Biting Back in the Bay with Pinky Green

Western Bay of Plenty recreational fishing the last week and weekend was in general a bit patchy or mixed.

Beach fishers catches were down. Early last week our Papamoa veteran kontiki operator however brought in 11 snapper, and in his ‘new chum' surfcaster role landed four snapper last Friday while most of the regular surfcasters at the time were landing nothing. Further east on the Pukehina, Pikowai and Matata beaches the takes were mixed, but occasionally did include the odd 7kg snapper.

Boat fishers in close found it largely hard, although a few solitary 6-7kg snapper were landed. Middle areas were not much better and even out wide it was often only rare spots that were producing well.

Russell Anderson (Bugger): last week between Bowentown and Karewa the two anglers landed a satisfactory number of kahawai and mackerel. Saturday some six miles out the two landed 12 snapper and one big blue mackerel.

Russ Hawkins (Fat Boy): Friday in the Penguin Rise deep they had a slow day boating just one large gemfish, one large and one small bluenose.

Brett Keller (Manutere) had some okay fishing Friday night around Motiti. Although the total take was marginal, they landed some nice snapper, hapuku, gemfish, and at Mayor some tarakihi. Saturday night they found one encouraging spot, stayed for four hours, catching a few snapper, but only two small hapuku. Later at Mayor they landed some tarakihi, red snapper, and skipjack tuna.

Mark Armistead (Extreme Sport Fishing Adventures): some good fishing last week - snapper up to 6-7kg, some reasonable weight kingfish.

Upcoming contests:

12 May, Western Bay Surfcasting Club, Karewa Parade bike ramp, Papamoa, 1-4pm, non-members welcome.

13 May, Papamoa, Casting Competition, 12-4pm, public welcome.

19-20 May, Club Mount Maunganui Fishing Club, Five Species Tournament.

19-20 May, Tauranga Game Fishing Club, Snapper Classic

25-27 May, Mount Maunganui Sport Fishing Club, Trout Tournament.

27 May, Tauranga Fish and Dive Club, Three Species Tournament.