KEY POINTS:
Travel as far north as you can go and you'll find a saltwater flyfishing paradise - Parengarenga Harbour, "the jewel in the crown of New Zealand saltwater flyfishing".
That claim is made by prominent Russell fisherman, researcher and writer Craig Worthington in a new book with the rather ominous title, Fifty Places to Fish Before You Die, subtitled The best flyfishing destinations in Australia and New Zealand, edited by Australian angler Rob Sloane.
For New Zealand anglers, Worthington's succinct chapter is by far the most interesting, especially for those who want to have a go at saltwater flyfishing, which has been steadily gaining a following in the Far North.
Anglers should not throw out their heavy old fibreglass rods and well-worn reels and lines. They are ideal to get started on saltwater fly despite the corrosion that will affect the reel.
"Few natural harbours in New Zealand are so flyfisher-friendly," writes Worthington. "Clear water is one of the great flyfishing attractions here. There are vast areas of turquoise sand flats with iridescent water sliding over shellfish beds on the incoming tide.
"Flyfishing is aided by the topography of the harbour, with its sandstone ledge and deep channels close to shore where there is nothing to hinder a back-cast. The sandstone wall affords an excellent view of the water and fish can be spotted and cast to from a vantage point that is several metres high.
"It is not uncommon to run along the sandstone edge to get in front of a group of fish engaged in a feeding frenzy further up the channel, and to lay out a quick line for a fast hook-up."
In a separate interview, Worthington says the Parengarenga fishing can be similar to chasing smelting trout along the beaches at Lake Taupo and "the action can be red hot - we've had a ball".
Trevally are targeted in the winter, kahawai and kingfish now, and the snapper will be arriving soon. They come in over the shellfish beds at night but dawn is the best time to go after them in the deeper holes and channel edges.
"These northern harbours support large populations of mantis shrimps, so any shrimp-like fly scuttling over the sandy bottom is bound to get eaten.
"Kingfish provide excitement and thrills and they often break off. The gear is relatively light. It's a case of stopping them."
Anglers starting off with saltwater fly can use their old freshwater gear, the heavier the better, but corrosion will be a problem. "I've dissolved a few fly reels over the years," says Worthington.
Fishers wanting to try saltwater fly have been deterred in recent years by the high price of tackle designed specifically for this method. But prices have dropped sharply and are now easily affordable.
Worthington says rods range from $100 to $1000, but you can get a very good one for $200. Reels have come down from $800 to $300, but a capable one can be bought for $100.
"You don't need a floating line in saltwater because it is more buoyant than freshwater. Intermediate and sinking-tip lines enable you to fish the surface area."
Best times to fish, he says, are early morning and late evening or at dead low and high tide, but the Parengarenga can fish well throughout the day. The best fun is chasing trevally in winter.
"There's a bit of a boom happening with saltwater flyfishing. Many Americans who come to New Zealand to catch trout now add a saltwater fly expedition to their holiday."
