Very early start to New Zealand’s game fishing season?
After a late start to last season’s game fishing, the prospect of the other extreme happening seems highly probable this time around.
Although far earlier than seemingly possible, there have been reliable reports of Marlin sightings on at least four occasions.
Added to this, one boat towing small Tuna lures had a Striped Marlin lit-up and darting amongst the pattern before slowly sinking from view.
A second boat dropping a mullet head into the depths for Hapuka (Wreckfish) were astonished to become hooked up to a leaping Stripey.
After 1hr 20 mins, several jumps and being right alongside on a couple of occasions the hook pulled whilst the task of wrapping taut braid was being pondered with trepidation!
There are pockets of warm water relatively close to the coast and the Snapper are spawning early, so it could be that the game fish are arriving almost three months early!
Bearing in mind that Marlin were still being caught inshore in early June and that there are few boats out at the moment (and none fishing for Marlin!) the prospects seem very good indeed.
On another point, the short Bluefin Tuna season has come to a close after some fantastic catches.
Later to arrive than expected but compensated by good numbers, multiple catches of these tough adversaries were commonplace.
The best fished weighed was 715lbs but the practise of tag & release was, gratefully, widespread this winter. Fish above this weight were reported as returned.
Bookings are already being taken for next year’s bonanza.
Tight lines!
John Kimberley Fishingpro NZ E-mail: marlin@fishingpro.co.nz Marlin Fishing and Sport Fishing Adventures New Zealand 
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