Bay of Islands
fishing report
February 24, 2022
This certainly has to be one of those summers to remember. The Bay has been blessed with a mighty game fish season this year. Whatever factors go into making the gamefish hotspots, the stars have aligned over the Bay for some of the most consistent and exciting action ever on the billfish front. We’ve caught blues, and there are a ton of stripeys out there too. The Ninepin trench fishing like crazy this year, and plenty of fish out wider.
There’s some big snapper and kingfish keeping all the inshore guys happy.
Right from the start of the year we have been spoilt with some really good fish, and for us, it’s soft baiting that seems to be the most fun and effective way of catching them. There’s a massive assortment of new tackle available to anglers now, and we have been using the Catch Fishing gear to great effect.
With the water getting close to 23 degrees, a lot of snapper have moved out a little deeper to 45 to 55 mtrs.
Right out in the middle there are some good fish and the same goes for the inner banks and foul that runs along the headland from Tapeka point to Parua Bay.
There are big snapper feeding on the shellfish and horse mussel beds, and to get them often requires either an early start or late evening.
It's only shallow, so a good cube trail will lure the fish and get them on the chew usually.
Out on the middle ground there are lots of small fish, so I try to stay away from it due to this, and the fact that there are lots of sharks this time of year.
Over by Woolshed Bay and Terikahi Island and up past Doves Bay towards the Hen and Chick Islands, and the oyster farms have been a great place to catch some banger reds if the weather out in the middle is too rough.
On the kingfish side, they are pretty much everywhere middle ground, following the bait.
You’ll find them at Mitas Foul, Whale Rock, Cape Brett, 71mtr reef and up the coast anywhere from the Nine Pin to Rocky Point.
Have fun, be safe, tight lines
Regards Darren
This report provided by Darren Knapping, Days Out Fishing Charters
https://www.fishingdaysout.co.nz/
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