Kayak Drifting on the Northern Winds - Part 3

After a great day on the water and a restful night in Ahipara, I faced strong easterly winds that made kayaking practically impossible. I decided to check out Houhora Heads and see if 90 Mile Beach was a better option. Navigating the awful gravel roads was a challenge, but I eventually arrived at 90 Mile Beach, a renowned spot for snapper and trevally. The swell was about 1.2m and dropping, while the winds gusted at around 30 knots—ideal for casting.

I had to be mindful of the tide in my 2WD car, timing my arrival just before low tide for about four hours of fishing. The beach was alive with locals, their 4WDs scattered everywhere. I chatted with a local angler who let me know about a fishing competition happening that day. He pointed me to the tuatua beds, and after collecting a dozen, I set up my first bait.

That night in Houhora, I stumbled upon a local band and decided to relax for a couple of hours while plotting my next move. With strong winds across Northland, pinning down a good fishing spot was tricky. After chatting with locals, I settled on Parengarenga, hoping for enough shelter to launch and fish in 15-20 knot winds.

After an hour's drive, I secured permission to camp near a farmer’s property on the harbour’s south side—perfect for a night before tackling one of my bucket list fishing locations. I was ready to go after monster trevally using soft baits! Early the next morning, I launched my kayak and paddled toward the sandy banks where I planned to fish. The harbour greeted me with crystal-clear waters flowing through deep channels, reminiscent of the Twizel canals. I set up my rig with a curly tail and immediately felt the first hit—a snapper swinging in the current!

Despite wanting to test the outer parts of the harbour, I soaked in the action close to my launch spot, where I found an abundance of fish. Every couple of minutes, a massive eagle ray would cruise past, a sign of a healthy ecosystem.

At one point, I snagged a grey mullet and tossed it out as bait, immediately landing two 40cm snapper from shore.  After a lunch break, I hit the water again. My first cast into just 2 meters landed a beast of a snapper, over 50cm and around 4kg! I lost count of how many snappers I caught that day.

As the sun dipped lower, I found a slightly sheltered channel to fish my way back. After a few more snags, I felt another solid hit. A fish towed me down current, and after a thrilling fight, I was stoked to net another trevally. This beauty measured about 55cm—my personal best!

After a long day in the wind, I returned to the launch spot, exhausted yet exhilarated.

As I packed up my gear and reflected on my adventures along New Zealand’s Northland coast, I was filled with gratitude for each fish hooked, each story shared, and each breathtaking view experienced. My heart longs for future adventures, as the call of the northern wild and the rhythm of the sea promised even more exciting journeys ahead.

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 of your hours of work fall into 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.”