2015 / 2016 Marlborough Sounds Fishing Guide

MARLBOROUGH GUIDE SOUNDS FISHING 2015 / 16

& d’Urville Island Tennyson Inlet Outer Pelorus Sound Queen Charlotte Sound Kenepuru Sound Port Underwood Havelock Picton

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2 MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS Fishing Guide 2015-16

THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS

HAVELOCK, KENEPURU & PELORUS SOUNDS

15a – Penguin Bay

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18 – North West Bay

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Gurnard and snapper in summer but it can be a bit hit and miss.

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21 – Tawero Point

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Snapper, kahawai, kingfish and groper in the open water off the northern tip of the point.

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Snapper and monkfish during spring. Use a stray line with good berley. Also a good surfcasting spot for snapper in spring and summer.

1a – Hoods Bay Stray lining for snapper and bottom fish for monkfish in spring.

2 – Kaiuma Bay

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snapper. Berley and strayline.

During winter, fish for flounder on the incoming tide.

6 – Kenepuru Sound Entrance Snapper, kahawai and occasionally kingfish around the mussel farms. Good night results have been reported particularly on the change of light at dusk and sunrise.

7 – Snapper Point

3 – Moutapu Bay Point

8 – Te Mahia

4 – Black Point Large snapper in early spring.

Use light line and plenty of berley and keep quiet.

5 – Mahau Sound Fish the shallows for early spring

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Autumn and winter flounder.

Spring sees yellow-eye mullet in the bay. Sport fish for huge rays spring to summer with a whole dead mullet. Release rays to fight another day.

Another good spot for spring snapper and monkfish. Flounder strong between March and August. Bait net for mullet.

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“Sourced from Land Information New Zealand data. Crown Copyright Reserved.”

1a

1 – Cullen Point

19 – Wilson Bay

20 – Old Homewood Bay

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Scallops after Christmas. Summer snapper often tuck into Miro Bay. Snapper, gurnard, kahawai and kingfish from spring through until autumn. Fish around the mussel farms and the drop-off.

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The longer sound at 52km from entrance to exit, Pelorus is both diverse and productive and supports commercial marine farming. The Kenepuru Sound is a leading snapper fishery and the bays to the north east offer a broad mix of table species.

Road access is generally good and plenty of accommodation and launching options are at the fisher persons disposal.

Scallops after Christmas. Summer to early autumn snapper and kingfish.

Snapper tend to move through off the point, around an hour either side of high tide. Trevally and snapper in the bay in autumn.

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16 – Fairy Bay

17 – Yncyca Bay/Scott Bay

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Late summer to autumn snapper and kingfish. Scallops can be found across the front of the bay after Christmas.

The name says it all. A good deep hole surrounded by rocks provides good habitat for snapper, particularly around the southern mussel farms.

Good snapper fishing opportunities from the beach.

9 – Weka Point

11 – Kenepuru Head Snapper move through here.

The area is very tidal so can only be fished around high tide.

12 – Hopewell Point Snapper, kahawai and kingfish.

A shelly, sandy bottom lends itself to drift fishing.

13 – Little Nikau Bay Snapper and kahawai. Fishing is best February through late autumn. Fish the foul along the front.

13a – Nikau Bay Worth trying at the change of light around dusk. From late summer through to autumn fish the southern entrance.

14 – Turn Point, Four Fathoms Bay

Snapper on the edge of the channel. Change of light best.

Snapper tend to lurk around all the mussel farms in the area. Big kingfish from January to March.

10 – Clark Island

15 – Nydia Bay

Snapper lurk around the mussel farms during summer and follow the harvestors.

Late summer snapper. Winter flounder and kahawai.

MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS Fishing Guide 2015-16 3

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22 - Middle Reef

26 – Gannet Colony

Late summer big snapper and gurnard. Correctly sized cod can be hard to target amongst the bigger fish.

Summer to early autumn snapper, trevally, kahawai, and gurnard. Good setline area.

23 – The Gut: Hopai Bay

Summer through to late autumn perch, snapper, kingfish, trevally, kahawai, barracouta, and gurnard.

Late summer to autumn snapper, kingfish, trevally, salmon and kahawai.

24 – Elie Bay Snapper and kahawai from the beach. A long and winding road but the results could be worthwhile for those willing to put in the effort to get there.

25 – Clova Bay Fish for snapper around mussel farms in summer. Big snapper late autumn. Oysters grow by the stream inflows from Mt Stokes.

27 – Laverique Bay

28 – Beatrix Bay Snapper and gurnard in summer and autumn particularly round the mussel farms. Red cod during winter. Good setline area.

