Paul Hitchman The Bowentown Fishing Report www.sunlive.co.nz

The weather has been very rough the last few days with very big swells stopping people from going outside the bar. The sea temperatures are now in the early 20s.

The fishing reports that I have been given are that the harbour has been fishing really well with the best time to catch the snapper being first and last light. Some good Trevally have been caught in the deep holes in the harbour and on the inside of the bar. Kingfish were taken in good numbers earlier in January on the inside of the bar, with the best going, 18kg, which is a decent sized fish.
Outside has been a very patchy affair for snapper when the boats can get over the bar. The commercial lads have been hammering the area with long lines. Gillnets have been set around Steels Reef earlier in January. For those that don't know the area, we only have the one reef around Bowentown so it makes it very hard for us recreational folks to get a feed. Kahawai have been hard to find in decent sizes, with the very small schools that are around holding juvenile fish.
Heaps of skippys and albacore have been caught and sighted on the way out to Mayor Island when the weather has been calm.
People have given reports of marlin being spotted in the deeper waters. Bowentown hasn't weighed any as yet. Further north, I heard that three have been weighed in.
A word of caution to those that are trying to catch a marlin or game fish, make sure that your leader and lures are legal length. A 293kg blue Marlin was caught the other day and was disallowed because the leader was 400mm too long. Any sports shop or fishing club, I'm sure would be willing to help with the legal rules.
Bowentown Boating and Sport fishing Club is holding the Nautigirls Competition on February 5. This is a harbour only competition, Women fishers only. A male slave can be used for baiting and removing fish off the line. Nautigirls is our most popular competition, enjoyed by all, with prizes for best fancy dress. $1000 cash prize for the average weight snapper and plenty of spot prizes. Girls you won't be disappointed.

For more details phone the Bowentown office 07 863 5006 or visit www.bbsfc.co.nz