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Wild West! Big Snaps Mokau!!

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Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Fishing Reports
Forum Description: Share information about your latest fishing trip
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=125800
Printed Date: 29 Mar 2024 at 7:56pm


Topic: Wild West! Big Snaps Mokau!!
Posted By: Snappa Geoff
Subject: Wild West! Big Snaps Mokau!!
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2017 at 8:26pm
Hi All, Almost a repeat performance of my last report an opening was there for half a days fishing, so out Aaron myself and Greg went again In the big ally centre console. Going over the Bar was definately off limits if you have no experience! Big waves coming at you can be daunting but Aaron's patients sitting in the white water and knowing when to go is something you learn from years of experience! Out we go To same Spot i showed him last time. Sea 1.2 metres with a small chop but well fishable. We were only boat out as like last trip. Had a bit of freshly frozen bait from last time, but deployed Sabiki's straight away to catch fresh as well. Caught some Barracouta which is great fresh! Cut one fillet in half, fold skin to skin about a foot long with your hooks top and bottom cast out and it will only be a big Snap that takes it on. Simple!!  So many Fisho's these days complicate things with all the methods available  they end up driving all over the place in there boats with very little to show. After an hour or so bobbing up an down we finally heard the noise of a drag peeling off some Line! Aarons first up with a nice Snap around 8 kg's. Yeh Ha! we are on the Board... Half an hour later he hooked another 7 odd kg. The Couta was living up to one of my best fresh Baits for Straylining. Bait fish went Scarce on Sabiki's but Nice Gurnhards were taking there place. At the two hour mark i got my first run and a goodieSmile A Big Snap engulfed my Couta bait and went on a big run! Let e'm go three times before engaging pressure on him and five or so minutes later had a 9-10 kg snap in the boat! Was one of the Mokau fish that have a big tail for the size of them. Great if your in a Measure Comp! Went 80.5 cm. Pretty much the day heading in shortly after. Few Photo's- Aaron with his couple, Myself, and the biggest on measure showing the size of its FlapperLOL Cheers...



Replies:
Posted By: Muppet
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2017 at 8:49pm
Nice Geoff!

I still think you may be pleasantly surprised if you gave softbaiting a go down there. I reckon you would still smash it Approve


Posted By: kitno
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2017 at 9:56pm
Originally posted by Muppet Muppet wrote:

Nice Geoff!

I still think you may be pleasantly surprised if you gave softbaiting a go down there. I reckon you would still smash itΒ Approve


Even better, try a whole couta, lol.

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Top 10 finish
2024 Grunter Hunter.


Posted By: tonga-tui
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2017 at 10:47pm
Stop it Geoff!! Great effort once again my man


Posted By: ramcoed
Date Posted: 07 Oct 2017 at 10:55pm
Nice bro!will be down there labour weekend for the comp!

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limit your catch not catch your limit!


Posted By: Snappa Geoff
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2017 at 5:17am
Originally posted by Muppet Muppet wrote:

Nice Geoff!

I still think you may be pleasantly surprised if you gave softbaiting a go down there. I reckon you would still smash it Approve
Hi Muppet, thanks for reply. Until very recently i discovered why softbaiting is hardly used off Mokau. Our Fishing club president does alot of fishing in Tauranga- Gulf with softbaits and enjoys it alot. I asked him why not use off Mokau? He's tried numerous times without success. Puts it down to the visibility of the water when near the bottom. Because of the two main rivers here spewing out dirty water all the time even when it appears clean theres always a bottom layer thats dirty. He reverts back to the good old Smelly fresh baits like myself! Maybe wrong but he's a very experienced fisherman. Still with all options and Brands of Softbaits out there, would still love to see some serious softbaiters come here and give it a go! Would happily put them on all my good spots and make sure they have a good time down in Mokau. Cheers.


Posted By: MacSkipper
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2017 at 5:54am
Good one Geoff - yep those big Mokau tails are distinctive alright.

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Good fishing trip nothing breaks, great trip catch fish.


Posted By: Muppet
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2017 at 6:53am
Originally posted by Snappa Geoff Snappa Geoff wrote:

Originally posted by Muppet Muppet wrote:

Nice Geoff!

