Mount Maunganui's artificial surfing reef has been labelled "a complete flop" but the failed surf spot may have unintentionally transformed itself into a fisherman's dream.
More than $2 million later the reef, designed to create world class waves, has been a bitter disappointment to the surfing community.
However, while surfers have not
shown an interest, a number of fish and other sea life have made the reef their home. The president of the New Zealand Underwater Association and event organiser of the 2011 Oceanz dive conference, Shane Wasik, said the Opunake reef in South Taranaki had definitely attracted fish into the beach.
"Any sort of structure is going to change the sea life."
The Bay of Plenty resident said the reef had created a whole new biological community, ranging from plankton and kelp, to crayfish and mussels.
"These all provide extra habitats for smaller fish.
"It would be good for fishing on a calm day. I have seen a couple of boats out there," he said.
President of the Mount Maunganui Fishing Club Steve Penn said it was safe to say that the reef has brought in a lot more fish.
"It had created a habitual environment for fish."
Mr Penn said the reef probably wouldn't encourage rare fish because the water was too shallow, but it would bring more snapper, trevally, tarakihi, and other reef fish. Staff in the marine studies department at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic also suspected there were more fish because of the reef, including fish that did not usually dwell at the beach.
Paper co-ordinator, Dean Tully said: "We have seen spotties there, which could never be found on a sand beach before."
Mr Tully said the polytechnic was looking at researching the reef's sea life officially in the near future.
