Jigging in NZ

[Andrew Johnson]

Fellas

I'm seriously thinking about putting together a jigging trip with some mates to the Nth Island of NZ (eg 3 Kings/Whyte Is/Ranfurly Banks etc) later this year or early next year.

I'd very much appreciate advice from forum members on best times and any recommendations on vessels/skippers.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers

Andrew

[Andre van Wyk]

Andrew

Best bet is to get hold of Chris Wong, who is a memeber here and get the info from him. He organises quite a number of trips to Ranfurly and the 3 Kings, as has been seen on the DVD "Heavy Metal at Ranfurly".
Enchanter with Lance is a great skipper and great boat by all accounts, so is a great place to start.

Load up on the PE6 & PE8 gear, 300 to 500 gram jigs, and plenty of gym time before you go, you'll need it!!!

[Cam Foley]

Yip Chris is the man speak to, November is the best time to target the big boys.

[Josh Morrison]

Hi Andrew,

How many guys are looking to come over for the trip? 4 or more?

What are you wanting to target? kingfish or kingfish + big bottom fish like hapuka and bass.

The 3 Kings and Ranfurly Banks you can target both big kings and bottom fish, White Island you can target big kings + bottom fish but the bottom fishing isn't as good as the kings or Ranfurly.

The big boats which fish the 3 kings are there from March-July. The best options would be....

Enchanter with skipper Lance Goodhew
Contact: Lance Goodhew
Phone:+64 7 308 0288
Mobile: +64 274 800181
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.fishntrips.co.nz

Pursuit with skipper Rick Pollock
Contact: Rick Pollock
Phone: +64 274 925 371
Email: [email protected]
 
The big boats that fish the Ranfurly banks are the same to recommended as above and will fish the area August-Feb/March

Another very good operator is in Whakatane and fishes White Island all year round and he runs 1 or 2 boats depending on number of anglers.

Memory Maker Charters & Accomodation with skipper Lionel Korach
Contact: Lionel Korach
Phone: +64 7 312 5404
Mobile: +64 274 545 597
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.memorymakers.co.nz

check out their website for more details, you can't go wrong with any of these guys.

Josh
 

[Peter Lowe]

Hi All,

I am heading over to NZ to fish Whyte Island next week, Looking for advice on outfits to take and methods which produce - Big Kings are the dream but is jigging the go or popping, Bait fishing, trolling.

Would really appreciate any info or local knowledge. Just trying to get up to speed quickly as the trip came up with very little notice......

Thanks for any help.

 

[Greg Burt]

White Island is my favorite jigging spot Pete, lots of 'Rats' to 15 kg on the medium gear and good numbers in the 25 - 30kg size. Moggy Stickbaited up a 40+kg a year ago but you would need somebody to get you to the shallower areas for that specific type of fishing as most of the fishing area to the South and West of the Volcano is in the 60-100m depth range.
Some charters live bait a bit but a lot of the locals  just Jig.
 The same gear we use off Moreton and Mooloolaba [60-80lb] will do the job, although using 100lb line to put a bit of hurt on the fish when fishing the Volkner Rocks might help beat the Bronzies, as you fish just outside a Bronzie breeding Green Zone.
         Have a good one
         A 'Jealous' Bun

PS: Are you on a charter?

[Cam Foley]

There has been some good kings lately at White up to 42kg on jigs,and even a Blue Marlin hooked on a jig and played for 6 hours by 10 or so anglers before the rod broke.

[Josh Morrison]

Hi All,

I am heading over to NZ to fish Whyte Island next week, Looking for advice on outfits to take and methods which produce - Big Kings are the dream but is jigging the go or popping, Bait fishing, trolling.

Would really appreciate any info or local knowledge. Just trying to get up to speed quickly as the trip came up with very little notice......

Thanks for any help.

 

Hi Peter,

Some of the comonly fished areas can be pretty tough to land big fish in especially if you hook them near the bottom.

Grounds for targetting kings at White can vary in depths from around 35m to around 100m. We have also caught them as bi catch as deep as 280m while targetting bluenose (I think you guys call them blue eye?).

Which charter operator are you fishing with out there? The two best big boat are Pursuit with Rick Pollock or Enchanter with Lance Goodhew and the best two trailer boat charters are Memory Makers with Lionel Korach or Extreme Charters with Mark Armistead.

Lionel from Memory Maker charters was out yesterday with Pony Lui and co from Jigging Master and absolutely slayed them with several kings up to around 30kg. They are out again today and tomorrow with them filming.

All of the charter boats will prefer to either jig for them, or drift livebaits/dead baits for them.

Jigging tackle I would recommend gear from PE5-PE8 on 300gm - 400gm rods and take a range of jigs from 250gm -400gm. There aren't any tooth critters to chew through your leaders out there so use mono or fluoro leaders its up to you. I use 120lb fluoro or 150lb mono out there.

Livebaiting, I still like to use my jigging rods/reels for it but most use 37kg mono on a 37kg standup rod, 150lb leaders and you may need a few sinkers (tear drop shapped from around 5oz-8oz to attach with a rubberband to your swivel) as well as most livebaits will be drifted down deep not surface livebaiting. hooks I prefer to use short shank live bait hooks around 6-8/0 and prefer to hook livies through the nostrils and send em down.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Josh

[Peter Lowe]

Hi Guys,

Great feed back and info from all who replied - thank you very much !

We are going with Silverado - She's a 12mtr Cat and does about 16kn so we should get out to White in 1.5 hrs.

It is great to hear the Kings are stilll being caught and from the look of the boat and having a chat with the skipper we can get into some pretty shallow water so popping them is a reel chance.

Very excited now as I just got my pass port, only took 24 hrs so we leave tomorrow arvo and will be in the water friday morning. I will post up sme pics once we get back.

Thanks again all....

Peter
 

[Josh Morrison]

Hi Peter,

I know the boat Silverado too, Fumio Suzuki from Fisherman charters that boat when he comes to NZ to fish White Island. Both skippers Jason and Milton know White very well so I'm sure you will do well.

Top water stuff will be around the Club rocks, Lazens reef, South West corner or possibly off the Volkners. Have tried poppers around those areas a few times but have only attracted rats but I know of other guys who have landed some fat hogs in those same spots.

good luck!,

Josh

[Jay Burgess]

Hi Guys,

Great feed back and info from all who replied - thank you very much !

We are going with Silverado - She's a 12mtr Cat and does about 16kn so we should get out to White in 1.5 hrs.

It is great to hear the Kings are stilll being caught and from the look of the boat and having a chat with the skipper we can get into some pretty shallow water so popping them is a reel chance.

Very excited now as I just got my pass port, only took 24 hrs so we leave tomorrow arvo and will be in the water friday morning. I will post up sme pics once we get back.

Thanks again all....

Peter
 

Good luck Pete, look forward to seeing the results.

[Andrew Johnson]

Fellas

Thanks for useful inputs - have managed to lock in a week to the Three Kings next April with Lance Goodhew on Enchanter!

Will send through a trip report when we get back.

Cheers

Andrew