T
here are estuaries 
on both sides of the 
peninsula and there 
is several little bays 
with points and rock 
stacks that snapper, 
kahawai, and kingfish 
will cruise by at some 
stage of the tide or day. At the end 
there is a channel with a lot of water 
movement between the head and 
Tiritirimatangi Island (Tiri) and then 
the island itself has lots of reefy 
country to explore and snag a feed.
It’s important to know there are two 
no-fish zones nearby - Long Bay Reef 
that extends towards (but doesn’t 
include) the Weiti river estuary and 
the southern half of Tiri has recently 
been made a marine reserve with 
no take status.  Best to download 
the Marine Mate app if you’re not 
sure. The other fishing restriction 
of note is that live firing from our 
NZ military occurs occasionally and 
when this is a potential danger to 
the public, restricted areas will be 
posted at the boat ramp. I’ve been 
fishing in the channel before and 
could hear the pop-pop-pop of 
rifle training, so it pays to be aware 
when you launch at Army Bay.
For the shore angler there 
are a few spots that are worth 
trying. One of the easiest access 
locations would have to be Army 
Bay when you walk to the right 
and you will see numerous ledges 
to fish from stretching north. If 
you want to walk to the very end, 
you will be rewarded with deeper 
water and usually a heavier bag 
of fish at the end of the session.
For many spots on the peninsula, 
low tide is one of the best times to 
access the low-lying ledges that have 
deeper kelpy snapper habitat to fish. 
Nighttime is usually more productive 
than daytime and berley will help 
ensure you come home with a feed.
SPOTS A&B
The points off these bays can be 
good in autumn and the cooler 
months where the floor drops 
off from 7m+. I have often seen 
bait gathering in these areas and 
snapper hanging around them. 
Drifting with lures in small boats 
or kayaks is fun and bait and 
berley will also work here. Don’t 
anchor too close to the shore so 
you don’t upset the rock fishos.
Jody Waaka hooked up in the 
channel on a good early season fish 
on light gear and a Lanza rod.
Feature
38  FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE

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