Kayak fishing Coromandel Peninsular

Coromandel Kayaking Fishing Coast to Coast Magazine issue 39 written by Sam Woolford It was always going to be a hard job, I was really hating life when I was asked to go and ‘taste test’ a new kayak tours company run by none other than the Fishng Coast to Coast kayak specialists Jackie and Rob. Thursday morning dawned cool and crisp, a heavy fog blanket hung heavily over the Waikato, it didn’t bother me I was already in my car and heading down to Coromandel. I met Shane Hartstone from Gamagatsu in Thames and after a quick coffee we took one car the rest of the way. Soon after we arrived in Te Kouma to a kayak laden trailer and vehicle bristling with paddles and gear. The rest of our team turned up fashionably late, Dean Heller who the sales manager of Ocean Kayaks and Richard Clark owner of the Boatshed Café and Kayaks. Both experienced in the industry and kayaks this was going to be a great kayak tour. I suddenly felt out of my depth – it had been ten years since I was in a kayak. Jackie and Rob have a huge selection of clothing and gear to keep everyone comfortable even on a cool crisp winters day, they quickly suited Shane and I up and filled in the gaps for others. We drove almost 100m to reach the beach where the kayaks where unloaded, and a comprehensive safety/fishing briefing was done. It was good to see safety is in the front of their minds, already a well establhed and professional approach for the kayak tours. We paddled out of the harbour just as the ferry from Auckland was arriving, Jackie pointed out to me was one of the trip options is a five hour fishing trip – what makes this a brilliant option is that the ferry from Auckland comes into Coromandel Harbour at 11am and leaves again at 5pm, what a great way to spend the day. Jump on a ferry shoot down to Coromandel for a day, the kayaks are waiting on the beach for you when you arrive, then straight back out fishing. Almost the perfect crime I thought. I looked ahead to where Rob was leading the party and I could hear the stories already flowing ‘you should have been here yesterday …’ he said excitedly We had an easy paddle out the harbour entrance; the weather gods had blessed us with a beautiful clear day with no wind. As soon as we where out of the entrance the soft baits where cast out and soon after Shane and Rob where tangoing with nice ‘pannies’. Unfortunately the morning was to be slow with only a few fish, so we paddled into a nearby bay for lunch. This bay was magic, the water was crystal clear and we could see the bottom some ten meters down. It was warm and had nice white sand. Rob wasn’t phased about the fishing– ‘this spot always fires in the afternoon, don’t worry they will come on the bite’. I wasn’t listening, as we chatted he was busy pulling a coffee machine came out of the back of his kayak. Yep they have the ability to make a full blown café style coffee, in the middle of the Coromandel on a beach, I love modern technology. What was even more impressive was the quality, it was GREAT. Even Richard (who runs a café) couldn’t fault the coffee – ‘almost as good as mine’ where his words, lunch was a mixture of filled rolls, fruit and pastry’s thanks to Jackie. After lunch we mosied around the beach for half an hour or so, to full and lethargic to contemplate paddling anywhere, Shane stood knee deep in water and caught kahawai while I unsuccessfully tried my luck on the fly rod. After lunch had settled the desire for a midwinter snapper crept back and we where off again, this time a slightly deeper reef (about 500m offshore) was picked, sea anchors where deployed, fishing resumed. Rob was right, the fishing did improve in the afternoon – we where consistently picking up snapper with the odd kahawai or trevally thrown in. After a good afternoon fishing we where chased home by the quickly setting sun, so we paddled home sun on our backs, arms aching, and buzzing about the day we had. The stringers where loaded up with four or five fish each, Rob was grumbling about how slow it was but for a mid winter trip only 6 miles from the beach I thought we did pretty dam well, fish where also released and we had plenty for everyone. In my mind Jackie and Rob have a winning formula, Coromandel kayak tours has been set it up in Coromandel town, that way they and can access anywhere on the peninsular, and will happily custom fit a trip depending on what you wish to do and your time frame. Trips cater for every body irrespective of fitness or size. Trips also range from absolute novice to experienced angler who is just looking for a guide to help get to the best spots. Full tuition on kayaking and soft baiting is included in the trip. I believe the five hour trip we did was a great experience and the amount of people who could take advantage of it is endless it’s a great idea for school holidays, busy Auckland’ers, people keen to get into kayaking but don’t know where to start, and even team building exercises. It would just be to easy to catch the ferry over to Coromandel get off the boat and onto the kayaks – its an easy fun days fishing, with productive results. Click here to see more of Coromandel Kayak Adventures Return to the Articles Page