29 – The Peninsula Spring to late autumn cruising snapper, gurnard, greyboy, kahawai, mackerel and kingfish.

30 – The Neck

mullet and mackerel.

31 – Beatrix Bay Western Bank

Havelock Marina

Early spring and autumn snapper, mackerel and yellow-eye mullet

32 – Kauauroa Bay Early summer through to end of autumn snapper, trevally, john dory, kingfish, gurnard, kahawai, yelloweye mullet and jack mackerel.

33 – Rams Head Between the mussel farms some deeper water provides an ideal place to strayline whole pilchards for school snapper during late spring/ summer when they are feeding aggressively.

Late summer through to early winter big snapper, sevengill sharks, kahawai, kingfish, gurnard, greyboy, yellow-eye

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Photo courtesy of Marlborough Sounds Marinas.

Launch from Havelock Marina into the Pelorus and Kenepuru Sounds, and you have entered seriously authentic Sounds’ territory. The fishing is great and the people are real. It’s a no-fuss place where you can make the most of the abundant blue cod, snapper, kahawai, flounder, trevally, scallops, kingfish, and, in the outer reefs, groper and tarakihi.

Fishing and diving is all year round for you and the kids. As well as the more popular fisheries, the Sounds are also home to 200 fish species. Drop a line in the many calm, sheltered bays or head out towards the Cook Strait to the offshore islands renowned for great fishing – The Chetwodes, d’Urville, Stephens and many more. That is where great stories will be created, trip after trip.

What you need to know about Havelock Marina: Two-lane Gobbi Block launching ramp.

Ample parking.

Pay and display machines that accept coins and credit cards.

Floating jetties for loading and unloading.

Petrol and diesel floating fuel jetty.

Four boat wash-down areas.

Modern toilet and shower block facilities.

Secure dry boat storage in boatsheds and compound spaces.

340 berths (10 to 30 metres).

Only 30 minutes by road from Blenheim and one hour from Nelson.

Annual launch ticket available for Havelock, Waikawa and Picton Marinas.

Visit marlboroughmarinas.co.nz for more information.

4 MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS Fishing Guide 2015-16

THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS

1 – Okiwi Bay Esplanade

CROISILLES HARBOUR

A tidal area - small baits and light tackle fishing for snapper, kahawai and flounder. Rays abundant.

2 – Old Wharf Summer and autumn fishing for snapper, stargazer and kahawai. Cockle beds are found all over the sand and mud areas.

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3 – Moncrieff Reserve Both land based and boat fishing for spring and autumn snapper, with kahawai in late autumn. Use berley.

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4 - Okiwi Entrance Dropping into a dense weed bank, snorkel here for moki, butterfish and if you search hard enough possibly a legal paua or two.

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5 – Squally Cove

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Croisilles Harbour is the ideal launching point for accessing the waters of eastern Tasman Bay. A recognised scallop stronghold, Croisilles also experiences a strong run of spring and summer snapper, a gurnard explosion over winter and late summer/autumn sees runs of tasty albacore tuna coming in close to the headlands of Cape Soucis.

Spring - autumn the mussel farm areas produce snapper, kahawai and trevally.

The area between the islands and the cable at the entrance to Squally Cove is the main scallop bed.

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6 – Croisilles Harbour Midground

Any of the banks sloping into the main channel produce great gurnard fishing in autumn and winter. Try setlines and squid for passing snapper over summer.

Legend

7 – Cape Soucis

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Fishing Spot

Kayak Spot

Dive Spot

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DOC campsite

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Boat Launch

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Blue cod all year, with snapper from spring through to late autumn. Tarakihi, kahawai and kingfish can also be found in autumn. Good kina off the rocks.

8 – Albacore Tuna

Summer, autumn trolling for albacore out in Tasman Bay at the 30m - 40m countour. Jet head lures are a favourite.

9 - Island Rocks

From 10m to 18m, divers will find good crays. Pots tend to be avoided on this piece of coast.

“Sourced from Land Information New Zealand data. Crown Copyright Reserved.”

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MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS Fishing Guide 2015-16 5

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like mullet and mackerel year round. Dolphins frequently pass through, herding school fish.

d’URVILLE ISLAND This South Island mecca delivers on all fronts. Beauty, isolation, big fish and a diver’s Disneyland. The warmer waters of Tasman Bay meet the cooler waters from Cook Strait here, and tidal flows produce spectacular current features in the gnarly passages at both ends. d’Urville presents a smorgasbord of options for 19 the fisherperson, spearo and diver.

12 - d’Urville Peninsula Kingfish and large snapper from summer to autumn. A good spot free diving for kingfish.

