Fishing: Head East to hook into fish

Hands up who's had a summer this year? Thought so. No-one in Auckland or other places exposed to the rubbishy weather that's been blowing in from the west.

The stiff, chilly south-westerlies have taken their toll on sea fishing with water temperatures far cooler than usual for this time of the year and choppy seas making conditions unpleasant.

At times like these, give a thought to planning an escapade off the east coast, where the land mass provides more of a lee than the narrow Auckland isthmus. Have a think about the eastern Bay of Plenty, Poverty Bay, Hawkes Bay and even the Wairarapa.

Whakatane is well set up with charter operators offering a range of fishing experiences.

The waters around White Island hold big kingfish, best caught with live bait and jigs, and terakihi, trevalli and red snapper for the bottom fisher. Further out from the island, deep water drop-offs and pinnacles hold hapuka, bluenose, trumpeter and the sharp-toothed gemfish. Most of the charter boats are well-equipped with heavy gear which you can rent for reasonable charges.

The cool temperatures haven't done much for the marlin and tuna season, so if that's what you are after, it may pay to delay a while.

For amazing fishing, a 14-hour steam from Whakatane to the Ranfurly Banks is the way to go. Way out off East Cape, the Banks offer huge kingies, yellowfin tuna, big hapuka and the occasional mega-sea bass. If you get into the kingies, remember they are a finite resource and set yourself a strict limit. The older I get, the more fish I release, and I get a buzz from doing so.

It may be a long way from northern regions, but the Wairarapa coast can be an Aladdin's cave. The rocky coast is a fantastic cray and paua fishery, while further out, hapuka (groper down there), bluenose, big blue cod and plenty of sharks make for exciting fishing.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY