What time of year are they most abundant around Napier and where? River mouths and upstream? How far? Awatoto lagoon? Pandora? Keen to have a go sometime at the flatties with a rod rather than spearing them. I read that corn kernels are good, would they take small plastics? I've seen them from the old Pandora bridge, thats where this pics was taken.
Wish I could help. Its been a challenge of mine for many years. The few I have caught have been by the Westshore Bridge (years ago), LeQuense Road several over twenty years. The wharf 40 years ago (big yellowbelly) and Perfume Point. Interesting to nore that many of these were caught on crayfish bait. The snapper don't know where the car park is! Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.
I'm guessing you weren't targeting flounder and they were all accidental catches? I've seen the odd small one at Ocean Beach when wading out to cast etc. I'm definitely going to try for them at some stage, just want to narrow down areas, times, etc to make it a little better than random. Paddle crabs could be a problem with fishing baits on the bottom around here, which is why I asked if they would take artificials, sabikis maybe? Of course crabs may not be such an issue if you fish in the lagoon rather than the surf. http://www.paniasurfcasting.org http://www.surfcaster.co.nz
New Zealand flounders are not the same species as UK flounders but similar tactics could apply. My first ever fish was in UK a flounder on earthworm for bait. Earthworm could work here particularly upstream into fresher water. Try finding some marine worms I've found a few small ragworms in Auckland. Small hooks size 2 or 4 on light trace nylon - 8 to 12 lb fished on the bottom. Most hooks available here are a bit thick in the wire for the small worms. I can send you some hooks if you want. Best of luck
Hi Racepics, I tried to reply when you posted this one but couldn't remember my login details. Anyway, now is the time, I recall one August many years ago at the TukiTuki lagoon catching big flounder on a single hook running rig, #8 longshank 4xl and 1/2 ounce ball fished off a spinning rod. It was blowing really hard with big surf on the beach. The surf casters and whitebaiters laughed at me but I had the last laugh because I was the only one who caught a bag of fish that day. I used big fat worms found under large lumps of cow poo. The bites were 3 light tugs and a steady pull and the fish bent themselves over and were quite hard to pull in, one even managed to pull line off the reel. I guess the drag was too soft. I tried to find places at low tide where there were features on the bottom, flatties like to sit where there is a drop off or merging braid or flow in the current. Cast past where you think they will sit and slowly drag the rig into the sweet spot. Other fish will pester the bait, Trout (need a license to be in possession of Trout)Eels, Mullet (Grey and Yellow eyed) and green shore or estuary crabs. I think Parore don't come into this lagoon. I have seen Black Flounder in the Tutaekuri at the Mangaone junction, quite respectable sized ones too, but that was 40 years ago, there also used to be fresh water shrimp throughout the local rivers but I haven't seen them since 1980. They were good bait too. In the 1970's and early 1980's I used to catch a lot of trout in the lower Tutaekuri on fly and at this time of year they had masses of whitebait in them as well as immature flounder and sole. I have been told immature sole hang on a mud bank about 1 - 2 km off shore so I guess the trout must go out there fore them because sole don't like fresh water. I have heard that Turbot are present on some of our more northern surf beaches and also over on the west coast of our island. Hope I have answered some of your questions. Tight Lines, Philip Takapau
I have found some in reasonable numbers Chris. perhaps we should have a look sometime. The snapper don't know where the car park is! Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.
Definitely should do a flattie expedition or two this season. Fishing in lagoons won't qualify for Pania Field Weekends, but that's not important. Flounder in the frying pan is!http://www.paniasurfcasting.org http://www.surfcaster.co.nz
on 7/6/2015, 4:35 pm
