Shallow water fishing fires up in Northland

THE HEN: The Hen and Chickens (that's Taranga, the Hen, pictured) have been producing good fish in recent weeks. PHOTO MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM

Fishing during the past week has improved a little for many. Possibly because of the holiday-makers heading south again now the main summer holiday period is over.

Shallows all over the Northland region have started to fire up in as little as a couple of feet of water; the trick for many has been using light line and unweighted, straylined baits. With the water as clear and warm as it is, stealth mode has been critical and the difference between a good day and a rather average one.

The Whangarei Harbour has produced some excellent "food" fishing during the past couple of weeks.

I have been out there on a daily basis, first thing in the morning in the kayak fishing the "shallows" from 5am through to 7am with good results on either incoming or out-going.

Fish have ranged in size from small through to 45-50cm with the latter seemingly few and far between. In 2m at full flood tide, you can see the bottom still and, at 6am, water temperatures are at 24.7C, which has enticed us to go for a dip on more than one occasion after returning to the beach.

We have been doing well on unweighted pilchards cast a good distance from the kayak. Look for shellfish areas, especially where the small mussel beds are.

The entrance end, unfortunately, still doesn't seem to have fired up properly. A feed can be obtained for sure but it has been hard work for those fishing the Number 7 buoy end.

The Hen and Chicks have produced some A class fishing over the last month with the 30m to 90m marks holding good snapper, trevally, kahawai and kingfish.

Makos have made their presence felt out there though and have been taxing a fair percentage of anglers' better fish.

Out around Sulphur Rocks, early morning on the western drop is "snapper ahoy" as well. A good indication of the snapper in the Chicks area is the presence of the commercial long liners, these guys don't fish blind and normally target the areas where the higher concentrations of fish are.

The Bay of Islands is still fishing well with good bait schools in close with marauding snapper and kingfish present at most hotspots.

Shallow waters have again been producing some outstanding fishing, with many people motoring straight out past the best concentrations of fish.

The marlin in the area are looking like things are going to go nuts shortly with masses of bait showing up everywhere.

I have to admit on these calm days, sitting at work is getting harder and harder with the anticipation of some good fishing.