Hi guys, well after the worst summer weather in a long time i have given up waiting for the rivers to be nice and instead yesterday went for a walk along Meola Reef in the upper Waitamata harbour. I have ben playing with swf for a while but have never realy given it a serious go. I met a friend out there and he showed me the area and the chanels and holes and also very graciuosly let me fish along side him.
Well what can I say, I forgot to take a camera! Matt manged about 5 or 6 snapper up to about 18 inches and I managed my first ever salt fly snapper at about 12 inches, then another a little bigger plus a couple of small kahawhai. All in all a great afternoon fishing from the oyster covered reef in 25 knots of howling wind and only casting to water about knee deep. I have to say it was an absolute blast! So much so that I am planning to head back there today after work.
My wife rekons I am mad as I already have a cold, but hey how can fishing ever make anything worse?
All the best.
Mike
I have always found that spending time outdoors in the fresh air speeds up the recovery process. Fish on mad man!
Well I hit the same spot last night, wind was howling again, but this time straight in to our faces, made getting any distance a problem.
I managed two small snapper about 12 inches long and my mate Matt managed about 4 up to about 16 inches long.
Then it rained. My cold however is not getting any worse, so I may give it another go on the weekend. This spot is right in the middle of the city, while fishing we are looking directly at the harbor bridge and the sky tower, it is remarkable to be able to fish so close to home from the shore.
By the way it does not pay to try walking a mile or so over oyster covered rocks in neoprene booties, even the ones with a hard sole. They are now retired to the bin. My old felt-soled boots however have found a new use and to think I nearly chucked them in the rubish when felt-soles were banned in fresh water.
All the best.
Mike
Hi Mike; I have been doing very much the same thing here in Tauranga Harbour.
Unfortunately the weather has been real grotty with near gale force winds and a lot nof rain putting a lot of Fresh water into the harbour. Then of course there is the Sea Lettuce. Spent and hour trying to fish but all I did was gardening removing weed from the fly.
Last week my fishing buddy landed a Rat Kingie of close to 12 pounds. It was a blast. My First Kingie is still out there waiting to give me a hard time. Hoping to get out in the boat soon ans see if any Kingies want to play.
Do you tie your own S/W Flies? Have Fun. Jax
Sounds like a great time! Don’t forget the camera next time though. I made it out on the harbour with my brother in law and 3 of his kids last week. Between the 5 of us we landed heaps of snapper and 3 travelli. Had one of the snapper tonight for supper. Very yum.
- Jeff
Hey Jax, good to hear you are giving it a bash in the Harbour. Do you know Clark Reid? he lives in Katikati and fishes the harbour flats. I spent a day with him hunting the Stingrays on the flats, the thinking being that the Kings shadow the rays and swoop in on any baitfish disturbed by the rays. We did see a couple near bowentown but the kings had a quick look and then left! Oh well next time.
Jeff, hope you are having a good new year, if you fancy hitting the meola reef one afternoon let me know and we can give it a bash. You will need good boots and a fly line that you don’t mind if it gets a few nicks in it! Add a handfull of clousers or similar and you are all go.
All the best.
Mike
Hi Mike,
Will keep it in mind. I’m pretty sure I’ve got a line that would suit. Time is still a bit tight with the new little one, but I’m sure I could negotiate a day trip 
Speaking of salt, did you ever try the mouth of the Waikato? I recall we chatted about that a time or two.
- Jeff
Hi Jeff, no I never made it down to the Waikato Mouth, other things like work just kept getting in the way!
You do not need a day trip for the Meola reef, I have been fishing it for maybe 3 hours at a time, when the tides in you cant get out there.
Talk soon.
All the best
Mike
Sounds interesting. Must have a look at some salt water patterns.
- Jeff
Hi Mike; yes I do Know Clark but have not fished with him yet.
I have been chasing The Sting Rays in the hope of picking up a Kingie but as of yet No Luck. Seems Not one Kingie has seen my magnificent flies yet which to my mind explains the lack of action.[" G "] 
Going out in a boat after Kahawai on Tuesday and if we can get below them we might just score a Kingie or two. Hope springs eternal!! Jax
Hi Jax!
Good luck on the kingie hunt. Even if they don’t play, kahawai on the fly would be a lot of fun too.
- Jeff
Hi Jax, please post a report, with pics, I would love to see how you go! I saw a small Kingi in Omaha Harbor on Friday but my first cast was, as usual, a bit sloppy and I spooked it. Never mind, next time I will be more carefull.
All the best.
Mike
Hi Guys, I managed a couple of hours after work on Wednesday at Meola reef, had a great time in bright sunshine and managed to catch 3 snapper in the 30 - 35 cm range as well as a couple of small kahawai. I also managed quite a few long range releases!
All in all a great way to spend a lovely summer afternoon.
All the best.
Mike.
Cool beans Mike! I was wondering how you fared. It was a lovely day for it.
- Jeff
Found that SPEED in the retrieve was critical when the Kahawai were feeding on schools of small bait fish.
Hooked and lost another three. Guess my Rolly Polly Retrieving need a lot of work.
Saw five nice Rat Kingies off a channel marker. Wind and tide spoiled our approach and we duffed it big time Spooked the Kingies taking evasive action. “Next Time!” Jax
Nice Kahawai Jax, looks like fun.
All the best.
Mike
Very nice kahawai Jax! They would be great fun on a fly.
- Jeff
Hi guys, fished Meola Reef again last evening, man did it blow, made casting very interesting. 4 bait guys were fishing the spot I wanted to fish so I fished another large hole with a good chanel leading out. My mate Q bought along a bait fishing outfit and he managed 3 snapper for the table and a few released or lost. I fished a small yellow and white Clouser and matched Q fish for fish. Biggest snapper were 45cm, guess what I’m having for tea tonight!
All the best.
Mike
Hi Mike; Sounds as though you had a lot of fun. The wind is also a real dog here in TGA at the moment and the Kingies are not playing ball at all. They seem to be hiding. Went for a quick look at Rotorua. Reports are that the Fresh Water is just as bad as the Salt at present.
Looking to go out to the seaward side of Leisure Island to try for a kingy will let you know the results. Have Fun. jax
Hi Jax, good luck with the Kings, I finaly got some time to sort out some pics from Meola reef.
The quarry
The Spot
And the wind!
Some locals.
All the best.
Mike