Whitianga kingfish trips

[Volitan]

Hi. Just got back after a brief holiday in Nth Island of NZ. It wasn't meant to be a fishing holiday but I took the opportunity to book one specialised kingfish trip (Friday 15th) out of Whitianga. I booked with the big-name charter in the area.

Once we got to NZ I booked another trip for Saturday 9th - nearly lead to divorce but I dug my heels and went anyway.

The trip on Saturday was OK - below expectations for the area but not bad for someone from Sydney. It was a different charter co - big stable catamaran. 40km trip out to some underwater sea-mounts. Livebaiting. Immediately the baits went down two people hooked up and I thought this is going to be good - but then the fishing went hard. The sounder showed massive schools of kingfish in residence from the top of the seamount in 100 metres to the 60 metre mark. Our live baits were drifting though huge schools but the fish were only sporadically interested. I got two smaller kingfish - 70 and 90 cm, then around lunchtime my luck changed and I got the two fish shown. Nice fish but still below the local 20kg benchmark for a good fish. I probably had the best result (luck, nothing else) of any of the 8 anglers on the day, though one guy hooked about 9 good fish but kept getting breakoffs. I think for the 8 anglers there were probably 20 kingfish boated, and a couple of nice snapper.

The one thing that I didn't like was that I hooked two larger fish and both got away due to gear failure. This seemed odd considering I watched the deckie prepare the gear for fishing and he was meticulous. Still, it shouldn't happen on a charter. One of these fish seemed to be much larger and I thought I was onto one of the 20kg class fish, but then the fish that get away always seem larger dont they.

The charter was otherwise excellent.

The skipper was aware things were below expectations so he stayed on the water trying to improve the situation. This meant we had a full 12 hour day on the boat.

By Thursday I was pretty excited about the trip booked for the next day - but the wind was picking up - and in the evening I was told the trip was cancelled - 35 knot winds forecast. Disappointed of course, though I try to keep in mind that in a place with weather as changeable as NZ you need to expect at least one in four trips cancelled - so cant complain. Next day was fine and flat calm but we had to fly out.

cheers

Arron

[Croydon]

G'day Arron,

I think you did pretty well. I was with a group of mates in Whitianga just over two weeks ago. The day we arrived it blew 30 to 50 knts, and continued to do so for the next ten days, until the morning we left. Had four days booked to chase the kings and didn't get out to them once! Beautiful place with some good pubs and restaurants. I think we tried them all twice in the 10 days we were there. I'm glad you got out and had a good time, things could have been worse.............

Cheers Dave

[isofish]

Nice fish mate ,I fished out of there a few years ago and had a ball biggest fish was over 30kg. Awesome place to fish

[alvillanova]

well done nice kings matey...................

[Volitan]

G'day Arron,

I think you did pretty well. I was with a group of mates in Whitianga just over two weeks ago. The day we arrived it blew 30 to 50 knts, and continued to do so for the next ten days, until the morning we left. Had four days booked to chase the kings and didn't get out to them once! Beautiful place with some good pubs and restaurants. I think we tried them all twice in the 10 days we were there. I'm glad you got out and had a good time, things could have been worse.............

Cheers Dave

Four days cancelled - that is tough!

Did you get out on the water at all?

Arron

[Croydon]

We went out in 35knt winds for a bit of a snapper session behind some islands, but it was pretty tough. Had a lot of fun regardless..............

Dave