Over 100 Snapper Taken At Whananaki

Northern Advocate, 1 February 1947, Page 4

Over 100 Snapper Taken At Whananaki

If you like fishing, or rather if you like catching fish, you are well advised to cast your line off Whananaki. Wonderful catches of snapper have been reported from these waters this week.

Even a high-ranking Jonah has been eminently successful. Cn Wednesday evening, a party of five Whangarei men crossed the bar and manoeuvred their boat out about two miles.

Within a few minutes something of a shuttle service had begun. Over went the baited lines and up came beautiful 18in. snapper with extraordinary regularity. In less than three and a half hours 108 gems of the deep lay shining in the moonlight. The following evening three Whangarei enthusiasts visited the scene of the previous night’s enjoyment. One of their number was by far the keenest, but least successful fisherman. He had the astounding record of having cast his line on at least 60 different occasions for a single rock cod. HAD HIS REWARD He was a renowned Jonah, and understandably so. But his perseverance had its reward at Whananaki.

The trio pulled vp 36 snapper in half an hour, and the man with the record of one little rock cod from 60 attempts hooked and caught more than his share. All the fish were of excellent size, but when sharks came on the scene, the splendid sport was at an end.

It was the answer to the amateur fisherman’s dream. Solid bites indicated that the hook had served its purpose and the weight of the catch was immediately apparent on the line.

Favourite spots off Onerahi have also lived up to their reputation during the past few weeks. Few evenings or days pass without good catches being reported, and the snapper, although on the small side as a rule, are delicious eating.

The recent fine weather and the many summer visitors has given the sport quite a fillip and number of small boats are out each day anchored over fertile ground.