13 – Ngamuka Bay Land based fishing for school snapper from late spring to late summer. Kahawai plentiful.

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14 – Passage Southern Hole

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Snapper and kingfish from late spring until mid autumn on jigs and bottomships.

15 – Beef Barrels Blue cod (big) are prolific over the patchy reef areas. You need a sounder to locate foul to drift as it’s deserted in between. Dive site for butterfish in close often with exceptional visability.

15a – Chicot Rock

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Well-known reef structure for large blue cod and tarakihi. A good dive site for cray, moki and butterfish.

15b – Paige Rock 9a - Rangitoto Islands The northern tip is a winter snapper hotspot. Drift in 7085m for big reds at slack water or during small tides. Occasional big trevs and school groper.

The eastern side provides exceptional free diving with butterfish, moki, tarakihi.

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10 – Kidnap Channel Fishing the drop-off for snapper during winter with blue cod and kahawai year round.

Snorkel for paua and kina.

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11 – The Roadstead Kahawai and gurnard summer to autumn, but good baitfish

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“Sourced from Land Information New Zealand data. Crown Copyright Reserved.”

Spring and summer kingfish, snapper, blue cod, trevally, tarakihi and moki. Use good berley for bottom feeding species. Try trolling live bait for kingfish. The area also provides good opportunities for free diving and spearfishing.

Crayfish are also found here.

17 - Greville Harbour Good spring and summer snapper and trevally. Cruising kingfish are caught during summer. Kahawai can be found in early autumn. In winter you’ll

A good autumn and winter fishing spot for blue cod and tarakihi. You could find school groper and john dory in late winter here.

19 – Bottle Point Blue cod and perch year round.

Snapper can be found here in late autumn with kingfish and pup groper in winter. Strong currents mean big sinkers.

20 – Nile Head Winter fishing hotspot for big snapper. Drift the bottom in 60-90m for 15lb-plus snapper.

Tarakihi in closer on foul.

21 – Port Hardy Red cod and warehou are found here in winter. From spring through until autumn there are cruising kingfish, kahawai, snapper and trevally, particularly around the mussel farms.

21a – Inner Port Hardy Free diving the rocky coves produces good results for butterfish, moki and crayfish.

22 – Fleet Rocks Snapper and tarakihi during late autumn. Look for big paua in Skull Bay and sizeable kina in close.

23 – Okuri Bay Blue cod year round. Snapper hang around the bay spring to summer, with schooling kingfish summer to autumn.

An ideal freediving location for kina but paua here seldom reach legal size.

24 – Current Basin An area of high current flow that yields kingfish on bibbed surface lures.

Located on the western side of the Marlborough Sounds facing Tasman Bay in peaceful Okiwi Bay, is a small, friendly holiday park and lodge. This is the perfect setting for a relaxed or active holiday. Explore the native bush or rugged coastline, laze in one of the many secluded bays or enjoy the riches of the sea with excellent fishing, scalloping and diving.

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1 - The Drop Off

3 – Inside Saddle Rocks

6 – The Sisters

Kingfish are prolific on the dropoff during winter, caught on live bait or jigs. Snapper, blue cod and trevally also caught on slow jigs and flasher rigs in closer.

High current flows with kahawai and big blue cod all year.

Choose soft baits or lures and lighter braid to counter currents.

Winter fishing for tarakihi, blue cod and groper.

2 – Eastern Bank

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16 – Paddock Rocks

18 – Black Reef

Catch me if you can!

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Blue cod year round. Snapper in spring through to summer.

Tarakihi year round. Good spearfishing for kingfish.

find red cod and tough fighting blue warehou schools.

Snapper and tarakihi at around 80 metres from autumn until spring. Fish flasher rigs and expect large trevally also.

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2a – Stephens Island South

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Fish year round for blue cod, perch and kahawai. Snapper are found in winter in 50 to 100 metres. Good for large winter trevally.

4 – Outside Saddle Rocks Blue cod and perch year round and groper can be found here in mid-winter.

5 – Hells Gate Blue cod, tarakihi and groper, good winter fishing. Free diving for butterfish, but be aware of strong currents and unpredictable eddies outside weedlines. Worthwhile cray spot.

7 - Stephens Island North, Western Point Year round fishing for blue cod, perch and kingfish.

8 – Northern Face Blue cod and perch year round with kingfish in 50 metres during winter. Good tarakihi.

9 - The 220m Mark Has historically been a reliable groper area with catches coming back recently. Drift large ‘couta cut baits or whole perch.

