The west coast always has something interesting on offer and right now we're in the thick of some seriously good snapper fishing action.
Fifty to sixty metres is where the fish are holding and if you aren't getting into them within 30 minutes, up anchor and move. I look for even the smallest sign hard on the bottom and anchor there. Fish tend to be spread out and a few baits in the water will soon draw them to the boat. I've found drifting far less effective out west then it is on the east coast.
You want to use at least 60lb trace, with 8/0 recurve hooks tied on either a one or two hook dropper rig. Sharks are going to turn up and big hooks on a strong trace will deal to them effectively without affecting your snapper fishing. Gurnard are a welcome by catch and expect at least a few big kahawai. An alternative to bait fishing are inchiku jigs which will pick up snapper and gurnard.
Green and red are a good combination of colours and orange jigs also work very well. I use 60 to 100g inchiku jigs on a softbait setup. Small snapper can be a curse in the harbour but the Papakura channel between Mako Pt and No.4 red marker can turn up some very nice fish.
Two weeks ago we caught an 8.2kg whopper along with a 3kg trevally fishing in 12m on an evening incoming tide. Trevally are one of the best sport fish around and can be caught over shallow water shellfish beds on an incoming tide, particularly in low light conditions. Small stray lined baits such as pilchard cubes, squid or shellfish are most effective.
While you can still catch gurnard right through summer, they will be losing condition and the swarms of little snapper make targeting them frustrating.
Remember to fish responsibly, follow the rules and be a safe skipper.
Take care, Smudge.
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