Late start to NZ game season but what great action!
In stark contrast to last season, the fish have really kept us waiting.
Despite the early arrival of a few Blues and the occasional Striped Marlin, the main schools of fish didn’t arrive until the beginning of February.
Whilst the Yellowfin Tuna are still noticeable by their absence and, as yet, Mahimahi and Spearfish are few and far between….the Striped Marlin have arrived in force!
The Bay of Plenty has offered the best fishing in the earlier part of the season, with some very good Blues in the mix (best to date 616lbs) though the depressed economy has lead to many frustrated charter captains tied up at the dock.
Now Tutukaka, further north, is really firing, with double & treble hook-ups a regular feature. Another positive note is the larger than average size of the fish. Most Stripeys are over 200lbs and several over 300lbs are regularly encountered, with the best to date being an impressive 363lbs.
The fish are not particularly easy to hook and the smash & grab at the lures/teasers is often too fast and brief to allow time to switch a live-bait. This makes the recent and successful capture of 27 fish from 35 boats all the more remarkable. There would have been around 100 shots on this day.
With the rate these fish pack on the weight as the season progresses, some record breakers later in the season, if not before, seems likely.
Elsewhere, a big Mako of 847lbs has been taken and there is a noticeable increase in the presence of these awesome predators.
A nice Black Marlin, estimated at 485lbs has been tagged & released from the Bay of Islands and there are also some very good Blues arriving, but most escaping …it all makes for very exciting fishing.
Long may the season last!