6 MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS Fishing Guide 2015-16 1 – Tuna Bay

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OUTER SOUNDS

Flounder in autumn and winter with elephant fish often found in autumn too.

2 – Penzance Bay Spring snapper then again in mid to late autumn. Kayak fishing spot for reliable cod and snapper fishing.

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3 – Deep Bay

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Spring fishing for school groper and snapper.

4 – Godsiff Bay

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Spring and autumn fishing for snapper. Autumn and winter for gurnard.

5 – Tawa Bay

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6 – Tawhitinui Island

8 – Garnes Bay Northern coastline for gurnard with good spring snapper around mussel farms and large drop offs.

25 – Alligator Head

30 – Te Kakaho Channel

Good for an early start, fish the change of light at dawn from late spring until early autumn for snapper, kahawai, groper and tarakihi.

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MAUD ISLAND NO TAKE ZONE

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33 – Danger Point

A good general free diving spot and has been used for regular spearfishing competitions. From either on the water or in the water choose from butterfish, moki, trevally, tarakihi and blue cod.

Good summer fishing for large snapper and kingfish.

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Spring through to early winter, fish for kingfish, tarakihi, school groper and snapper.

35 – Camp Bay Summer perch.

evenings

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Fish around mussel farms from late spring until autumn for snapper, gurnard, trevally, yellow-eye mullet, jack mackerel and kingfish.

Spring until autumn fish round the mussel farms on an incoming tide for snapper, school groper, kahawai, kingfish, john dory, blue cod, gurnard, leatherjackets and yellow-eye mullet.

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38 – Elsie Bay

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13 – Rams Head Bay

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20 - Allen Strait

22 – Forsyth Island - Shag Rock

Blue cod on north-eastern side of the pass. Snapper and kingfish ride the current.

Fish for blue cod, john dory, perch and tarakihi year round.

Also a worthy free dive spot for paua and kina.

14 – Salt Rock

21 – Chetwode Islands

Early spring and again in late autumn for snapper.

16 – Richmond Bay Early spring then late summer for snapper around the mussel farms. Free dive or dredge for scallops, which tend to be smaller than nearby Ketu Bay.

17 – Ketu Bay

Setline spring and autumn for snapper.

Fish mussel farms through late summer for school snapper and kahawai, limited cod. Surfcasting at Kettle Point.

One of the staple bays in the Pelorus for scallop dredging. Target gurnard through the whole bay on drifted soft baits. Snapper over summer. The northeast corner provides good overnight anchorage in favourable wind, for late night snapper sessions.

11- Cregoe Point

18 – Clay Point

12 – Brightlands Bay Large snapper in late spring and mid to late autumn. Gurnard are caught in winter, while mackerel and trevally are found in summer.

Late spring for school groper, blue cod, snapper and tarakihi. In close great free diving conditions for moki and tarakihi.

41 – Pukatea Bay Fish early summer to late autumn for snapper, kingfish, gurnard, blue cod, kahawai and john dory. Tie up to the mussel farms and fish tides with good current flow. For winter fishing for blue cod and gurnard fish the change of light at dusk on a mid tide.

42 – Turners Bay Early summer to early winter fish for snapper, gurnard, yellow -eye mullet, kingfish, kahawai, leatherjackets and blue cod.

43 – Reef Point Fish for spring snapper and in winter for blue cod and gurnard.

44 - Elaine Bay Kayak fishing. A long paddle but worthwhile. Deep water means extensions are needed on kayak anchor ropes. Fish round the mussel farms with very good results reported while mussel harvesters are operating.

45 - Sentinel Rock Off the back of this rock structure, the bottom quickly drops away. Ideal groper habitat.

46 - Titirangi Entrance The furtherest point you can drive to in the outer Pelorus. Boat fishing for cod and excellent weedbanks for crays, paua and kina. The sandy beach holds pipi and presents surfcasting opportunities for snapper, moki and kahawai.

MARLBOROUGH

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Late summer snapper, kahawai, kingfish. Good gurnard fishing in winter.

Gurnard year round. Snapper from late summer until late autumn. Perch and greyboy in autumn and winter.

Spring snapper and greyboy.

and

40 – Clayface Point

your first stop to the

marlborough

15 – Tawhitinui Bay

10 – Hallam Cove

snapper

36 – Rocky Creek

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34 – Rat Point

In spring and again in late summer to early autumn fish the mussel farms for snapper, kahawai, kingfish, blue cod, greyboys and leatherjackets.

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Spring through to late autumn snapper, trevally, gurnard and small kingfish.

37 – Hamilton Bay

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Summer through to autumn snapper and gurnard.

