Dolphins out on hunt despite cold

Dolphins have a bit of fun even though the waters around Northland are 2C chillier than usual. Photo / Jason Keoghan

The water around Northland has been a bit nippier than usual causing lower numbers of snapper, however unfazed dolphins have still come out to play.

According to Niwa water temperatures in the Whangarei region are about 15C. Marine Mammal Expert Jo "Floppy" Halliday said this was 2C lower than temperatures usually were this time of year.

"Right now we've also been seeing temperatures at about 15C and while it's not great for fish spawning. Dolphins don't care a great deal," she said.

While the dolphins were keen to play in the colder water, Ms Halliday said she had noticed a change in their diet.

"Dolphins have about the same body temperature as we do and they have layers of blubber to insulate themselves. Over Autumn we see them in estuaries to feed on mullet and other oily fish to build their fat layer up. Usually around this time they're eating little snapper but right now we've seen them in estuaries still feeding on the more oily fish."

Dolphins aren't the only ones missing out on snapper. Jason Keoghan, Northland Toyota sales supervisor, headed out on a Saturday morning fishing trip with his family and despite having "a less than average" day on the fishing front, he had the pleasure of spotting some dolphins and took the photograph above.

"We were heading out of Parua Bay to Waipu and just as we were passing around Ruakaka we spotted them. We saw them about 500m away in a v-line almost, so we slowed down and were motoring along with them."

Mr Keoghan said the dolphins proceeded to "almost rotate" around the boat "escorting" them on their trip.

"There were almost always some in the front and some in the back," he said.

Although he is used to seeing dolphins in the Bay of Islands, Mr Keoghan said his 3-year-old daughter Nikita was enthused by their playfulness.

"Their tails were slapping the side of the boat while they were swimming. She was pretty excited by that."

Mr Keoghan said about eight-10 dolphins, including a calf, followed them for 10 minutes. "Usually when we see dolphins in the Bay of Islands they stick around for a minute or so but to see them for longer it was pretty cool."