Fishing spots: Hooked on the Far North

In the first of a week-long series, Herald sports writer and fishing columnist PETER JESSUP shares some secrets of how to reel them in at the best spots up north


The Far North is a fisher's Mecca. It's where I always head when I get a few days off from the salt mine.

A rugged coastline that requires some effort to get to, a perfect fish habitat and low population pressure make the fishing here as good as it gets, probably anywhere in the world.

The baitfish schools are prevalent, birds work on them, schools of trevally and kahawai follow and snapper on the bottom clean up the scraps.

At this time of year the weather can be calm, the swell low and the water clear. That being so, fishing from the rocks and beach is best at dawn or as darkness falls. During the day, you need to head to deep water offshore.

The standard rig is strayline, whether tied straight to a mainline of 15kg or with a swivel and then trace of much stronger line, up to 68kg, to beat the rocks.

Sometimes, in clear water, the former is better. You'll bust off, but get more fish attacks.

Snapper, kingfish, kahawai, trevally and john dory are prevalent. In the right conditions, the big kings will come right up to the rocks.

In many spots around Doubtless Bay there are big drops to deep water and most attract the big predators. Some, like Berghan Pt, are used by those aiming for the first land-based marlin.

Ninety Mile Beach is a major focus for the North. The famous snapper contest in March attracts the best surfcasters nationwide. Fishing the beach requires some local knowledge and a low-tide recce.

The Briljevich family at The Park motel and camping ground at Waipapakauri are happy to give latest advice on beach conditions.

Basically you need to look for gutters that will contain mullet and kahawai and, at high tide, snapper coming in to feed on shellfish. Ninety Mile is a dangerous beach. Beware big surf.

The Bluff offers some of the most exciting fishing in the North, with giant trevally in the bull kelp off the rocks year-round. Heavy line is needed to beat the weed.

The east coast offers more sheltered, sedate fishing given the prevailing sou'westerly that whips the narrow strip of land from North Cape to Kaitaia.

Tapatupotu has decent beach and rock fishing, especially at change of light. Access is from the Conservation Department camping ground, and there is a good chance of snapper to the far left of the beach as night falls, especially on the rising tide.

Walk around the rocks to the right of the stream as far as you can go and you hit The Cut, a major slash into the coastline. Berley-up plenty here and you'll attract kahawai for sure, snapper as a regular and kingfish on a good day.

As you head south, Puheke Reserve (12) offers easy access for night fishing. Drive up over the knoll of the point and walk down to flat reefs that afford great access to deep water. Some surface slop is required - if it's too calm here the fish don't bite. Again, change of light is best.

Across the hills at Tokerau (11), surfcasting is best as dusk falls. The two major streams that run across the beach are the best spots but the length of the beach can be good.

Tuatua baits gathered at low tide work best. Knuckle Pt (7), at the north arm of the bay, offers good, land-based fishing to deep water but access is by kayak or dinghy.

The southern end of Tokerau, the Aurere rocks (10), is a treasure. Snapper are guaranteed here as night falls, from land and boat.

The fishing is best out of a small dinghy, casting baits back into the mussel-covered rocks that line the entrance to the north side of the estuary. Shellfish baits are good but any will work. The water is shallow and the fish big, with multiple obstacles, so 68kg trace is wise.

The rocks at Coopers Beach (9) are good, especially very early in the morning on a tide up to high about 9am. The fishing turns off like a light switch at high tide.

Rangikapiti Pa (8) at the mouth of the Mangonui Harbour is a good provider. Park at the pa lookout and walk the track to the point, then negotiate a steep bush-clad track to reefs that allow a cast to mid-entrance.

Doug McColl fished these waters as a charter operator for more than 220 days a year for 14 years, before settling back to a day job at the Coopers Beach sports store.

Best bait at this time of year is pilchard or squid, or a pilchard in a squid, he says. Fresh, of course, is always best, whether koheru caught from the Mangonui wharf or bonito taken on lures trolled in the bay, where there are solid fish stocks.

Mr McColl wasn't shy about revealing his spots. Number one on the map is Snapper Rock, named because it delivers. Coming up to around 40m, kingies also haunt the rock. The Matai Rise (2) is a reef that holds snapper in summer.

What Mr McColl calls The Hook (3) is a deep cut into the coast where the 50m mark comes closer - a deep-water gut. Up-wellings bring all marine life and live-baiting for marlin is realistic.

Maramahuta (4), also known as Middle Reef, is a mass of foul ground that attracts fish. Straight out from the beach access at Ramp Rd, Tokerau, is spot five, The Ramp, a rare patch of foul off Tokerau.

The Berghan Rise (6) is really deep water. The continental shelf comes up to 90m and hapuku and bluenose are here year-round. Kingies and snapper are prolific in summer.

Fairway Reef is often as far as you need go for a limit bag. It runs parallel with Coopers Beach about one nautical mile out.

TOMORROW Trout fishing in Taupo