27 – Waitui Bay

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31 – Forsyth Bay - south western corner 32 – Cape Horn

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School snapper in late spring and summer with large snapper making appearances in autumn, when you’ll also catch gurnard.

Winter fishing for big cod, groper and perch. Fish slack water drifting west to east.

A very exposed headland. Blue cod, tarakihi and trevally year round. Great free diving for butterfish and moki but water conditions are often murky.

Be aware of strong currents around the island. Great kelp gardens on the seaward side of Titi make this an excellent reef dive with crayfish, paua and reef fish common. Boat fishing for tarakihi and blue cod.

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9 – Picnic Bay

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39 – Deep Bay

High current flows best fished at slack tide or small tides in spring for snapper, tarakihi, blue cod and perch.

28 – Titi Island

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NOTE; all these bays have cruising kingfish in summer and autumn.

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29 – Harding Point

Spring and summer fishing for snapper, kingfish, school groper, tarakihi and warehou.

26 – Cape Lambert

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7 – Saville Bay In spring and again in late autumn large snapper can be found cruising these waters.

Gurnard are also caught in autumn and winter.

“Sourced from Land Information New Zealand data. Crown Copyright Reserved.”

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Big snapper in spring. Good for set lining in autumn with occasional elephant fish.

24 – Wakatahuri Point

Eastern side blue cod year round.

Snapper, kingfish in spring and summer. Free diving on the eastern side offers good crayfish opportunities in as little as two metres of water. Exposed current means plenty of kelp and big paua.

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Early spring snapper and gurnard.

MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS Fishing Guide 2015-16 7

THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS

Blue cod in abundance, snapper and kingfish too.

Strong currents make slack water the best time for fishing.

19 – Culdaff Point Find the deep hole off the point and target groper during spring and summer. Good stocks of blue cod and snapper in summer.

Free dive for moki and butterfish off points. Year round tarakihi and summer snapper on the southern side of the islands.

23 – Sugar Loaf Spring kingfish, john dory. Large late summer snapper. Gurnard in autumn.

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THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS

QUEEN CHARLOTTE SOUND TORY CHANNEL

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“Sourced from Land Information New Zealand data. Crown Copyright Reserved.”

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BLUE LIGHT The navigation lights of ferries departing Picton Harbour at night can be difficult to detect amongst the background of shore lights.

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To help overcome this problem blue quick flashing lights operate in Picton Harbour every time a ferry departs the berth at night. These lights continue to flash for approximately 10 minutes.

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One blue light is stationed atop a tower on the seaward end of Waithoi Wharf and a second light is stationed on the seaward end of the Picton Marina Breakwater (see diagram opposite).

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If you are navigating in or near Picton Harbour at night please keep a close eye out for the blue Iights.

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1 – Picton Foreshore

2 – Grove Arm

Shore fishing on northern side of marina for summer snapper, kahawai and baitfish. Squid at nights on prawn jigs around well lit areas and wharves.

Snapper in summer and kahawai year round, good netting in season for flounder, gurnard and monkfish. Dive for scallops in 6-12m when vis allows.

Off the headland kingfish from spring through to autumn.

Snapper and tarakihi with scallops found in the main part of East Bay.

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The shorter of the two main sounds, Queen Charlotte’s beauty is matched by what’s on offer below the surface. Deep water is accessed through Tory Channel and towards the north entrance. Wreck diving is a major drawcard around Cape Jackson, with three noted wrecks adding to the mystery and appeal of the area. Reserves (closed to fishing) foster abundance and the shallower bays at the base of the sound, present top scallop diving in season. Picton and Waikawa Bay offer ‘city style’ amenities and great marinas.

9 – East Bay Parea Point and Pickersgill Island

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10 – Long Island: Northen tip outside reserve Tarakihi year round. Due to currents best fishing is at slack water. ‘Couta are problematic at times so avoid silver tackle.

27 3 – Double Cove

5 – Waikawa Bay

8 – Endeavour Inlet

Fishing is banned in here because it’s a fish nursery. Feed the fish with bread, especially if you have children with you.

Tame snapper and cod might eat from your hands!

Land based fishing for snapper and kahawai and bait fish.

Arrow squid probable at nights on jigs over winter and spring.

Gurnard are caught here from spring until early winter in about 20m of water. School groper are also found in early spring. From summer until late autumn snapper are present.

4 – Ngatawhetawheta Point

Scallops diving in around 15 metres of water.

Cruising snapper during the summer season can be tempted with berley and light flashers.

7 – Bay of Many Coves

4a – Inside Allports Island When visibility allows, try freediving for scallops in 8-13m off the end of the reef.

