|
|
Fishing off the Beach and Ohiwa Harbour
Magnificent Beaches Beckon By Gregg Smeal.  Photos
by Gregg Smeal and Andrew Whyte
Page sponsor is Whyte
Weddings Photography. Wedding Photographers at Ohope, Whakatane and
the Eastern Bay of Plenty. 
 Welcome
to the Eastern Bay of Plenty.
The beaches are some of the best in the country and return some of the
most popular species of fish whether it be for sport or for your dining
pleasure. We are
blessed in the Eastern Bay of Plenty to have long white sandy beaches
that are all accessible for fishing from the shore.
You will need a rod from ten to fourteen feet and a reel capable of casting
thirty plus metres only.
Almost all garages and bait shops have the favoured bait pilchards or
skipjack tuna and a leisurely stroll will take you into a relaxed world
of fishing. Our
beaches are safe for all types of families and while Dad may throw the
line in the kids can swim safely.
Ohope beach is the perfect opportunity and although not renowned as our
best-fishing beach there are locations and times when it can be unparallel
in fishing excellence.
A leisurely stroll away from bathers will see you alone
on a beautiful flat beach with tepid water, the ideal opportunity to put
the shorts on and wade out to waste deep water and flick your rod into
the rich eastern bay waters.
Within a few minutes you are likely to hook the hard charging kahawai,
which will test novel to expert anglers skills.
These fish vary in size from one to three kilograms and are often best
enjoyed opened up like a book and smoked in a similar fashion to trout.
With a little more time especially in the early morning or on the evening
change of light, snapper can be found in close to the shore feeding on
the abundance of tuatua and pipi.
This premium fish is the target of many local anglers and can be caught
up to ten kilograms in weight.
 Another
popular pastime that is most prevalent along the Ohope beach is setting
a long-line from the shore, many people have purchased a sit-on kayak
which they paddle out up to one kilometre off shore, dragging a long-line
as they go. This
gives them a relaxed but thorough exercise workout, but also allows then
to catch some table fair for dinner.
And once again the best times are generally early in the morning or late
afternoon. Squid
is your first choice of bait as the crabs can be quite ferocious on your
baits.
Another jewel in the crown of Ohope is the Ohiwa Harbour
where a family can partake in catching fish from the local wharf and be
surprised with the sometimes large fish that patrol this area.
Further along from the wharf anglers will be greeted by small sandy beaches
where the Ohiwa Harbour waters lap gently.
From the boat ramp through to the mouth of the Ohiwa Harbour which meets
up with Ohope Beach the fishing can be spectacular. Many large fish inhabit
this stretch of water with snapper and trevally the predominant species
landed. Be prepared
for a thrill as during the summer month's large stingray come to bask
in the warm shallow waters.
These placid fish can provide spectacular fishing thrills as they have
been known to leap out of the water or alternatively dive to the bottom
vacuuming themselves and  providing
anglers with an almost impossible task of landing them.
The best time to fish the harbour is anytime as this inland fishery always
has feeding fish present.
Again a safe place to fish and swim with little need for experience.
A cast as little as twenty metres or as far as sixty metres can net the
same result. If
the sea outside is rough Ohiwa Harbour should be your first choice of
fishery. Long traces
to waft about in the current will net the best results with mussels and
tuatua the preferred bait.
For the angler up for a challenge wading out onto the bar at Ohiwa Harbour
is probably your best chance to land that big one.
It is safe although a little disconcerting as you stand in the middle
of rippling waters knowing that at any stage a big fish can strike your
bait.
Tight lines
Gregg Smeal
© Ohope Beach.info 2003
|
|
