Biting Back in the Bay with Pinky Green

Since last week and during last weekend recreational fishing in the Western Bay of Plenty has grown more patchy and harder.

Arch McTainsh (Enterprise) last Friday and Saturday found the tarakihi fishing in the Middle Ground slow and the at times three-metre swell added to the difficulties. However in the end most of the anglers did land 10 tarakihi each. Some also landed one or two snapper, kahawai, trevally, and John Dory. Although overall the anglers had a respectable tally they did have to work at it.

Garth Le Lievre (Deepstar) had a very good day early last week in the Middle Ground. By 9am most had their tarakihi limit and catches were almost 100 per cent tarakihi. Last weekend however it had really toughened up apparently almost everywhere. Saturday at Mayor it was hard going to get three bluenose. Around Motiti it was also harder, although there did appear to be still plenty of tarakihi at a few spots.

Brett Keller (Manutere) last Friday and Saturday in the Middle Ground had to make several moves to cope with the swell, strong wind and current, but overall they caught a satisfactory amount of tarakihi. Saturday the conditions eased and they ventured Outside but found the fishing even harder until they found outside Motiti some ‘not too bad' productive spots.

Sam Underwood (Miss Fleur - S & S Dive & Fishing Charters) found plenty of tarakihi and snapper in the Middle Ground last Saturday, and on a couple of other trips earlier last week.

Our Papamoa veteran kontiki fisher says that Western Bay of Plenty Beach Fishing had recently become a lot harder. The best he had heard of recently was a 1200metres out kontiki which brought in three gurnard and twp snapper. One or two kontikis were bringing in one or two kahawai.

A surfcaster spokesman said that Papamoa Beach surfcasters had landed a few kahawai last weekend.