6 – Dieffenbach Point

Scallops in adjacent bays and snapper off the beaches for land based and off headlands for boat fishing. Kingfish are caught in currents off headlands.

Popular holidaying bay.

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11 – White Rocks On the right day, White Rocks can turn up trumps on big snapper. 7/0 flashers and fresh kahawai fillet is a top choice.

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12 - Waihi Point: Cape Jackson Some of the best spear fishing in the Sounds. Available species are butterfish, moki and tarakihi. Crayfish prolific in rock cracks.

13 - Cape Jackson Year round tarakihi, blue cod and free diving for butterfish in extensive weedbanks. From summer - autumn you’ll find kahawai and kingfish in the current (strong). Fish around Walker’s Rock for trevally. A highly noted blue cod spot.

14 – Anakakata Bay Free dive for butterfish, snapper, kahawai, kingfish.

15 – Ship Cove and inside Motuara Island Scallops, gurnard, flounder, sole. Commercial operators

often dredge here. Softbait over recently disturbed seabed to target gurnard.

16 – Cape Koamaru Blue cod, moki and tarakihi year round. Also a good spot for butterfish. Strong currents attract kingfish and dropoffs hold groper - look for strucutre and drift big cut baits.

20 – Onehunga Bay Free dive for moki, butterfish, paua and crayfish. Off the headlands are good snapper and tarakihi through summer.

21 – The Brothers Fish year round for blue cod, tarakihi and perch. Good soft bait and slow jig territory.

17 – Cook Rock

22 – Awash Rock

Drift over drop off for blue cod, perch, warehou, tarakihi, trevally and kingfish from summer through to autumn.

23 – Ruakawa Rock

Good year round cod fishing with groper through the winter.

hours either side of slack tide.

Paua hotspot.

Free dive for butterfish, moki, tarakihi. Boat fishing year round for tarakihi. Scuba dive for crayfish. Big sharks patrol this coast by the seal colonies.

NORTH WEST BAY, PELORUS SOUND

26a – Lucky Point

$360,000

24 – Unnamed Bay Good free dive spot for butterfish. Solid pauas here.

28 -Rangitoto Wreck:

19 – The Twins

25 – Tory Channel

Snapper and tarakihi in summer, perch prolific year round.

Snapper, kahawai, kingfish and tarakihi. Spear butterfish along weedy points. Strong currents mean best fishing is a couple

Waikawa Marina

www.century21.co.nz/property/276596 Contact Graham McCarthy 027 209 7171 (Licensed under the REAA 2008)

27 – Bushy Point

Groper late spring to late autumn. Fish slack water through to the turn of the tide.

18 – Cooks Bank

2 bedroom Lockwood Fully furnished. Solar power 2 tonne mooring

Fish for blue cod and tarakihi, year round. Good groper can be found directly offshore over foul.

Free dive for butterfish, paua and tarakihi. Good year round boat fishing for tarakihi, perch and blue cod.

Tarakihi and perch year round.

FOR SALE

26 – Jordy Rocks

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Call us today on 03 578 4512

Cape Jackson Sunk over 130 years ago this is an excellent wreck dive with abundant fish life including, butterfly perch, tarakihi and blue cod.

29 - Lastingham Wreck: Cape Jackson A historical wreck with a huge amount of fish life seen. Some big crays resident on the wreck and surrounding reef. Kingfish also seen regularly during the summer.

30 - Mikhail Lermontov: Port Gore The ultimate wreck dive with divers travelling from all over the world to dive this 176 metre Russian cruise liner.

Voluntary no fishing policy exists on the wreck.

We sell all brands New tyres for trucks, cars and motorcycles

join our page

Wheel alignments Batteries Farmlands card accepted

Photo courtesy of Marlborough Sounds Marinas.

Launch from the first-class Waikawa Marina into the abundant fishing grounds of the Queen Charlotte Sound. The stunning scenery is the perfect backdrop to catch blue cod, snapper, kahawai, perch, scallops, kingfish and, in the outer reefs, groper and tarakihi.

These are just some of the 200 fish species that live here.

Waikawa Marina is one of New Zealand’s largest marinas, with close to everything you and your boat need, making things easier, whether you are with your mates, or with the family. Boat maintenance and service providers are available at the Waikawa Marine Centre: repairers, painters, marine engineers, riggers, boat brokers, boat charters, chandlery, and outboard motor sales and repairs. You are also welcome to work directly on your own vessels at the centre, which has a 7,000m2 full service hardstand and a 35 tonne capacity Marine Travelift.

Launching your boat and returning from a successful day on the water is easy at Waikawa.

