Thread: Northland - Karikari Peninsula

Hi team,

Me and a couple of lads are heading up to Whatuwhiwhi for 6 days next week. Never fished this area before.

Any fishos on here that may have some intel? Likely areas, rigs, techniques?

Weather permitting we will hit the coast otherwise the Rangaunu harbour.

Target species are kingfish, snapper and trevally. 3 of us fishing out of a 4.6m kingfisher cat tiller styles so cant go too wide at all!

Thanks in advance to all you helpful buggers ad buggeresses!

I don't have any specific knowledge of Whatuwhiwhi . I've fished it once on a kayak I think. All the standard North Island tactics will work, you won't struggle to catch fish. Rangaunu Harbour is loaded with fish. You can easily catch big snapper surfcasting. The only downside is the sea grass which clumps up on your line and is a general pain in the arse when surfcasting. Boat fishing is better for this reason. I have done well at the harbour entrance with softbaits. Current inside the harbour is very strong, so it's better suited to anchoring, bait and burley. Lots of sharks, with no exaggeration, some may be bigger than your boat. It's not a spot for diving.

Awesome, thanks MB. Looking forward to it, may even crack my 20lb snapper with some luck!

Rangaunu Harbour sounds like a good spot - The name in Māori means "To pull out a shoal of fish"

That's got to be good aye!

Last trip to Rangaunu Harbour. First cast at first light. Snapper taken on microjig/ultralite rod from a sandy beach in 50cm water. Stoked!




Mrs MB having fun with one of the many local rays.

good beach launching on waikato bay, nice hard sand, shot a few decent snaps up the top of the penisula in those broken islands, was a rahui up there on the eastern side last time we were up there, mint spot for the 20lb challenge

Originally Posted by nickbop

good beach launching on waikato bay, nice hard sand, shot a few decent snaps up the top of the penisula in those broken islands, was a rahui up there on the eastern side last time we were up there, mint spot for the 20lb challenge

You can no longer launch there. the gate to beach is closed and locked by the local maori. You can launch at Whatawhiwhi and at Rangiputa. Whatawhiwhi is a shallow beach with not much drop off so launching and retrieving needs a little care, but you should be Ok with a couple of guys and the small boat, from there all the coast up to Knuckle is good for casting soft baits into the wash and foul ground and for stray lining. The Whatawhiwhi side of Brodies creek is particularly good for big snaps. There is a pin which comes up to around 6 metre which is a couple of K's off Brodies creek (shown on the charts) which is good for Kings, Also right on Knuckle point if the weather allows it. Over the Rangiputa side if the weather is crappy go up into the harbour and fish the channels right up to the mangroves in the shallow water with Burley for big Snapper. The channel between the the entrance beacons is good for trolling for Kings or nose hook and slow troll a Kahawai. Further out try the Motorara rocks which are just of the RHS headland. Really good for soft baiting on the harbour side of those rocks and big kings hang out around the rocks. For snapper drifting off East beach can be good, look for the birds, or just start a drift a couple of Ks off the beach and sooner or later you will usually run into fish.
Hope this helps, Good Luck.

Originally Posted by nickbop

good beach launching on waikato bay, nice hard sand, shot a few decent snaps up the top of the penisula in those broken islands, was a rahui up there on the eastern side last time we were up there, mint spot for the 20lb challenge

is Waikato Bay open to the public again

A big shark on topwater gear sound like you gibo

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Originally Posted by kukuwai

A big shark on topwater gear sound like you gibo

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Pass!

Gibo that is the east coast of far north. Anywhere there is water under your boat will be spot X. Have fun.

Recommend you pay particular attention to the trevs have a dedicated rig with 40lb or lighter fluorocarbon trace with small hook to attach fresh cube
of kahawai. Create cube trail of fresh kahawai and then drift your baited rig down cube trail, no sinker or very light sinker depending on current.


The real big fellas are cunning as all heck. Anything less than 4 kg's is ordinary. Pull like freight trains.

Originally Posted by trapperjohn

Recommend you pay particular attention to the trevs have a dedicated rig with 40lb or lighter fluorocarbon trace with small hook to attach fresh cube
of kahawai. Create cube trail of fresh kahawai and then drift your baited rig down cube trail, no sinker or very light sinker depending on current.


The real big fellas are cunning as all heck. Anything less than 4 kg's is ordinary. Pull like freight trains.

Wicked, thanks mate!

Originally Posted by Gibo

Hi team,

Me and a couple of lads are heading up to Whatuwhiwhi for 6 days next week. Never fished this area before.

Any fishos on here that may have some intel? Likely areas, rigs, techniques?

Weather permitting we will hit the coast otherwise the Rangaunu harbour.

Target species are kingfish, snapper and trevally. 3 of us fishing out of a 4.6m kingfisher cat tiller styles so cant go too wide at all!

Thanks in advance to all you helpful buggers ad buggeresses!

@RugerM77 may have some advice for the area.