saltwater fly fishing in New Zealand

DECEMBER 2008

EAST CAPE KINGFISH
We have been at East Cape chasing trophy kingfish from October to the beginning of December. November was the month when it all happened: Lots of fish from 10-20kg were landed and lots of 20-30kg fish lost!

The best day (19th Nov) saw Bob Seddon from Idaho battling one massive kingfish after the other. Never have I seen a 15wt fly rod and a Tibor Pacific working that hard!
We had around 15-20 hook-ups on absolute gigantic fish that just smashed us into the reef, one after the other. Bob managed to pull out 3 fish between 15 and 20kg, so at least we are getting a few.

It was amazing to see surface schools of kingfish day after day working the bait.
This season, lots of fly fishers had the time of their life chasing East Cape kingfish.
For anyone interested in chasing monster kingfish next season, late October to beginning of December is the time to go.

FIRST HAMMERHEAD
We have tried for years to catch a hammerhead shark on fly. It’s like they can’t see the fly and they completely ignore anything we throw at them.
Eddie Bossomworth and John Campbell were fishing with me 6-7th Dec when Eddie hooked up in a berley trail.
The shark took us way out at sea and back into the shallows again, where it decided to beach itself for freedom??
Well done, Eddie, for hanging on for 1½ hours hard fight!

TAURANGA
Trevally and kahawai schools are everywhere at the moment.
The trevally average 2kg, but there is a few 4kg fish in there as well. Biggest kahawai so far was caught by Italian angler Enrico Grivel weighing an amazing 4.9kg!
Just before Xmas a huge run of albacore and skipjack tuna moved in. They are free jumping out in the blue water, maybe trying to escape the masses of blue and mako sharks chasing them.
A few yellowfin have been caught by the gear guys and the first marlin has been weighed in.
It looks like we will have an amazing game fishing season ahead of us.

BOOKINGS
We are completely booked out until mid April, but anyone wanting to chase big snapper and trevally in the Far North in late April/May send us an e-mail.

Nik

AUGUST 2008
Launch of our new Saltflyer website.

Thanks to all who contributed:
   Ian Smith (the doctor)
   Nick Foster (duck killer)
   Ted Conning (fly tying innovator)
   Simon Chu (good looks)
   Milan Radonich (The Constant Gardener)
   Mark and Cam (jiggy-jiggy-jig)
   Kevin James (Jaapie)
   Matt McHugh (flyodyssey)
   Craig Worthington (the pro snapper stalker)
   Carl and Jeanie (onthefly)

The fishing this winter has been fantastic. The weather has been terrible though.
During April and May, the weather was excellent but as usual June, July and August was nothing but rain and lots of strong westerly winds.
Whenever a little weather window appeared we have fished hard though, and some amazing fish has been caught.

The Far North is the place to be from April to October. Lots of big snapper and huge trevally are right up in the shallows which has given us some great sight fishing opportunities. Kingfish are few but big, and are in amazing condition.

Even though we have fished this area for many years, I still find new spots every time, and the amount of quality fish always amazes me. The Far North is still unknown in the big world of fly fishing, but everyone that I have taken there, rate this as their No1 place to fish world wide. For those of you not yet familiar with what it offers, you are missing out!

Next to come is our big run of good sized winter albacore. From mid September through October we are chasing these torpedo shaped speedsters that will test any cork drag to the limit.
It is our goal to beat last years 19kg Saltflyer record, and I have some serious blue water fly fishermen on standby ready to go, when the albies turn up. If anyone is keen on testing out their gear and skills, check your backing and give us a call.

Last we would like to thank our clients for lots of great hours on the water. we are looking forward to see you again.

Nik and Anne-Marie Mathiesen