What you need to know about Waikawa Marina:

Three-lane Gobbi Block launching ramp.

Floating jetties for loading and unloading.

Petrol and diesel floating fuel jetty.

Two wash-down bays.

Modern toilet and shower block facilities.

Ample parking.

Pay-and-display machines that accept coins and credit cards.

600 berths (8-20 metres).

128 boatsheds for rent.

Secure outdoor compounds for rent.

Hardstand and haul out facilities.

24-hour video surveillance and security patrols.

Annual launch ticket available for Waikawa, Picton and Havelock Marinas.

Visit marlboroughmarinas.co.nz for more information.

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10 MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS Fishing Guide 2015-16

Need an extra room at your place?

THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS

Picton Marina

Picton Marina is at the heart of Picton township and at the base of the Queen Charlotte Sound’s fishing grounds; home to over 200 fish species including the ever popular and abundant blue cod, snapper, kahawai, perch, scallops, kingfish and, in the outer reefs, groper and tarakihi.

From

55 per week

$

plus delivery

Ph: 0800 111 344 or 545 0787

www.roommatecabins.co.nz Marlborough Sounds Storage Ltd Managed Boat Storage

Gain easy access to the fishing spots of the Queen Charlotte Sound and the wider Marlborough Sounds from this first-class marina facility and join like-minded anglers of all levels of skill and experience.

Revel in fishing at its best. Drop a line in the many sheltered bays of the Sounds, or head out towards Cape Jackson, Cape Komaru, the Tory Channel and many more, where the catch rate is high.

The award-winning Picton Marina has a modern four-lane launching ramp with floating concrete pontoons, meaning there is no congestion even in the busy

Photo courtesy of Marlborough Sounds Marinas.

Summer months. With ample parking and multiple boat hose down areas, getting you and your boat on and off the water is easy, so you can get home sooner to enjoy your catch.

What you need to know about Picton Marina:

Four-lane launching ramp.

Ample parking.

Pay-and-display machines

that accept coins and credit cards.

Loading and unloading floating pontoons.

24-hour video surveillance and security patrols.

Petrol and diesel floating fuel jetty.

Permanent and visitor berths (8 - 35 metres plus).

Three boat hose down areas.

Annual launch ticket available for Picton, Waikawa and Havelock Marinas.

Modern toilet and shower block facilities.

Secure, dry boat storage.

Visit marlboroughmarinas.co.nz for more information.

MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS COMBOS

Sam’s pick:

Shimano Sustain 5000FG matched with a T/Curve Ocea 100-200gm slow jig rod Secure boat storage - Long or short term Launch & retrieval service Boat collection & delivery to & from the Interisland Ferry

7 Market St, Picton | 021 335 136

www.soundsstorage.co.nz

Sam Macklin with a kingie that was no match for his Shimano combo.

Sam Macklin As a keen fisho working for Shimano NZ, I frequently field test product and the Marlborough Sounds is one of my top places to fish: a huge variety of species, from world class sports fish to supreme quality table fish, and truly

majestic scenery.

Because of the variety of fishing, I usually take multiple combos but my must have set is a Shimano Sustain 5000FG matched with a Ocea T-Curve 100-200gm slow jig rod.

I enjoy the versatility and power of the spin reel, made possible by increased Shimano R&D and advanced technology. The 5000FG produces an impressive 10kg of drag, features the new X-Ship gearing system, which utilises precision engineering to improve strength and toughness; and incorporates the CI4 reinforced carbon fibre rotor system to reduce weight and improve corrosion resistance.

It is ideal for deep water slow jigging but effective bait fishing or casting lures. This setup has

accounted for many different species, including snapper over 20lbs, kingfish up to 20kg, groper, trevally, john dory, gurnard and squid.

The Shimano Ocea T-Curve rod has the lightness to fish all day and I love the soft sensitive action because it won’t easily pull hooks on large soft-lipped snapper, while still having the power to stop big powerful fish, such as unexpected kingies. Although designed for deepwater slow jigs, it is equally at home casting a bait or soft plastic in 12m of water for gurnard.

and diameter lets you fish a wider variety of lures and lighter weights with more action. Experiment with different lures, colours and weights; recently, a change from the faithful Bottomship to a Shimano Butterfly jig made all the difference and changed a slow bite to a good snapper session.

I recommend using very light thin braid; I’m using Sufix 832 10lb. Going down in weight

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MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS Fishing Guide 2015-16 11

www.thefishingpaper.co.nz

6 4 5

3

1

ANCHORING AND FISHING PROHIBITED

2

7

PORT UNDERWOOD Port Underwood is exposed, with the water usually cooler than the other sounds, leading to marine life not unlike the Wellington south coast.

