Life’s too short for small fish
It’s a tough life out on the water, but someone’s got to do it … and as they say in the fishing world, good things come to those who bait … especially in Northland
Northland is a fisherman’s paradise, with countless charters catering to a diverse range of fishing experiences and skills - whether you’re looking to hook the big one on a game-fishing adventure, or just fancy a day out on the water with a freshly-caught feed at the end of it.
Up here, there’s big game fishing, charter fishing, fishing from kayaks and fishing for kids. Relax on the beach and send out your kites and Kontiki longlines, find a reef or a river, head offshore, inshore, go saltwater or freshwater, surfcast from the rocks and the beach, dive for scallops, or head out on a long-range adventure where you can catch all manner of sea life from snapper and sea bass to tuna and marlin.
Kahawai & terakihi
And yes, we know that some of our fish have funny names, but once you figure that your sea trout is our kahawai and morwong or jackass morwong is terakihi here, you’ll be away laughing.
Over the years, the Bay of Islands has deservedly developed its reputation as an angler’s Eldorado, its abundance of marine life, amidst a myriad of canyons, caves and pinnacles offering a vast range of fishing grounds.
When celebrated author and big game fisherman Zane Grey made his base on Urupukapuka Island back in the 1920s, he showcased the Bay to the world. Today his legacy lingers on, with the Bay of Islands one of the favourite launch pads for gamefishing adventures.
Further north, the Marlin Capital of New Zealand, Whangaroa Harbour, is another prime base from which to experience the thrill of big game and deep-sea fishing along the beautiful Northland coast.
Hook up with your mates for a legendary charter where you can be gone for days at a time - to the ultimate destination for dedicated anglers, the Three Kings Islands. Sitting 35 nautical miles north west of Cape Reinga at the top of Northland, the islands and surrounding areas are a fishing metropolis, where large broadbill swordfish, giant kingfish, sea bass and snapper abound.
Chopper fishing
Experienced sports fishers needing an adrenalin rush need look no further than Paihia-based Salt Air, who will whizz you off in one of its two choppers for a fishing trip with a difference. With each jaunt custom-made to suit your budget and weather conditions, the helicopter will drop you off on the perfect rocky outcrop, where you can fish away to your heart’s content.
It’s all exciting stuff, but if you need a little inside knowledge and local fishing savvy, take a guide along - making sure there’s still enough room for your slithery friends on the trip back.
If fly-fishing’s more your cup of tea, then throw on your leggings, rattle your flies, and head for our rivers and lakes for a spot of trout fishing.
The three Kai-Iwi Lakes 35km north of Dargaville on the West Coast are great all year round for rainbow trout, while the 50km Wairua River is well stocked with rainbow and brown trout.
Big snappers
Life’s too short not to fish, so budding anglers, take a chance to play with the big boys in waters where snapper, trevally, blue cod, terakihi and kohawai are the order of the day. Take it easy with a basic four-hour beginner’s line fishing charter or go hard out on the sky’s the limit, fully catered, go-for-everything you can get (within quota) deal.
For those who are up for a bit of competition, we do them as big as our fish here. Catch the biggest snapper in the annual surfcasting Snapper Classic in the Far North, and you’re up for a cool $50,000.
In New Zealand anglers do not need licenses for recreational saltwater fishing, but they are needed for freshwater sports fishing. All the information you need can be found on the websites fishandgame.org.nz and nzfishing.com.
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