Snapper RSS

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. Day 1 also saw the Whakatane Juniors team, fishing aboard the launch Opportunity II with Greg Morgan, present...

Finally a break in the SE winds that have been constant over the last 2 weeks, so we took the opportunity to get out. Judging by the number of trailers at the boat ramp, so did everyone else! Our plan was to check the deep and snag a few snapper for a feed. We didn’t quite get to the target spot as came across a large raft of birds sitting over huge bait balls around the 50m mark. We did the usual slow drift across the area and started off with some sizeable blue mackerel taking the jigs. Few snapper...

A very happy Paul with his PB snapper that won heaviest snapper!

Gavin, Doris and Pete with some lovely eating panny snapper.

Finally! The Bay is officially on fire! I’m pleased to report a number of workups have been observed and some great school snapper under them. A story, too good not to be told! Last Tuesday morning we were out in a strong easterley wind with greater than 1 meter swells, which was quite “sporty” to say the least! I was fishing a slow pitch jig and hooked into a nice string puller when pop! I lost my lure. Knot failure!!! Reminder to self! Pay attention and check your rigs! Well, imagine our surprise when a few minutes later Barbara fishing...