Biting Back in the Bay with Pinky Green

Last week and weekend few were out fishing in the Western Bay of Plenty. There were few paying passengers, or companions available to go fishing. The reasons were many - cold temperatures early in the morning, bad weather/gales forecast, tight financial times and perhaps all of these, and more.

Russ Hawkins (Fat Boy) was out Saturday for a half day's fishing at the 10 Mile Reef. They landed some big red cod, some nice tarakihi, nine pan-sized snapper and a few trevally. They were troubled by the odd baracoutta attack, but otherwise it was a good half day.

On Sunday, Russ, with 13 other members of the Mount Maunganui Underwater Club aboard the Mantra, went diving at three locations - the Okaparus Reef , Cave Rock and the Taioma wreck. Visibility was good. There were a few crayfish, some snapper, red cod, blue mao mao and butterfish.

Our veteran regular kontiki fisher at Papamoa had a good fishing week getting his snapper limit twice and averaging three or four snapper per set over all four occasions. The kontiki fishing was best at the change of light and as far out as the kontiki limit at about 2000 metres.

Kayak fishers two or three miles off Papamoa Beach last week and weekend had some good fishing, catching mainly snapper, tarakihi, and kahawai.

The Western Bay Surfcasting Club held their last Club Fish tournament for the 2011 -12 season last weekend, fishing anywhere within the Western Bay of Plenty.

Fourteen anglers competed. No fish were weighed in.