Manukau / Auckland West Coast
fishing report
February 21, 2020
Fishing inside the harbour has been hindered recently by the huge amount of red weed (gracilaria I think it is called) that manages to wrap itself around baits and fishing line within minutes of it hitting the water. Some areas are affected worse than others but it is pretty much everywhere. The easiest way to avoid it is to fish the slack water near the top or bottom of the tide. Smaller tides certainly help reduce the effects of the weed too and if you can work around it there are some very good fish to be caught. The South channel and 50m hole off of Paratutae Island are fishing well. Paratutae is strictly a high tide spot though as at that depth you will struggle to hit the bottom with the big currents there.
Snapper, trevally kahawai and kingfish are all being caught throughout the harbour. You will catch gurnard too but they are generally scarce and a little on the skinny side as is usual for this time of the year in the harbour.
Grey mullet appear to be everywhere and are one of the best baits you can use out these ways and they are also one of the best fish for smoking. There are restrictions on where you can use a set net on the harbour so read up on the regulations if you don’t know them or need to refresh your memory. It’s also a great time for spearing a few flounder as long as you’re in a sheltered bay. An incoming tide at night is the time to go spearing.
Those who venture out west will find that snapper have moved in much closer and can be caught in 8m if the swell is small enough. Make sure you know what you’re doing if you choose to anchor up that close to the surf zone though! The recent run of easterly winds have made the coast very accessible but they only seem to here on my working days. I hate that!
Gurnard are much more plentiful and in better condition than those found in the harbour. Kingfish are being caught in good numbers by those targeting them.
Kahawai can be prolific and sharks can be a nuisance of the highest order so best to move if they turn up on your chosen spot. There are so many options out west and most depths are working. My advice if you drop a line and get little interest – or the wrong kind of interest - is to remain patient, usually snapper will find you.
Game fishermen are in their element too with some big striped marlin starting to show up. This week one was caught in 35m and at over 150kg it was a big fish. Most captures are coming from around the 100 to 125m depths.
Albacore are about in big numbers too but there are fewer skipjack being caught, maybe they will make more of a show in the next few weeks. I expect marlin and tuna will become more plentiful and in closer as we move into March.
Good luck out there and stay safe.
Smudge.
This Manukau / Auckland west coast report is supplied by Michael "Smudge" Parker and supports the Counties Sportfishing Club
For more information on the Counties Sportfishing Club visit its website here.
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