fishingpro
02-09-2009, 02:53 AM
In stark contrast to last season, the fish have really kept us waiting.
Despite the early arrival of a few Blues and the occasional Striped Marlin, the main schools of fish didn’t arrive until the beginning of February.
Whilst the Yellowfin Tuna are still noticeable by their absence and, as yet, Mahimahi and Spearfish are few and far between….the Striped Marlin have arrived in force!
The Bay of Plenty has offered the best fishing in the earlier part of the season, with some very good Blues in the mix (best to date 616lbs) though the depressed economy has lead to many frustrated charter captains tied up at the dock.
Now Tutukaka, further north, is really firing, with double & treble hook-ups a regular feature. Another positive note is the larger than average size of the fish. Most Stripeys are over 200lbs and several over 300lbs are regularly encountered, with the best to date being an impressive 363lbs.
The fish are not particularly easy to hook and the smash & grab at the lures/teasers is often too fast and brief to allow time to switch a live-bait. This makes the recent and successful capture of 23 fish from 35 boats all the more remarkable. There would have been around 100 shots on this day.
With the rate these fish pack on the weight as the season progresses, some record breakers later in the season, if not before, seems likely.
There are some very good Blues also present, most escaping to date, it makes for very exciting fishing.
Long may the season last!
John Kimberley
www.fishingpro.co.nz
Despite the early arrival of a few Blues and the occasional Striped Marlin, the main schools of fish didn’t arrive until the beginning of February.
Whilst the Yellowfin Tuna are still noticeable by their absence and, as yet, Mahimahi and Spearfish are few and far between….the Striped Marlin have arrived in force!
The Bay of Plenty has offered the best fishing in the earlier part of the season, with some very good Blues in the mix (best to date 616lbs) though the depressed economy has lead to many frustrated charter captains tied up at the dock.
Now Tutukaka, further north, is really firing, with double & treble hook-ups a regular feature. Another positive note is the larger than average size of the fish. Most Stripeys are over 200lbs and several over 300lbs are regularly encountered, with the best to date being an impressive 363lbs.
The fish are not particularly easy to hook and the smash & grab at the lures/teasers is often too fast and brief to allow time to switch a live-bait. This makes the recent and successful capture of 23 fish from 35 boats all the more remarkable. There would have been around 100 shots on this day.
With the rate these fish pack on the weight as the season progresses, some record breakers later in the season, if not before, seems likely.
There are some very good Blues also present, most escaping to date, it makes for very exciting fishing.
Long may the season last!
John Kimberley
www.fishingpro.co.nz