Words & Photos: Scott Cushman
Doubtless Bay in the Far North has to be one of my favourite places to fish. There are so many different fishing options there that it’s usually possible to catch something somewhere, even if the weather is not on your side.
Inside the bay are reefs, sand flats, shellfish beds and an extensive rocky coastline on the north and south shores, that provide habitat for all kinds of fish. Further out, game fishing is a popular pursuit and even smaller trailer boats can get to the hundred metre line off the Karikari Peninsula in a short time.
Mangonui and Rangaunu Harbours hold fish, and both present different environments to explore and find tasty seafood. Rangaunu Harbour has a beach launch area at Rangiputa and there is a concrete ramp at Mill Bay in Mangonui.
Inside the bay are reefs, sand flats, shellfish beds and an extensive rocky coastline on the north and south shores, that provide habitat for all kinds of fish. Further out, game fishing is a popular pursuit and even smaller trailer boats can get to the hundred metre line off the Karikari Peninsula in a short time.
Mangonui and Rangaunu Harbours hold fish, and both present different environments to explore and find tasty seafood. Rangaunu Harbour has a beach launch area at Rangiputa and there is a concrete ramp at Mill Bay in Mangonui.
Tokerau Beach
One of the most pleasant fishing experiences is an evening drift along Tokerau Beach, with either softbaits or bait. There are shellfish beds behind the breakers and snapper start to move closer and become more active as the sun goes down. Drifting with a drogue out is a good way to cover ground and find the fish that are mooching over the sand and shells, looking for food.
Drifting with bait is also effective, or you can anchor and start a berley trail if you come across an area that’s holding fish.
A gentle westerly or easterly wind is ideal as you can move across different depths to see where the fish are hanging out. A northerly or southerly isn’t too bad either, although you may need to shift further into or out of the bay to find the depth at which the fish are residing.
Parakerake Bay on the northern side of Doubtless Bay (where the Whatuwhiwhi Top 10 Holiday Park is located on Whatuwhiwhi Rd) is a favourite beach-launching place for locals; it’s very sheltered (except perhaps for southerlies).
In that regard, a couple of pointers: probably best not to try to launch on the west side of the small stream that divides the bay as the sand is soft; plenty of vehicles have been stuck here. Also, at dead low tide the bottom is rocky – but not non-negotiable – for the launching or retrieving of craft.
Karikari Peninsula
The Karikari Peninsula has a good current washing onto it from North Cape, and the islands at the tip of the peninsula provide lots of habitat for snapper, and everything else too. The northernmost rock stack in front of the Karikari Lighthouse (sometimes known as Marlin Rock) has deep water nearby and the up-wellings provide a food chain that schools of kahawai and trevally are a part of. These schools are often shadowed by kingfish, while the abundance of fish life also attracts other predators like sharks, and the occasional black marlin.
A live bait set behind the boat while berleying and targeting snapper on strayline rigs can pay dividends – although it’s probably a good idea to use 24kg instead of 15kg line in case one of the apex predators takes a liking to your live kahawai!
The rock stack closest to the northern point of Cape Karikari is a good place to anchor and berley up to chase some snapper. A gentle northerly is one of the best winds in which to set up here; position yourself on the ocean side and drift something tasty down to where the two currents converge.
Land-based game fishermen have hooked marlin from Marlin Rock before, so if you have an appetite for adventure choose the right day and you could also land on one of NZ’s premiere rock fishing spots. The swell has to be right though, and it’s not the place to take risks. The larger island on the west side of Marlin Rock is easier to land on, and provides a wide and safe platform from which to target kingfish and snapper as well as holding out the possibility of sharks and marlin.
You can experience some amazing sights while fishing Karikari Peninsula: I once watched as a big school of 1kg snapper all took turns at ripping berley out of my berley bag!
Karikari Peninsula can be accessed by boat from Matai Bay (closest option) or Rangiputa, although the run-out from the launching point gets quite shallow at dead low if you have a large boat; both locations require beach launching, but land-based access is unavailable anywhere north of Matai Bay. Matai Bay itself is a very sheltered area and is one of the most beautiful bays on the Northland coast, so leaving the family there while you go catch dinner can be a popular idea. Naturally, it gets busy at tourist time, so factor that into your planning. And there are of course other spots on the peninsula, so leave some time to explore – and bring your dive gear if you like gathering crayfish.
