Raewyn Ensor Blue Ocean Fishing Charters

On the good days, the main catch has still been snapper but we’re starting to see more tarakihi closer in as the water temperature chills. There have been some exceptional John Dory caught and also some very nice gurnard. The tarakihi have been in the 35cm-40cm range and in very good condition.

Best bait has been squid and you can never go wrong with some tuatua or pipi when the tarakihi are hungry. Ledger rigs are working well for all species and a rig with a short trace and running sinker has been producing snapper.

Kingfish are still around and the best catch this week was a real fighter of 12kg.

Barracuda, which have been few and far between, are now back with vengeance – again predictable as the temperatures drop. They do cause some mayhem on-board but make excellent bait if filleted and skinned.

The other effect of the cooler conditions are sharks have become less aggressive.

The overnight trips are producing some good bluenose, hapuka, gemfish and bass. This is the time of the year when they’re biting well, so we have trips planned to get out amongst them.

For winter we’re running some shorter trips from 9am-3pm for those who don’t want to get up so early or want to be home before dark. Fishing at this time of the year, on a nice day, can be spectacular.