the culprit today.
We braved the swells for a while as the slack tide was perfect time for checking the area for Hapuka pups but without luck. We checked out three different areas after that but although there were fish on the sounder the 20knt winds (estimated and definitely not forecast) were having an effect on the fish and they were not biting.
Shortly after the shorter 4hr charter trips passed us on their way home, the wind dropped and finally the fish started to bite in earnest. Then we got a keeper at last. I'd been really worried that for the very first time we were going to come home with nothing. A few minutes later we got a few more keepers and it was starting to look good.
Unfortunately, the wind started to strengthen again and the bites stopped completely (again). Pretty strong evidence that the wind was probably the culprit today.
5th October - The swell was still there today but the wind was nowhere near as strong. We headed out past Tapeka with a spot in mind, partly to get out of the swell and partly to stay out of the wind if it arrived.
We were surprised to see nearly every other charter boat sitting off Roberton Island. We believe that they were just going through the motions as we don't believe that they'll get any decent fish there at the moment. Anyway, we steamed past and headed for our spot, secure in the knowledge that we were going to have the place to ourselves (we've since learnt that one of the larger well known charter boat owners has instructed his skippers to stop traveling so far as the diesel bill is getting too high.) Just goes to prove that a fast boat is not always a good boat I suppose.
It's always a gamble but today it really paid off. Right from the onset we started catching fish, although it took a while for everyone to get the hang of it. The target today was Terakihi and they bite very different from Snapper but boy did they bite. Within an hour, everyone was contributing to the catch and we were having fun. The sun came out and the wind dropped a bit further, the Terakihi came and went and at the end of it it all we had 2 Snapper and 30 Terakihi. A great result and even I had fish for tea that night.
We were surprised to see nearly every other charter boat sitting off Roberton Island. We believe that they were just going through the motions as we don't believe that they'll get any decent fish there at the moment. Anyway, we steamed past and headed for our spot, secure in the knowledge that we were going to have the place to ourselves (we've since learnt that one of the larger well known charter boat owners has instructed his skippers to stop traveling so far as the diesel bill is getting too high.) Just goes to prove that a fast boat is not always a good boat I suppose.
It's always a gamble but today it really paid off. Right from the onset we started catching fish, although it took a while for everyone to get the hang of it. The target today was Terakihi and they bite very different from Snapper but boy did they bite. Within an hour, everyone was contributing to the catch and we were having fun. The sun came out and the wind dropped a bit further, the Terakihi came and went and at the end of it it all we had 2 Snapper and 30 Terakihi. A great result and even I had fish for tea that night.
7th October -Today was a Sole Charter and it was for 7hrs and it was a very hard day - from memory we only caught 6 keepers. Although we could see the fish on the sounder and we used pilchard, squid, mullet and pipi's we couldn't even get them to bite. We tried everywhere but nothing was happening, then at 3pm, on the dot, the fish started to bite in earnest but the end result was still pretty poor. I even managed to get stabbed by a Grand Daddy Hapuka (Scorpion Fish) when I used my foot to try and stop it from escaping. Word of advice if one makes a break for it, let it go - damn my foot hurt.
8th October - Today, the swell had almost disappeared so we headed out to the mud for another look around. Our first fish was a 9.5lb Snapper (woohoo), our second and third snapper were around 45cm and I debated as to whether or not to keep them. Luckily, sense prevailed and we kept them because shortly after that the fishing died completely. We tried several other spots and eventually secured enough fish for everyone. At the end, three people decided not to take any home, so once we divided up all the fillets we had enough for three meals each for the remaining eleven people.
10th October - It was dead calm and no wind at all - another stunning day. We headed for yesterdays spot in the hope of scoring another large Snapper but there was no evidence of anything substantial. We hung in for a while then headed off to try several other spots - the Pin was a dead loss and so was the next spot so we returned to the mud but nothing was going on there still. We drifted out in the middle, we tried a few reefs but between the skipper, myself, and my three clients we managed to get a Gurnard, a couple of small Snapper and a 40-45cm Snapper. Shared out, they got enough for a substantial meal but not much more.
Hall of Shame goes to Pablo. He was the reason I organised the trip, he gave me all sorts of conditions - times to ring and so on. He was keen and polite but he never answered any of my four phone calls, he never turned up and he's never called to apologise. Oh well, I may not have his last name but I know his voice and he's never going to have the pleasure of fishing on the Arline.
Hall of Shame goes to Pablo. He was the reason I organised the trip, he gave me all sorts of conditions - times to ring and so on. He was keen and polite but he never answered any of my four phone calls, he never turned up and he's never called to apologise. Oh well, I may not have his last name but I know his voice and he's never going to have the pleasure of fishing on the Arline.
14th October - We've had three days of atrocious weather, so we were keen to get out. Yesterday's trip was cancelled because of howling winds. Today we woke to steady rain but no wind. I don't think anyone really believed my claims that the rain would finish before the trip started (especially when it really dumped down at 8:30am) but they all turned up (no Pablo's here today.) We were targeting Terakihi today so we had a long scenic trip ahead, during which the cloud cleared and the sun came out and we had the most amazing days fishing.
For a while we were getting a bit concerned, with nothing but tiny Snapper coming on board but then we got out first Terakihi and then it was a steady stream of these magic fish being caught. There were a few of the biggest Terakihi that I've ever seen caught today.
By the end of the trip we had 31 Terakihi, 2 Snapper and 3 Trevally, so today the crew got some fish as well. Well worth the trip.
For a while we were getting a bit concerned, with nothing but tiny Snapper coming on board but then we got out first Terakihi and then it was a steady stream of these magic fish being caught. There were a few of the biggest Terakihi that I've ever seen caught today.
By the end of the trip we had 31 Terakihi, 2 Snapper and 3 Trevally, so today the crew got some fish as well. Well worth the trip.
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Stacey let her husband of ten years catch a great Terakihi and then five seconds later she trumped it with this nice specimen.
If memory serves me right this was Kevin's first Terakihi ever.
It was a great day for Terakihi - Pictured here we have:
Allen Blauvelt who turned up on the off chance someone was going out today - we were the only boat it seems so obliged
Leona who finally caught a decent Terakihi but also had a wee dabble at different species. I had her pegged as a trouble maker even before she got this Puffer Fish
and poor Simon Griffin with his great Terakihi (until his wife trumped him 5 secs later)