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Kingfish on 3kg line, monster broadbill swordfish for junior anglers.

A strong week of Bay of Islands fishing, with snapper on the bite, surprise kingfish on slow-pitch gear, plentiful bait schools, and more quality fish reported from the rocks, shallows, and deeper water.

XOS Kingfish and a trip to Waihau Bay to fish for Southern Bluefin Tuna!

The McDonald’s Northland 56th International Yellowtail Tournament kicked off last Sunday with 32 teams comprising of 114 anglers (including 21 Juniors), targeting kingfish caught on 6kg or 8kg line. To date (with the final day 4 being fished today), a total of 90 kingfish have been weighed – I know because I’ve weighed them! The heaviest to date has been 20.6 kgs on 6kg line and although not a target species, I weighed at 7.5kg snapper for Christine Moses on Day 1.

May 2026 has brought a promising fishing season in the Bay of Islands! After a persistent spell of southeast winds, anglers seized the opportunity to hit the waters, evident by the bustling boat ramp. Our goal was to target deep-sea snapper, but we stumbled upon a massive bait ball at the 50-meter mark, surrounded by a flock of birds. This led to an exciting slow drift, where we caught sizeable blue mackerel on our jigs. Although most snapper were just shy of size, the thrill of the chase kept our spirits high. One of the most exhilarating aspects of fishing...