Kayak Drifting on the Northern Winds - Part 1
The Thrill of the Hunt Begins
As I loaded my kayak onto the roof of my car, excitement pulsed through me like the pounding surf. December 2025 was destined to become legendary as I journeyed from Hawkes Bay to the prime fishing spots of Northland. With a modest camping set-up and a heap of fishing gear, I was amped to target species on my bucket list: a 3kg+ Trevally, a 70cm+ Snapper on a soft bait, Pink Mao Mao, and Koheru.
My first stop was Tutukaka. The weather forecast was nothing short of perfect—5 knots of gentle breeze to start. As I launched from the bustling harbour, I could feel the anticipation in the salty air. The rhythm of the ocean was calling!
I kicked off my day targeting snapper. Cast after cast sent my lure skipping across the waves, and my first hit was a small snapper, or “panny,” confirming I was in the right zone. As I paddled toward deeper waters around the 25-metermark, I switched up to slow-jigging with my trusty 60g orange Sunakku. The action was slow at first—just a few taps here and there—until I found a patch of bait flicking on the sounder.
Bam! The rod slammed down with the unmistakable thump of a decent snapper on the other end. The battle was fierce, but I boated a beautiful snapper just over40cm. Gritting my teeth with satisfaction, I paddled on, eager for more action. I drifted along the coast, casting among the rocks, but I quickly realized I had to adjust my strategy to entice the fish more effectively.
Soon enough, I spotted a workup about a kilometre south, where kahawai crashed the surface in a spectacular feeding frenzy. I shifted into hunting mode, casting softbaits and watching with delight as the kahawai violently chased down the baitfish. With every cast producing a flurry of action, I struggled to keep upwith their acrobatic leaps.
After an exhilarating day covering about 10 kilometers, I returned to shore feeling victorious—not just for the fish, but for the stunning sights of native bushand sparkling reefs. Dinner at the Whangarei deep-sea game fishing club was the cherry on top, sharing laughs and tall tales with fellow anglers as the sun dipped below the horizon.
.png)
Game Fishing Out of Marsden Point
The next day brought a new excitement as my northern mate Steve invited me aboard his boat, “Tiki Tuna,” for a short game fishing adventure out of Marsden Point. Our goal? To target marlin and tuna on the coast under brightening skies. It was a compact trip but promised the kind of thrill that makes your heart race.
After clearing the harbour, we scanned for the tell tale signs of life—diving seabirds indicated there was action beneath us. We set up our spread of lures and trolled along beautiful temperature breaks. The anticipation mounted as we trolled with the lures dancing behind the boat.
.png)
Then, suddenly, the shotgun rod bucked, and the reel screamed as a deep vibing lure got hammered! “Yesss!” I shouted, harnessing up with adrenaline surging through my veins as I fought this beautiful yellowfin. The fish charged toward the depths, giving me a proper run for my money.
Steve cleared the lines as I battled it, working together as a team. After an intense fight, with the yellowfin finally subdued at the side of the boat, we hoisted aboard a stunning 18kg specimen! There’s truly nothing like the joy of hauling in a trophy fish—the celebration amidst our cheers was a defining moment of our day.
Although we didn’t land any other fish during the trip, the thrill of that yellowfin remained fresh in our minds as we headed back to port, relishing the day’s success and promising to return to these waters soon. We wrapped up the evening back at the club, savouring delicious, seared sashimi, reliving every heart-pounding moment.
.png)
Based in New Zealand’s North Island, Blair can be found spinning in a river or kayaking along the Hawkes Bay coastline. As both a freshwater and saltwater angler Blair has a wide range of fishing knowledge and regularly targets a wide range of species.
“I used to love fishing because of the thrill of hooking the fish alone, but these days it’s turned into more of a way of life. Setting goals like catching a certain species is so rewarding when all your hours of work fall in to place for the perfect moment as you finally get to hold that fish you had been searching for. Fishing has also taken me all over the country to places I would have never visited before, and I am sure that will continue.”
