Biting Back in the Bay with Pinky Green

In the last ten days recreational fishing in the Western Bay of Plenty has really only been practical on at the most three days.

We feared a NIL return. Very few went recreational fishing, and even fewer appeared to have landed anything worth mentioning.

But then some came to light…

Brett Keller (Manutere) last Friday was in the Middle Ground and inside Motiti, finding masses of too small snapper. Most landed were returned. Eventually they did strike some reasonable-sized snapper and some good-sized tarakihi. At the end of the day they had an overall acceptable catch.

Garth Le Lievre (Deepstar) was around Motiti Saturday bottom fishing in ‘washing machine' uncomfortable sea conditions, but they still managed an overall average tarakihi and porae take.

Sam Underwood (Miss Fleur) mid last week at the Mayor Knolls the conditions were definitely not the best, but they landed 13 bluenose and two gemfish. Saturday again at the knolls and also at the back of the Penguin Rise conditions had deteriorated further. They landed quite a few small fish early, many too small, but of the target hapuku species they landed only one bass and two gemfish.

Our veteran Papamoa kontiki fisher was at East Papamoa last Thursday out 1200 to 1800 metres. He brought in seven good-sized snapper and two gurnard in three sets. A fellow kontiki fisher nearby brought in three good-sized snapper in one set. Friday in deteriorating conditions our Kontiki regular brought in four snapper and two kahawai in two sets. Thursday and Friday were the only days beach-fishable. Other days there were huge waves, strong currents, and strong winds.

A few surfcasters made the attempt, most landing nothing at all. The few successes were of odd kahawai.