The continued La Nina weather pattern continues to frustrate the would-be hardcore game fisherman in New Zealand.
With most of the tourist game fishing trips over, it is left to the serious fishos to pursue to game fish in the brief fine weather windows.
With the water still warm and recent catches of Blue Marlin and Mahimahi, the potential is likely to be there, as the water cools, to still catch Striped Marlin on the coast even into early June.
The past season has been one of the best ever for Mahimahi and, although still relatively few, the numbers of Wahoo caught have been much higher than usual.
The season’s best Striped Marlin, just a shade less than 400lbs, has yet to be beaten but this is still a possibility as these fish are now fat after a summer’s feed.
As an illustration of just what is possible in these waters; a top skipper has just returned from a 9 day safari to the Three Kings Islands (in rough conditions) with the following amazing catch statistics:
32 Striped Marlin to 390lbs tagged & released, 2 Blue Marlin approx 500lbs lost, 180lbs Yellowfin lost on the leader, no less than 10 Broadbill to over 600lbs in battles lasting up to 9hours, 6 of these fish were tagged & released.
A further 9 Swords lost during the fights.
There’s still plenty to aim for in the big game stakes until the giant Bluefin Tuna fishing gets underway in mid-July.
Tight Lines!
John Kimberley
Fishingpro New Zealand
http://www.fishingpro.co.nz
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