the marlin fishery can also be quite
prolific in the warmer months.
The Bay of Plenty is an angler’s and
seafood lover’s paradise. However,
if you don’t have your sea legs or a
suitable vessel for oceanic exploits,
then don’t despair, there’s also a large
charter fleet for fishing, diving or tours
to White Island. Plus, there are tonnes
of beach, rock and estuary options that
shouldn’t be underrated as kahawai,
snapper and even kingfish are real
targets for land-based fishos. You will
find pipi and mussels on the coastal
fringes, flounder in the estuaries,
whitebait at the river mouths and
large schools of kahawai chasing them
with the snapper, and often kingies
not far behind. Forms of recreational
netting and long lining are both legal
in this rich marine environment and
whitebaiting and shellfish gatheringWhakatƗne, New Zealandproduce tasty and nutritious seafood
delights for the non-seafarers.
The diving opportunities are
sensational when the water is clear. It
was a bit murky on our last trip due to
the huge amount of runoff from rainfall
fed to sea by ten major and a number
of minor rivers, in the Bay of Plenty.
Yet when it clears it’s a diver’s paradise,
particularly around the volcanic reefs
of the islands and shoreline. Who can
resist a delicious crayfish plucked from
its craggy ledge, and spearo’s have some
terrific encounters with the plethora of
fish; particularly doing battle with the
huge kingies that can grow to 40kg.WHAKAARI/WHITE
ISLAND
White Island has been spewing
its sulphurous cloud since its
first eruption and formation over
150,000 years ago. Sulphur mining
was attempted but was temporarily
abandoned in 1914, after an eruption
and following lahar (lava) flow killing all
of the workers. It resumed again shortly
afterward but proved uneconomic and
ceased permanently in the 1930s.
Whakaari is New Zealand’s most
well-known active marine volcano,
attracting scientists and volcanologists
worldwide, as well as many tourists
brought to the island mainly via thetradeboats.com.au 57