It’s a great base for fishing the deep waters of the Cook Strait and the bays provide superb habitat for paua, crays and reef species.

1 - East Coast south to Port Underwood Remember to check the boundaries of the restricted Cook Strait cable area. That area runs from the southern point of Glasgow Bay to Walkers Rock and includes all of Fighting Bay. There is no fishing of any type allowed, this includes trawling, line fishing or set netting. Kina, paua, and crayfishing is only allowed within 200 metres of the low water mark.

B R A K E

2 – Coombe Rocks

6 – Opihi Bay

MUFFLERS

Good free diving for butterfish, moki, blue cod and crayfish.

Boat fishing for blue cod, perch and tarakihi.

Flounder, garfish, yellow-eye mullet in autumn. Pipi and cockle found in the sand and mud .

BRAKES

3 – Pipi Bay

7- Robin Hood Bay

SHOCKS

Top landbased freedive spot.

Paua plentiful to the south of the bay and crays elusive but found in 3-9m throughout.

Camping ground popular with tourists who have missed out on a spot in nearby Whites Bay!

Tarakihi, blue cod. Free diving for crayfish in two to three metres.

4 – Glasgow Bay Free dive for paua, butterfish and crayfish. Big schools of moki.

5 – Oyster Bay Free dive for a feed of oysters.

The main anchorage for commercial vessels here.

&

A U T O

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12 MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS Fishing Guide 2015-16

THE FISHING PAPER & HUNTING NEWS

MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS COMBOS

Crimpy’s pick: HAVELOCK SLIPWAY PROFESSIONAL BOAT REPAIRS AND MARINE MAINTENANCE

Considering a re-paint on your vessel? Maybe cabin alterations, fibreglassing? No matter what, if you would like an obligation free quote, contact Havelock Slipway!

From basic annual servicing to more complex structural alterations, major refits or painting requirements, Havelock Slipway has the expertise, facilities and equipment to repair or service your vessel!

Pick up the phone and give us a call!

• Slipping vessels up to 100 tonnes, six cradles • Fibreglassing, including composites • Indoor painting facilities • Teak deck repairs and rejuvenation • Stocking anti-fouls, anodes & s/s fasteners

Contact us today to discuss your vessel’s servicing requirements Phone Wayne on 574 2476 or 027 4378 026 14 Rose Street, Havelock Port, Marlborough email: info@havelockslipway.co.nz www.havelockslipway.co.nz

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Battle II 3000

Abu Garcia Veritas jigging rod matched with Penn Battle II 3000 reel I have been having a lot of fun ‘micro jigging’ with light powerful tackle (See issue 120 pg4). My pick for a versatile, light and compact combo is the Abu Garcia Veritas coupled with the Penn Battle II 3000 reel, kitted with 15lb Spiderwire Fluoro-braid, which has a high sink rate, and matched with 15lb Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon trace.

Battle II 3000 It features a full metal body, which maintains precision gear alignment under pressure, the smooth HT-100 drag system with carbon fibre washers, nice cosmetics and durable design. With the Superline Spool™, you don’t need backing because a rubber gasket on the spool drum stops line slippage. It has 5+1 shielded stainless steel ball bearings and features an instant anti-reverse bearing. Essentially, it adds up to a compact, light reel with a silky smooth feel and a ton of grunt.

Abu Garcia Veritas 6’0” PE 1-3 OH Micro Jig Rod This rod is an absolute delight to use: feather light, delicately balanced, responsive, effortless to use and easy to control. The striking pearl white Veritas cosmetic sets it apart aesthetically from traditional designs and the nanotechnology blanks, coupled with Abu’s ‘Next Generation’ light jig rod components makes for a beautiful little unit.

Although developed for light jigging, when paired with a light weight small spin reel such as the Penn Battle II 3000, the Veritas suits a multitude of fishing styles where anglers are looking for sensitivity, comfort and control.

This is achieved on the Veritas by a split-grip handle design and light weight ergonomic grip system, low diameter Fuji KR guides to improve sensitivity, and a one-piece blank to create a smooth action. A Fuji trigger grip reel seat gives that little bit extra control needed when battling big fish.

The nanotechnology mentioned relates to how the graphite fibres are strengthened and bonded at an atomic level: nano particles are injected into the resin that binds the rod, which then bolsters the graphite fibres by surrounding them with a ‘nano-sphere’, thereby creating a stronger bond and increasing the compression strength of the rod. The rod action is slow to medium, so perfect for micro-jigging and soft baiting.

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