PETE LAMB FISHING & SOUTHERN BAIT fishing comp (held 18/19 July 2020)

Let's talk fishing.....

I operate Pete Lamb Fishing Charters, and run a bait and tackle business out of Wellington. I've fished the Wellington region for most of my life and know just about every place that holds fish in the region like the back of my hand. I'm a land based and surf casting specialist, but also run a boatfishing charter operation that targets the main coastal areas on the south and west coast. I've learned a hell of a lot over the years, and like all good fishermen am still learning every day. I'm most always happy to share information to help you get a better fishing experience if you rock up to my shop in Rongotai or contact me online [email protected] or or text/phone me on 0274 439750

regards,

Pete 

Latest fishing report - August 7 2020

FISHING REPORT

Fishing report

It’s been a fantastic run of winter weather here in the balmy capital, with three good weekends in a row and packed boat ramps. Sure enough the fishing has also been worth the wait with some really good results from around the Wellington region, particularly off the south coast. There’s been a big influx of Puka out of the south coast, and deep dropping the Trench and beyond appears to have been far more productive than the west coast.

Here's the winning photo from our recent comp. Shaun Rankin at Kapiti with his trusty 12' tinnie. Shaun also managed 3rd longest snapper winning a Kiwi Sizzler gas barbecue for his effort. Nice One.
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We have had some good intel from one of our commercial operator customers about some great puka and bluenose fishing spots that are out about twice as far as the Trench.

I’m happy to elaborate a bit more on precisely where these spots are if you pop in to see me in person at the shop.

Another commercial operator we know well is pretty impressed by the number of fish out there at the moment, and the general state of the Hapuka fishery. They believe the fish may be moving around a lot more than people give them credit for. They are also not necessarily glued to structure, but will venture out onto the sand a fair distance, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the sounder and possibly continuing a drift a little further than normal off the main foul ground if you have not hooked up.

Especially at this time of year prior to spawning, the fish can be quite mobile, so if they are not at old favourite spot X, they may well be out further on the sand.

Recreational anglers are also picking up good fish on jigs at the moment too, up to around 30 kilos.

The puka are heading deeper, and it can be 300 metres down, so fishing the turn of the tide is important as that’s the only window that will allow lines to stay vertical in the current.

Good numbers of bluenose are also being caught, in fact, they are bloody near everywhere out by the Trench at the moment.

There are even a few kingies out deep too, often just grabbing baits as a by catch, so keep the jigs handy and it’s well worth having a go for puka and kings with a good big jig in lumo patterns.

Snapper fishing has been ok, with more individual fish than big schools. Although the odd good moocher will always be caught in close, often picked up by the kayak anglers or surf casters, most of the good snapper fishing has been out deep in around 70 – 80 metres, but even out to 120 off the west coast, in all the usual reef structures and popular areas such as off Boom down to Ohau etc.

Having said that, Fisherman’s appears to have gone a bit quiet, but that can always change. If you are hitting it with no luck it’s probably best to move on fairly quickly to another area.

The usual staples of blue cod, trevs and terakihi have all been pretty easy to pick up in general fishing, so getting a feed out there is pretty much a given. In any weather or wind direction there’s always somewhere around the coastline to pick up these species. Heres a tip or two if you are chasing the teri’s https://www.nzfishingworld.co.nz/posts/how-to-catch-tarakihi-pete-lambs-top-tips

Snapper are one of those fish that can turn up out of nowhere and there’s always a great story like this one. Check out this 23 pound fish bagged off the Plimmerton Wharf in the middle of the day! Amazing catch, and just the sort of thing that keeps us living in hope whenever there is a line in the water.

The good weather can’t last forever, and it looks like another wintery patch heading our way soon, so best to get out there while you still can.

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Cheers

Pete

Charters

Boatfishing

I'm primarily chartering on the west coast out from Mana Marina at present

There are three types of trips we commonly book.

Four hour trips targeting snapper, kingfish, trevally, gurnard, bluecod and tarakihi in sheltered water. $120pp (share cost) or $1200 for the smaller boat (40ft destiny) or $1400 (47ft Elusive). Tackle hire is $20pp

Six hour trips which can go a bit further and generally have more consistent fishing. We can also have a shot at some deepwater fishing if you want. $160pp or $1600 for the smaller boat (40ft Destiny) and $1800 for 47ft Elusive. Tackle hire is $30pp. 

9hr full day trips are a mixture of deepwater fishing (hapuku) and inshore fishing. $210pp or $2100 for the smaller boat (40ft Destiny) and $2300 for 47ft Elusive. Tackle hire is $40pp. 

We also travel to the Marlborough Sounds and Durville Island on overnight trips which start at $460pp. We can do a package deal with accomodation, meals and fishing gear if required or you can bring/organize your own.  

Boatfishing tuition (on your boat) - knots, rigs, tackle, bait, spots, techniques - $50/hr

Surfcasting

2hr tuition - Rongotai shop - knots, rigs, tackle, bait, spots, techniques - $50/hr

4hr trip - Area - local south coast (30 min drive). Target fish - blue moki, blue cod, kahawai, tarakihi, spotty shark. Cost - $100pp, tackle hire - $20pp

6 hour - Area - extended trip to south coast (30 - 75 minute drive). Target fish - blue moki, blue cod, kahawai, tarakihi, spotty shark. Cost - $130pp, tackle hire - $30pp

10hr trip
Area - extended trip to south coast or Wairarapa (60 - 100 minute drive). Target fish - blue moki, blue cod, kahawai, tarakihi, spotty shark, snapper. Cost - $160pp, tackle hire - $40pp

Overnight Trip
We normally fish both the evening and morning turn of light, if you are keen. Area - extended trip to south coast or Wairarapa (60 - 100 minute drive). Target fish - blue moki, blue cod, kahawai, tarakihi, spotty shark, snapper. Cost - $300pp includes accommodation, tackle hire - $40pp, food $35 (dinner and breakfast)

At the moment there are plenty of hapuku around in the deep, kingfish and snapper inshore (60-80mtrs) and most other species mixed in for good measure closer in. 

On a 6hr trip we can go south to Makara or north to Hunters bank and sometimes out wide for hapuku. Its generally an inshore fishing trip but we are happy to go deep if everyone on board is keen. 

Our 4hr trips are mainly around Mana island and Pukerua bay. There's good numbers of gurnard, trevally and kahawai with kingfish, snapper and warehou turning up sometimes in numbers