MATARIKI GAME FISHING

Ten years ago, who would of thought we would be out chasing game fish in the middle of winter in New Zealand? Queues at boat ramps, with boats loaded full of 80 wides, anglers chomping at the bit, heading out in the dark as the Matariki star cluster shimmered on the horizon?

Our shortest day now heralds the start of some of our best game fishing, a newly discovered southern bluefin tuna run through the Bay of Plenty, and this year we’ve been rewarded with world class fishing. It hasn’t been uncommon to be heading back to port at midday, with multiple fish to weigh, having had double figure shots for the morning.

Bluefin tuna would rate as my favourite eating fish, and by the time they reach Waihau Bay at this time of year, they are dressed up for the winter ball, beautiful colours, so fat and in prime eating condition.

While I am writing this, it is 28 July, I’m sitting on a deck at Waihau Bay, wearing only board shorts, with the hot sun beaming down, a mirror flat ocean shimmering in front of me. It is as close to as a tropical holiday we are going to get this winter, but I reckon its almost better! We’ve ventured out the last 5 days, today back at midday with Graham McKenzie aka Boulders first bluefin tuna.

Yesterday I managed to get my partner Tia her first bluefin, at 69.8kg, from a double that included a stubborn one for me at 78kg. It was a day we’ll never forget that is for sure. We only had three lures in the spread and all three of them got devoured on bite time. We’ve had good action every day. The fish this year are so fat and in awesome chubby condition. Throw in some epic feasts of bluefin sashimi, going home with a good supply of vacuum packed protein, and it is a winter holiday that is pretty hard to beat.

Client Justin Walsh and good mate Anthony Honeybone ventured down for the first weekend of the trip, and both went home with chilly bins full of bluefin tuna, and Justin caught his first ever bluefin.

The Waihau Bay Game Fishing club are totally on their game, and their weigh station is running like a well oiled machine. Local Nicola was on hand to record, measure and collect heads where possible of every fish caught as part of a study for Blue Water Research.

As the fish move North, Tairua and Whitianga should see some of the action, and a few Whangamata boats this last week have landed good sized bluefin around the Aldermen Rise in 900-1000m. For those that have the foresight and flexibility to go as soon as those winter weather windows hit, this winter has been very rewarding. Long may it last! The fishing that is, not winter!

Here’s a few pics from the week!

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When Tia and I decided to make the trip down to Waihay. I put the word out to good mate Anthony who came on my first successful road trip to chase bluefin tuna at Waihau in 2017, and client Justin Walsh. 24 hours later I was picking up Ants at the Tauranga Airport! Any road trip to Waihau Bay, always includes a stop off at Te Kaha. This is where a love of fishing, the ocean, cooking seafood over an open fire began. Te Kaha. Where my grandparents camped for 30+ years. I was lucky to join them for a few of those summers. The smell of smoked fish always takes me back here. Always stop and toast them on the way through to Waihau.

We settled in to some awesome accommodation at Waihau Bay that Tia has chosen, I think this will be our future base for any road trips in the future!

The first weekend was a success, Justin got his first Bluefin, and we got owned on an XOS model on 15kg. We’d found the fish!

Tia and I ventured out on our own, and Tia got a good old introduction to winter bluefin fishing! We hooked into a treble of big fish. Tia landing her first, and awesome fish of 69.8kg and I got a PB of 78kg. Plenty of awesome fish to bring home and share among mates and whanau.