Catching a kingy - charters?

Hey team,

I'm keen to do a trip this year in memory of the old man, who was an average hunter but a really keen fisherman though he never managed to land a decent kingfish.

My brother(s) and I are thinking about doing a trip to catch a kingfish. Realistically, unless we strike it extremely lucky the trip will need to be a charter. We've all fished quite a bit but not for game fish. I've done quite a bit of spearfishing but mostly down south where the vis is usually pretty average, so while I'd love to spear one, I expect that having been out of the water for about a year, my chances of being able to actually spear one are pretty low.

I figure the brains trust will have better info than what our internet searches might turn up. So, what's our best bet?

• I'm guessing a charter out of Auckland?
• Who should we be talking to and when should we be planning a trip?
• Times being a bit tough, and an awesome fly-in hunting trip being a good backup option for a potentially similar cost, what's it likely to cost to get our fish on?

Cheers,
Si.

For a start, think Northland or Coromandel, not Auckland. Summer.

Have you got a boat?

how much ya going to spend the two standouts are far north and fish the 3 kings cape maria van diemen area sail from likely Houhora -- no 2 sail from Whakatane to North Cape fish Lottin Point North Cape and if possible out to Ranfurly bank ( probably best Kingi spot in NZ next to 3 king) check if there is a charter boat working from further up coast be cheaper maybe Whanarua bay or there was a boat operating out of Hicks Bay cost 3 kings my guess $5-6000 at least - Whakatane same both are normally 3 day trips - so how much can ya spend they are the best of the best - they will take at least 6 so cost could be spread around - if there are smaller boats operating out of Whanarua or Hicks bay they will likely take 3-4 and could be down to $1200-1500 per day -- I would not bother with the White Island charters but you would catch kingis just not perhaps the chance at a 35kg plus model like the others

Tauranga, Whitianga or Tairua/Pauanui would be where I would start. A charter out to the Aldermans.

The other place for some really big Kingis is the Ranfurly Banks area off Hicks bay. I'm not sure how feasible it is to get a charter up there though.

look up East Coast Sport fishing Charters based up East Coast near Whanarua bay have accommadation etc or ring Hicks Bay Motel and see if there is still a local boat launching out of Hicks Bay there was - so Ranfurly bank is certainly do able and the best

There is a charter boat that runs from hicks bay

so there ya go having fished some of those areas Ranfurly and Lottin point the potential for a big king just leaves the like of Auckland and Coromandel for dead and accommodation cheaper and Hicks bay boat will be cheaper - they are the closest to Ranfurly banks - we went from Whakatane cost I remember was about $800 each for a four day trip but was six of us and it was some time ago - bigger boat and comfort plus was about a 60 footer - cost now have to be at least $5-6000

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...01f47c9c98.jpg
6m trailer boat, north cape, 20 mins of casting a stick bait while waiting for the divers.


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Attachment 276837 Attachment 276838 couple of decent kingis from 3 Kings both speared both over 40 KG PLUS

I've done a few Charters with Epic charters, out of Tairua/ Whitianga, for kings, got plenty to 15-20kg, lot more expensive now, we paid a 1g a day, 10-12 years or so ago,
First time we did 3 days, arms were so sore from fighting kings, must have boated 30 plus each. the first 2 days, we elected to go snapper fishing, the last day.
I see there boats are a lot bigger now,
A good option, if you want to try a day charter. Lovley area of the coast, I would one day like to spend a few days diving around the Aldermans

My advice, any charter out of Whakatane to White Island - good day trip or even better an overnighter and there's always that element of danger ;)
I would also look at November as a target month as the squid are in force and the Kings go spastic

only Gibo if the charter will also target hapuka and bluenose - the Whakatane skippers only allow 1-2 kingis to be kept - lets face it if one pays to go out there and its bloody expensive now one wants to return with some fish - so a stop for a decent feed on those White Island trips is a must - otherwise its just an arm bending mission and can occasionally not even be that - the kingis out there can play hardball and its not a wasted effort but close to it - last trip we got a dozen good hapuka and bluenose over the two days so yeah we had fish to share around - we got around 8 kingis and kept 4 - but none I would call big - a kingi needs to be over 30kg to be called a horse - the Whiite Island ones we got the biggest was around the 22kg mark good fight but still not huge - White Island itself worth a look yes- but nervous place to be- we anchored out there it smelt of ash and sulphur and ash all over boat in morning - best kingi bait out there flying fish if they are around - net them of boat - White Island can produce the odd real big kingi tho - another possibility is a stop for snapper on way home

Its a damn site cheaper than 3 kings. Plenty of Terakihi there too ;)

[QUOTE=southernman;1693449]I've done a few Charters with Epic charters, out of Tairua/ Whitianga, for kings, got plenty to 15-20kg, lot more expensive now, we paid a 1g a day, 10-12 years or so ago,
First time we did 3 days, arms were so sore from fighting kings, must have boated 30 plus each. the first 2 days, we elected to go snapper fishing, the last day.
I see there boats are a lot bigger now,
A good option, if you want to try a day charter. Lovley area of the coast, I would one day like to spend a few days diving around the Aldermans[/QUOTE

Was that with Toby?