Tuna can be found coming down this coastline – the 100 metre line is close to Matai Bay – and you’ll also see sharks cruising down the current when the blue water is in.
Motutara Rocks
These are a group of shallow rocks and reef system near the mouth of the Rangaunu Harbour (north eastern corner). Launch at Rangiputa and head north; they become obvious as you get out into the bay. Google Earth tells me they are 2.8km from the launch area. A northerly wind with an incoming tide morning or evening can produce here; set up in the current and berley up with strayline gear. All the usual species cruise past, but you can lose gear in the foul if you hook something big – so get ready to scrap as soon as the hook is set!
Puheke Rocks
A land-based option that fishes well at night. There is some rocky structure but you’re fishing mostly over sand. If the coast has been pounded then trying here as soon as it has settled can work well. Ledger and running rigs work – but stay near your rod, as the bites can come at any time. Access is off Puheke Rd, which connects with Rangiputa Rd; park and walk down the hill to the rocks. Daytime fishing can be average because of the shallow sandy bottom, but the change of light tends to fish better.
Mangonui Wharf
It may not look like a fish magnet, but it is. It’s also a wharf that has a fair amount of commercial fishing activity though, so be prepared to respect the commercial guys as they work. Pilchard schools sit underneath the schools of yellow-eyed mullet and mackerel in the summer, and pilchards make the best live baits for kingfish, John Dory or kahawai. Set up a live bait on a ledger rig beside the pylons for a dory, or cast a mackerel into the channel on a running rig for kahawai and kingfish. The odds are in the kingies’ favour though, with so much structure for them to slice the line on, so go hard if you hook up.
At one stage a large local bronze whaler was terrorising spin fishermen casting expensive lures for kingfish, so if you hook something unstoppable, it may have been the bronzie!
Just along the road from Mangonui Wharf is the Mangonui Fish Shop, which has some of the tastiest seafood I’ve ever eaten. The view over the harbour is spectacular at sunset.
Coopers Beach
There are several rocky platforms at Coopers Beach. Access from Taumarumaru reserve (near the local petrol station) off the main road is a good option. My best fishing has been at the southernmost rocky ledge, casting a ledger rig onto the sandy finger angling out to the right. An easterly blow to stir up the bottom is helpful, as is the change of light. It involves clambering down a steep grassy face to start, but the rest of the walk is unchallenging.
Some exploring may turn up better spots; there’s plenty of reef in the area to hold nice eating-sized fish, and consistent berleying can coax them into biting.
If you spend some time fishing at Doubtless Bay, you will no doubt end up with more fish than you can eat in a day or two. Apatu Aquaculture in Cable Bay Block Rd can do a top quality job of smoking and vacuum-packing your catch for you.
One of the most pleasant fishing experiences is an evening drift along Tokerau Beach, with either softbaits or bait. There are shellfish beds behind the breakers and snapper start to move closer and become more active as the sun goes down. Drifting with a drogue out is a good way to cover ground and find the fish that are mooching over the sand and shells, looking for food.
Drifting with bait is also effective, or you can anchor and start a berley trail if you come across an area that’s holding fish.
A gentle westerly or easterly wind is ideal as you can move across different depths to see where the fish are hanging out. A northerly or southerly isn’t too bad either, although you may need to shift further into or out of the bay to find the depth at which the fish are residing.
Parakerake Bay on the northern side of Doubtless Bay (where the Whatuwhiwhi Top 10 Holiday Park is located on Whatuwhiwhi Rd) is a favourite beach-launching place for locals; it’s very sheltered (except perhaps for southerlies).
In that regard, a couple of pointers: probably best not to try to launch on the west side of the small stream that divides the bay as the sand is soft; plenty of vehicles have been stuck here. Also, at dead low tide the bottom is rocky – but not non-negotiable – for the launching or retrieving of craft.
Karikari Peninsula
The Karikari Peninsula has a good current washing onto it from North Cape, and the islands at the tip of the peninsula provide lots of habitat for snapper, and everything else too. The northernmost rock stack in front of the Karikari Lighthouse (sometimes known as Marlin Rock) has deep water nearby and the up-wellings provide a food chain that schools of kahawai and trevally are a part of. These schools are often shadowed by kingfish, while the abundance of fish life also attracts other predators like sharks, and the occasional black marlin.
