I've only fished Stevies a couple of times but did really well on snapper both times. Last year I got a PB @ 18.5lb about 50m off the SW corner. I'm up there each year around mid-late Feb, can't always make it over there depending on conditions. Easterlies make the stretch pretty sketchy - I usually...

Nice report. I'll be at tauranga bay from 14/2 for a week, looking forward to fishing around stevies again. Last year drove up to Taupo bay and fished the coastline north of there, very fishy, got a nice king on softy gear. Bit of a drive though.

I used to fish there a lot when I lived in Manurewa. To be honest, I don't think I have ever gotten a snapper over about 55cm from there. My best ones were in the high current areas between Karamurama and Pakihi. If I were in a comp and trying for a big snapper, I would prefer Orere point over kawak...

Hi

Anyone fishing the northland classic? It is on labour weekend.

I am pretty keen but would like to team up with someone or a group if possible.

I have plenty of experience.

Thanks
Patrick

Does anyone know if Stealth or any other fibreglass kayak maker has tried adding graphene (6% wt for max youngs modulus improvement) into the epoxy? I'm wondering if it helps get something close to the performance of carbon fibre (or a worthwhile improvement) but with the cost of glass fibre. Heck,...

Nice work, I have never had much luck at Mahu. I usually end up paddling out a bit further. Have you got a link for the water spray thing? I tried searching Ali but couldn't word the search properly.

Having the rudder sticking out of the bottom of the hull looks like a pain in the ass. I like to drag my kayak up the beach a bit after I land, then walk to my van to get my kart. Can't see how you'd do that without risking rudder damage. I just grab the "drag handle" on the side of the k...

Mine has the sounder flush mounted on the hatch cover. Has been ultra reliable, in the third owner at least and it’s still fine. That’s because the terminals are dry all the time inside the hill.

I'm definitely keen to take a good look at a plastic stealth. Currently paddling an old Stealth Fisha 550 which is great to paddle, but lacks the large fish hatch of the recent models. I have also had to patch up the gelcoat a couple of times from landing on shingle beaches. Nothing structural, just...

18.5lb caught on 10lb softbait gear. 7” bruised banana. Dragged me into the foul but I was able to use the swell to lift him out, line came up with clumps of weed on it. Tried to release but he was spent.

Iris shoal should be fishing ok by nw, otherwise follow the tide out along north channel and fish around Maori rock and Fairchild reef. Don’t try to fight the current, use it as a travelator.

I’ll just leave this here:

I'll be based at Tauranga Bay from tomorrow until next Sunday in case anyone wants to team up for a paddle? I am happy to drive up to an hour in any direction to get amongst some good fish.

Drop me a PM if you like.

Cheers
Patrick

Nice one - I love Matauri bay too. That channel gets a lot of tidal flow and the wind really funnels thru - can get pretty nasty at times.

The disturbing part is you had that picture already right??

I had the gul code zero salopettes from NZ sailing and although fairly comfortable and warm with the high front and back, the waterproofing was average. I think the seated knees up position in the kayak seat stretches the fabric and compromises the waterproofing. Got worse and worse and I finally go...

Not a bad result in the end Dirk?

Awesome fish well done.

Have you got a sounder? I haven't fished Rotorua but have done a bit of trout fishing from the kayak. I usually look for smelt (usually show up as a faint row of dots in mid water) then try to lower my flies to around that depth and just jiggle them slightly every 30 seconds or so. I use a woolly bu...

Yellow if possible but I'm not fussy, it is a battle-scarred old beast.