Fishing: Happy hooking

The beach below Waitangi Golf Course is easily accessible, a five-minute walk from the two carparks at the course and a pleasant walk between the fairways and the Treaty House grounds.

As private and Maori land ownership and access issues escalate, it is increasingly hard to find spots in the Bay of Islands that are available and easy for families to get to. This is one.

The beach attracts feeding snapper, especially over the summer and into autumn. It is best from mid-tide on the incoming, especially at change of light. Pilchards are a good bait, but the best bait is fresh koheru.

Kingfish have been taken here and john dory are not uncommon.

Use a running rig with the sinker above the swivel and around 1.5m of trace that is not too heavy. One 6/0 hook and a fillet of baitfish with barb exposed through the flesh is best.

Tapeka Point is another spot that gets plenty of fishing pressure but appears to handle it.

Follow the road out from Russell. Make the walk around at low or incoming tide, then fish across the top of the tide until about two hours after, when you can retreat.

Ranging from 5m to 10m in depth off the rocky point, Tapeka produces some of the best snapper in the Bay, with 10kg fish not uncommon. Berley is a must.

Straylining is best, with one or two hooks in the 6/0 to 8/0 range threaded through the bait. Fishing without a trace will produce more bites - and more break-offs. There are several rocky snags in the area.

Fresh koheru is good and will last longer on the hook than pilchards. Both sides of the point work well, but the current is strongest on the western side.

A walk over the hill from Opito Bay gives access to Tapuna Inlet, which fishes well in the middle of the day. The best time is two hours either side of high or low tide.

* Peter Jessup is a Herald sports reporter and fishing columnist.