Fishing for What?

[Mental]

From YakSolo_333

"If you could fish anywhere in NZ, where would you go and for what species ?"

[Limitless]

Having just been to the Three Kings and fished around the islands, I'm now foaming at the mouth to go back and fish the Banks (both King Bank and Middlesex Bank). Target specie? Top of the list would have to be bass (because though I've yak caught plenty of puka but I've never had a bass), but if the season allowed any of the big tuna or a marlin

[MikeAqua]

Kermadecs.

Target Northern Kahawai.

It's a different species, my guide to NZ fishes records biggest ever Kahawai as 17lb and almost certainly one of these that strayed to Northland. Bound to be bigger ones up there, so an opportunity for a world record (possibly unofficial) Kahawai.

[Limitless]

Kermadecs.

Target Northern Kahawai.

It's a different species, my guide to NZ fishes records biggest ever Kahawai as 17lb and almost certainly one of these that strayed to Northland. Bound to be bigger ones up there, so an opportunity for a world record (possibly unofficial) Kahawai.

I've seen a skin mount of a 16lb Kermadec strain kahawai - very very impressive!

[Hunt&gather]

There are some awesome Puka, bluenose and bass coming out of the Wellington trench at the moment. Would love to have a crack. Too much current to get out there under paddle power but I have a mothership on standby

We have identified a bluenose spot within paddle distance we'd like to have a nudge at - has anyone caught a bluenose that was without the aid of a mothership?

[Limitless]

... has anyone caught a bluenose that was without the aid of a mothership?

To my knowledge no one as yet has a "paddle from shore" bluenose, that's one of my personal goals

[Hunt&gather]

Well if your presentation goes ahead down here Stephen and the weather is favorable then maybe we could hatch a plan. 2-3km offshore paddle with a bit of a drive to the launch site. Fish up to 20kg are being caught by boat fishers.

[awondering]

Ranfurly Banks Been there many times, just an unreal place to fish, anything and everything there.... Great to do some yak fishing there.... Puka/Bluenose fishing becomes a game of getting it the boat before the Makos have them

[destin]

For all those trips where you are in shall we say "monster waters" I would only do with a support craft very close. I have fished from boats and have had many experiences that would have been bloody bad news in a kayak. e.g. a 3 metre thresher shark with a 1.5m tail beating the boat and hitting a person on deck. Another example of a mako jumping into the boat. Or another with a large shark ramming the boat.

Just be real careful out there guys and think "what would I do if happened?"

But I can't wait to hear about all the big fish TR's from this summer

[Limitless]

Well if your presentation goes ahead down here Stephen and the weather is favorable then maybe we could hatch a plan. 2-3km offshore paddle with a bit of a drive to the launch site. Fish up to 20kg are being caught by boat fishers.

Now that sounds VERY interesting. We are in the process of firming up the dates and logistics, but it looks as though I'll be running the seminar on the evening of Tuesday 4th or Wednesday 5th of September. As soon as everything is firm I'll get in touch.

[YakSolo_333]

Ranfurly Banks Been there many times, just an unreal place to fish, anything and everything there.... Great to do some yak fishing there.... Puka/Bluenose fishing becomes a game of getting it the boat before the Makos have them

Ranfurly Banks on kayak Kev?

[awondering]

Why not... you would need a good window of weather to do it though...

[awondering]

Ranfurly Banks Been there many times, just an unreal place to fish, anything and everything there.... Great to do some yak fishing there.... Puka/Bluenose fishing becomes a game of getting it the boat before the Makos have them

Ranfurly Banks on kayak Kev?

Oh mothership required of course

[Limitless]

For all those trips where you are in shall we say "monster waters" I would only do with a support craft very close. I have fished from boats and have had many experiences that would have been bloody bad news in a kayak. e.g. a 3 metre thresher shark with a 1.5m tail beating the boat and hitting a person on deck. Another example of a mako jumping into the boat. Or another with a large shark ramming the boat.

Just be real careful out there guys and think "what would I do if happened?"

But I can't wait to hear about all the big fish TR's from this summer

This is an interesting one and I don't want to hijack a thread - if discussion starts in detail we can get Mental to shift it to it's own heading.

Personally I make zero differentiation between fishing most coastal locations and fishing exotic locations from motherships - I always have the "what if...?" question floating around in the back of my mind at all times. For example I've boated two threashers to the kayak so far, both paddling off Stoney Bay on the Coromandel Peninsula's east coast, so there's potential any time, anywhere. IMHO exotic locations from a mothership aren't any reason to be more vigilant, likewise fishing your home turf within casting distance from shore is no reason to be any less vigilant, the rules of common sense apply at all times.

That said, I've now done numerous mothership trips to "monster waters" and we've always had the big boat nearby. If nothing else it makes landing big kings, puka, and bluenose much easier if you're keeping something for the table

[destin]

Agreed limitless. I do think the chances of something bad happening at the Ranfurly Bank is more likely than in Auckland Harbour. We just need to be prepared as you say.

That said I'm about to do the most dangerous thing possible and cycle home. Wish me luck.

Oh and back on topic I would love to catch a marlin or large tuna from a kayak. It's on the to do. Just working my way up slowly

[Kingfish killer]

Having fished the Ranfurly Banks before and caught some exceptional species there it would be something else to do it in a kayak if the weather allowed .

Id be keen on an XL Bluenose , Puka or Bass .

[MikeAqua]

What if is a very good place to start ...

[Hunt&gather]

The adventure aspect is what hooked me on kayak fishing. Every decision you make on the water is by you, no charter skipper telling you where to find the fish. I find it the ultimate man vs fish battle where you have to know your stuff. Safety first always, I carry a PLB at all times plus VHF and only go wide when there is a decent weather window.

I too would like to catch a marlin/big tuna but I'd rather hone my skills targeting local species especially the ones boaties think are exclusive to their club

I also like the fact money does not Greatly influence your success on a kayak. Comes down to endurance and determination rather than how many horses are pushing your gin palace.

Off topic rant over

[awondering]

Agreed limitless. I do think the chances of something bad happening at the Ranfurly Bank is more likely than in Auckland Harbour.

I on the other hand would feel safer fishing the banks than Auckland harbour

[Kerry]

Chatam Islands, soft bait only with a fully sealed catch bin ha ha. The thing that really attracts me to this place is the diving tho.