I love driving around the last corner that brings you to the water's edge in Waikawa Bay. You never quite know how the conditions will look.
Monday had a good forecast, and the boats were sitting quietly on the calm water as I rounded the corner.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp4OMnmYa6iGmzfAk2x5gw7aFCDMi-NirAIxE18ryzyOqOhdA_MG9LlK6Cwe-9OADFgxKTRveM7rwsr52A7zydGfxqPpBh1COQ3HBMo-aOEgbxjVdxpgerV86woMcXqAHNwGxXxIKViQ/s1600/1-waikawa-bay.jpg) |
Waikawa Bay. |
The plan was to go out and try to catch a barracouta by trolling a lure, then use it as bait before landing and freezing whatever was left for crayfish pot bait.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZtRqwWxBaY9KxHvVdYI7Abqvp0Y3BDK0DnN7BrsdJkrj8k7SCqMCi4gh8V6swe1kAOa_c6tUiweUkMxS3gIBPF_s83GjOXtkc-vv35Mrgl_KPjdmLubJknMx9vFpGLVZuahYGDw8SLA/s1600/2allports-island-1.jpg) |
Allports Island. |
I motored over to Allports Island and anchored up in a little bay on the West side of the main island. I caught quite a few young barracouta here using a jigging lure a while ago. There was no interest in the lure after a few casts, so I attached my bigger lure to the other rod, ready for some trolling.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIoJxDqS7CxY_dgBJR5SWjOlfhxoewR9Yf70SGzbne8nbhIywXhEn2rRu9ZpC25PDaWjySFU2hkNoRmnu2cn7SQ0u8cN9e8ULs_NZxYd-xQSDn2AX7yxtRsqKGNNizApgnGbeKjzWCA/s1600/3allports-island-2.jpg) |
Allports Island. |
I towed the lure up the north side of the island, then headed north for Kumutoto Point. I've caught nice-sized barracouta both times I've trolled around the point in the past.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKBkRfoY9UzORyC2ohi5iDI8mDuQean8txGqv8BXBJMLkeC24B4uxWbnpEyuuLDUaE7ozesQkfYOn6UKQM1A5_tiiFHo8l4I8bkEfs1wcBsXw1AfbHhMbKfK7et-HepyShgIGWJZgOhA/s1600/4-kumutoto-point.jpg) |
Seals and birds on the rocks at Kumutoto Point. |
I was busy watching some seals as I passed the point, when the reel started clicking with line running out as the lure reached the point. The fish on the end of the line made a run while I took the engine out of gear and got myself organised to reel it in.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZV0YYi_Cz3d1v4KHqhGE8vQRii1YOx78nq-CVh_-xSDcrYHRtRhdSDiFDH9R0j1XgPW1Syu4LJrLppkq5nQFprN2hYL0Ooqwc2eYhGDao1AcJ25i214jQHmlUtSSeTPUZ_4qZBvQ3w/s1600/5-barracouta.jpg) |
Barracouta. |
After a few lively runs, I landed the barracouta that was about a metre long.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisafT0MR4dltE38erw8nO_xkzIgHCZfuLOXIlIeIhDA1b_Ri0t7qe_rztYWeMUK4mjSdRIlRDBZh2X5wH-8FlHLubo2UcDt9rNbXkSngxnhO8GQ8ATxdd5Ox0szsR8kxMM9_GVp_HdUQ/s1600/6-whatamonga-bay.jpg) |
The rods out in Whatamonga Bay. |
I headed south to Whatamonga Bay for some fishing with my freshly-caught bait. There were quite a few bites, but I was unable to land anything except a small spotty when I got close to Karaka Point.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrHW0lXmgI_GHaXGao550hO38D_OAWrERGYuU_0jw1hHn2ovumEZw8tEZKsUY9EMBuXaQXVoKv4zr2zre_up00dWGLao2e8ANCRgS2rZvfY0mjWNeurYHCW3GbW4neLdurDyEPABI7A/s1600/7-karaka-point.jpg) |
Karaka Point. |