The ramp was busy as many locals 
were looking to take advantage of 
the forecast and get on the water 
too.  We made our way down the 
river and approached the bar, which 
was nice and calm, after crossing 
easily we gunned it back up the 
coast towards the Rurimi Islands.
SNAPPER FIRST-UP
The forecast was for between 
a southeast 10-12 knots in the 
morning and dying out in the 
afternoon to 4-5 knots, so heading 
to the Rurimis and Whale Island 
to get a bit of shelter and softbait 
for snapper was our first up plan.
Arriving at the Rurimis and another 
boat was already in close and fishing 
as we joined them out of the choppy 
conditions to use the Recon and 
work the shallows with softbaits.  
The fishing was a slow over the 
next couple of hours and we only 
picked up a couple of pannies for 
the bin and a few kahawai which 
were released except the largest, 
which was kept for fresh baits.
Around 11am the wind hadn’t 
yet dropped to venture out further 
with choppy conditions, and with 
softbaiting not productive, we shot 
across in the boat to Whale Island 
to anchor up close on the eastern 
side and out of the wind.  The sun 
was out as we enjoyed a coffee 
from the Thermos and deployed 
the Lowrance Recon to hold us 
in the shallows and cut up the 
fresh kahawai to strayline baits.
While I cut up and cubed small 
pieces to throw out as a berley 
trail, Graeme cast out and was hit 
immediately and dropped a nice fish.  
This was encouraging, so I quickly 
filleted the kahawai and scrapped 
the frame and guts into the water to 
help bring fish in closer to the boat.
Graeme was soon hooked up 
to another fish and landed a nice 
pannie.  I cast out and left the rod 
in the holder and helped him iki 
his first to put in the bin, while he 
recast and I then checked my line.
BUST OFFS
It was unfortunately stuck in the 
foul and I busted off when trying 
to get the hook out, a fish must 
have taken it into the rocks.  This is 
always the way when you don’t pay 
attention to your line.  I rerigged 
and was about to cast another 
fresh bait, when Graeme’s rod 
bent over and he was connected 
to a nice fish that took line.
Graeme hooked a good fish in 
shallow water at Whale Island.
A solid kelpie taken in very shallow 
water at Whale was kept for the bin.
 /FISHINGINGODZONE  13

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