A live bait set behind the boat while berleying and targeting snapper on strayline rigs can pay dividends – although it’s probably a good idea to use 24kg instead of 15kg line in case one of the apex predators takes a liking to your live kahawai!
The rock stack closest to the northern point of Cape Karikari is a good place to anchor and berley up to chase some snapper. A gentle northerly is one of the best winds in which to set up here; position yourself on the ocean side and drift something tasty down to where the two currents converge.
Land-based game fishermen have hooked marlin from Marlin Rock before, so if you have an appetite for adventure choose the right day and you could also land on one of NZ’s premiere rock fishing spots. The swell has to be right though, and it’s not the place to take risks. The larger island on the west side of Marlin Rock is easier to land on, and provides a wide and safe platform from which to target kingfish and snapper as well as holding out the possibility of sharks and marlin.
You can experience some amazing sights while fishing Karikari Peninsula: I once watched as a big school of 1kg snapper all took turns at ripping berley out of my berley bag!
Karikari Peninsula can be accessed by boat from Matai Bay (closest option) or Rangiputa, although the run-out from the launching point gets quite shallow at dead low if you have a large boat; both locations require beach launching, but land-based access is unavailable anywhere north of Matai Bay. Matai Bay itself is a very sheltered area and is one of the most beautiful bays on the Northland coast, so leaving the family there while you go catch dinner can be a popular idea. Naturally, it gets busy at tourist time, so factor that into your planning. And there are of course other spots on the peninsula, so leave some time to explore – and bring your dive gear if you like gathering crayfish.
Tuna can be found coming down this coastline – the 100 metre line is close to Matai Bay – and you’ll also see sharks cruising down the current when the blue water is in.
Motutara Rocks
These are a group of shallow rocks and reef system near the mouth of the Rangaunu Harbour (north eastern corner). Launch at Rangiputa and head north; they become obvious as you get out into the bay. Google Earth tells me they are 2.8km from the launch area. A northerly wind with an incoming tide morning or evening can produce here; set up in the current and berley up with strayline gear. All the usual species cruise past, but you can lose gear in the foul if you hook something big – so get ready to scrap as soon as the hook is set!
Puheke Rocks
A land-based option that fishes well at night. There is some rocky structure but you’re fishing mostly over sand. If the coast has been pounded then trying here as soon as it has settled can work well. Ledger and running rigs work – but stay near your rod, as the bites can come at any time. Access is off Puheke Rd, which connects with Rangiputa Rd; park and walk down the hill to the rocks. Daytime fishing can be average because of the shallow sandy bottom, but the change of light tends to fish better.
Mangonui Wharf
It may not look like a fish magnet, but it is. It’s also a wharf that has a fair amount of commercial fishing activity though, so be prepared to respect the commercial guys as they work. Pilchard schools sit underneath the schools of yellow-eyed mullet and mackerel in the summer, and pilchards make the best live baits for kingfish, John Dory or kahawai. Set up a live bait on a ledger rig beside the pylons for a dory, or cast a mackerel into the channel on a running rig for kahawai and kingfish. The odds are in the kingies’ favour though, with so much structure for them to slice the line on, so go hard if you hook up.
At one stage a large local bronze whaler was terrorising spin fishermen casting expensive lures for kingfish, so if you hook something unstoppable, it may have been the bronzie!
Just along the road from Mangonui Wharf is the Mangonui Fish Shop, which has some of the tastiest seafood I’ve ever eaten. The view over the harbour is spectacular at sunset.
Coopers Beach
There are several rocky platforms at Coopers Beach. Access from Taumarumaru reserve (near the local petrol station) off the main road is a good option. My best fishing has been at the southernmost rocky ledge, casting a ledger rig onto the sandy finger angling out to the right. An easterly blow to stir up the bottom is helpful, as is the change of light. It involves clambering down a steep grassy face to start, but the rest of the walk is unchallenging.
Some exploring may turn up better spots; there’s plenty of reef in the area to hold nice eating-sized fish, and consistent berleying can coax them into biting.
If you spend some time fishing at Doubtless Bay, you will no doubt end up with more fish than you can eat in a day or two. Apatu Aquaculture in Cable Bay Block Rd can do a top quality job of smoking and vacuum-packing your catch for you.