WHAT a mix of weather we're getting, rain and shine in a day, teased with the warmth of summer only to have it promptly removed again.
Spring is definitely showing its true nature, that's for sure.
Fishing has been a little sporadic over the past few weeks. It depends on who you talk to as to the consistency of the fishing; the one big thing is use your sounder, find the fish and stay with them.
Although the bite is a little slow, they do certainly turn it on when the dinner bell rings and some great fishing can be had.
Bream Bay has turned it on again this week with some great fish coming out over the weekend.
Snapper have started to show the entire length of the bay and aren't just confined to one small area. Night fishing putting out a decent berley trail and stray lining pilchards, blue mackerel, ballyhoo or bullet tuna has produced some magnificent 20lb (9.07kg) + snapper especially in 8-10m depths. Soft baiting during the day has also produced some stunning fish and limits are obtainable for those wanting to put some fish in the coffers.
John dory have been around in reasonable numbers as well and kingfish can be caught throwing stick baits around in the 8-10m mark from Ruakaka south.
The Hen and Chicks?
My main advice here would be to head to Bream Bay or up the coast with what can be described only as below average results. Unfortunately, there's not a lot of good to report from this area, with fishing being very tough over the past couple of weeks. Bream Head and surrounding areas, though, have turned on some great tarakihi fishing and the odd snapper and kingfish have been caught as by-catch.
The coast is still fishing great, with snapper and kings still prevalent. There is good stray lining for snapper, especially in the early evening, with blue mackerel and bullet tuna being the preferred favourites of many.
A decent berley trail is going to get you the best results off the bricks; kayaks have also been enjoying great success along the coast north of Whangarei with exceptional snapper fishing, most falling to softbaits and the real eel from Savage seeming to stand alone in success on some very big fish.
Kings and snapper are already starting to make their way into local harbours, with kingfish chasing the copious amounts of mackerel around for an easy feed.
In Whangarei Harbour, snapper have started to make their way in, with good reports from the entrance up as far as the Nook and some pretty decent fish are being taken from Takahiwai.
The Bay of Islands is still the place to be, though, with fish from Tapeka to Black Rocks, the middle grounds and Nine Pin all producing great fishing. I find the Gulp Chartreuse 6-inch grub fantastic early morning before the sun gets some angle to it, then changing to more natural colours really produces some excellent fishing. Kingfish in this area have been great for a while, with Tapeka and Brampton fishing well early and Cape Brett producing some decent fish during the day.
The sharks have arrived already, though, which can make getting fish to the boat unscathed a little more interesting.
All in all get out there folks
Tight lines