We set out in the second week of the school holidays with the children to our favourite holiday spot, Pukehina Beach. We had big dreams of catching lots of big fish. As you do.

Armed with our Super Kite and Large Skyhook we set about our task earnestly.

Spirits began to wane after about four sets when all we had was one gurnard for our efforts. We were using salted mullet for bait.

After a talk with one of the friendly kite fishing locals we switched to using baby squid and salted bonito for bait.

Our catches improved immediately and over the week and we caught some nice snapper (the largest being just under 5 pounds) and a few gurnard.

The first set on Saturday wasn't the best in regard to angle etc. and we caught nothing. We pulled it down, reset things, and sent it off much better the second time.

We could hardly believe our eyes when on retrieval we had a 16 pound snapper!

This is by far the biggest fish we have caught so far using either the kite powered Bottom Longline or the kontiki and we were thrilled. At the same time we were bringing ours in our neighbour pulled in four snapper, all around the four to five pound mark.

We have decided that it is back to Pukehina Beach at Labour Weekend for another go!

Thanks for your website, we find it great. At some stage soon I plan to give Porangahau Beach a visit.

Regards
Noel Watson & family

First day's fishing with the excellent Flexiwing Kite. We stood in wonder as it almost went to the South Pole.

The wind was from the northwest and blowing about 20 knots. We were using squid for bait and put out two sets, both with five hooks. The first set was put out to about 300 metres for half an hour. We retrieved the kite and caught no fish.

Second set was out around 250 metres for half an hour. We recovered the kite and still no fish. Although we didn't catch any fish we were very happy with the way the Flexiwing Kite operated.

We then went up to the Ferry Hotel for a drink and to get information on the best places to fish. We were advised by the locals to try Ocean Beach where a lot of Kontikis were used.

As the mouth of the lake was closed, hence no whitebaiting, kitefishing would be possible. We couldn't wait for the next day. We were off to Ocean Beach on the 11/10/ 02.

Regards
Bob Garratt
Lower Hutt

The latest report from the NZ Herald indicates the algae which are killing fish in the Hauraki Gulf have been identified. The algae are a species called Karenia mikimoto. A similar species was responsible for killing thousands of fish in Wellington Harbour in March 1998.

The algae are only dangerous to fish when found in large concentrations. These are more common during the El Nino weather pattern.

At least 10,000 fish have been washed up on Orewa Beach, Hatfields Beach and Red Beach since late last week. Most have been estuary and shallow water dwellers, such as flounder and eels. There is no indication that fish caught well off the beach are affected in anyway.

Signs have been erected at the affected beaches warning members of the public not to collect fish or swim until further notice.

Those eating the shellfish affected last time reported heat-sensitive skin, aching limbs and joints, and numb lips. There have been no reports of people being affected by the algae so far.

People are urged to call the Enviroline on 0800-80-60-40 if they noticed anything out of the ordinary.

We have had an interesting report sent in from the east coast of the South Island.

March 2002

I went fishing at Leithfield in March this year. I thought I would send in a report so everyone knows we go kite fishing in the South Island too.

Using a Flexiwing Dropper Rig I put out two sets of three hooks and caught two sharks. The wind was blowing from the northwest on the day I went fishing and there was an incoming tide.

The fishing gets better than this so I can't wait to go fishing again.

Regards

William White

I have had a Flexiwing Kite for four years now, and lived in Australia for the last three years.

Every time I put my Flexiwing Dropper Rig out I always have a crowd gather around to see what I am doing.

I have had some good hauls of fish from the beach. The locals throw the gurnard back when they catch them, not me!

Regards

Kelvin Kennard

I took my Pocket Sled Rig to Thornton Beach two weeks ago. I put out four sets of hooks and caught one kahawai. Baiting my hooks with kahawai, I put out three hooks on each set. I thought with the moderate southwesterly wind blowing I would be in with a good chance of catching whatever was out there.

The sea was calm so I moved on to Matata Beach and had a go at surfcasting. I changed my bait to salted bonito but I didn't manage to catch any fish there. Can't wait till the wind is offshore again so I can get out kite fishing.

A couple of weeks ago I thought I would try Fitzroy Beach in northern Taranaki. The wind was blowing from the southeast so it was a good day to try out my rig. I put out one set and didn't catch anything. Roll on summer.

Regards

Barrie Mckay

Fishers in south Auckland will be pleased to know you have another local stockist of Paul's Fishing Kites products. GBK Fish Bait is now stocking our Target Snapper Hooks.

Gareth and the team have set up a new shop and are open for business now. They will soon be stocking a comprehensive range of Paul's Fishing Kites Ready to Fish Rigs, Kites, Boat Longlines and spare parts.

Drop in and see the team.

GBK Fish Bait
12A Dalgety Drive
Manurewa
Phone (09) 2676370

Thank you to those who responded to our request for more Beach Reports.

Without these reports we have very little information to put into this newsletter. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out the form and let everyone know what fish are out there.

http://www.fishingkites.co.nz/beachreport.htm

The reports do not have to be recent; if you have information from past fishing trips these can be input as well. Even if you caught nothing on your last fishing trip the information is important as it helps to build a real picture of what is happening at that particular beach. Any information about your kitefishing, surfcasting, boat, kayak or kontiki experience is welcome. Thank you to all those who have contributed to the database so far.

Once we have enough reports in the database we will post the average catch by month on the appropriate maps. If enough people send reports in you should almost be able to work out what you will catch before you leave home.

The following is a great weather link for west coast kitefishers

http://ps.gen.nz/%7Ewindy/otherdat.htm

Weather Maps with Isobars

Those fishing elsewhere should check out this one. (Don't forget to check out the two and three day forecast charts at the bottom of the page)

http://www.metservice.co.nz/maps/index.asp

You can help us make this a great newsletter by sending in your fishing reports to http://www.fishingkites.co.nz/beachreport.htm

If you think any of your friends will be interested in our kitefishing site or receiving the newsletter please send them to http://www.fishingkites.co.nz

Miss a newsletter or want to check out the back issues, there is some great reading here

http://www.fishingkites.co.nz/newsletters/archive.htm

Contact Us