I still think you may be pleasantly surprised if you gave softbaiting a go down there. I reckon you would still smash it Approve
Hi Muppet, thanks for reply. Until very recently i discovered why softbaiting is hardly used off Mokau. Our Fishing club president does alot of fishing in Tauranga- Gulf with softbaits and enjoys it alot. I asked him why not use off Mokau? He's tried numerous times without success. Puts it down to the visibility of the water when near the bottom. Because of the two main rivers here spewing out dirty water all the time even when it appears clean theres always a bottom layer thats dirty. He reverts back to the good old Smelly fresh baits like myself! Maybe wrong but he's a very experienced fisherman. Still with all options and Brands of Softbaits out there, would still love to see some serious softbaiters come here and give it a go! Would happily put them on all my good spots and make sure they have a good time down in Mokau. Cheers.

I can imagine that being the case Geoff I would go bright and use 7 inch softbaits personally. I would also think trying it after a few days of drier weather would help being a bit clearer. Snapper that size would give some epic bites as the softbaits descend. If I get a spare day or two ....


Posted By: ramcoed
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2017 at 8:21am
I've done soft baiting mokau.we were using massive kahawai baits on the stray lines in 9ms of water with no success. Fishing was dead so I jumped on the front of my ramco and dropped a nuclear chicken up current and it got smashed on the drop! Thinkn it was a kahawai until I closed t bail arm that was ! A nice fite and a nice 7kg fish being netied by t Boyes n t bak! Next 45 mins I almost got smashed on every drop,all up 6 snaps 5kg to 7kg and all fought hard! The Boyes on the bak didn't get a nibble on the kahawai slabs! They swith ed to soft baits but t run had finishe'd! Just shows u.soft baits can have there place!
I was fishing about 1km off u geof one of out day comps and we talked about the soft baits slay t snaps!!!!
2 many missions to remember aye bro !!!!!!πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚ .
If I find the photos IL post them up!

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limit your catch not catch your limit!


Posted By: ramcoed
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2017 at 8:22am
Or it it just old ageπŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜₯πŸ˜₯πŸ˜₯😩😩

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limit your catch not catch your limit!


Posted By: Fishb8
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2017 at 8:32am
Once out on the Dove from Kawhia - the fishing was slow (as it often is to begin with). I chucked out a leger rig with 2 soft plastics on. First fish of the day for the boat on it, then the 2nd, then the 3rd, then the baits started getting hit so pulled it in.
Was fishing more like regular than normal SP fishing.


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Be yourself; everyone else is already taken


Posted By: Muppet
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2017 at 8:36am
Originally posted by ramcoed ramcoed wrote:

I've done soft baiting mokau.we were using massive kahawai baits on the stray lines in 9ms of water with no success. Fishing was dead so I jumped on the front of my ramco and dropped a nuclear chicken up current and it got smashed on the drop! Thinkn it was a kahawai until I closed t bail arm that was ! A nice fite and a nice 7kg fish being netied by t Boyes n t bak! Next 45 mins I almost got smashed on every drop,all up 6 snaps 5kg to 7kg and all fought hard! The Boyes on the bak didn't get a nibble on the kahawai slabs! They swith ed to soft baits but t run had finishe'd! Just shows u.soft baits can have there place!
I was fishing about 1km off u geof one of out day comps and we talked about the soft baits slay t snaps!!!!
2 many missions to remember aye bro !!!!!!πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚ .
If I find the photos IL post them up!

Yeah that is exactly what I would expect to happen with those bigger snapper eyeballing the softies as they go down and they come up to smash them.
There are places in South Australia that sound exactly like Mokau and the guys over there nail snaps to 40lb on softies. 


Posted By: Snappa Geoff
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2017 at 9:59am
Originally posted by ramcoed ramcoed wrote:

Or it it just old ageπŸ˜‚πŸ˜‚πŸ˜₯πŸ˜₯πŸ˜₯😩😩
Ha Ha MarkClown  I remember! Okay your next trip down you go Softies i'll  Stick to my big Baits. If you out fish me Thats itLOL I will give e'm a go!!


Posted By: Potty
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2017 at 12:25pm
Mokau lacks a few key ingrediants to be a great soft bait spot
1 - structure
2 - current lines
3 - Snaps out west are more scavengers than predators




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Love fishing, love my job. It's a bloody shame that they clash. http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">


Posted By: Muppet
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2017 at 12:46pm
Originally posted by Potty Potty wrote:

Mokau lacks a few key ingrediants to be a great soft bait spot
1 - structure
2 - current lines
3 - Snaps out west are more scavengers than predators



The first two are generally considored essential for straylining too. Smile

Not saying there is anything wrong with Geoff methods obviously he slays them just as a point of trying something new. I vary up my fishing personally just to keep things interesting as I think most guys do. I just reckon once you get a few big ones on the board with the softbaits (or jigs whatever)down there it would be all go. Thumbs Up  




Posted By: krow
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2017 at 9:35pm
Living the dream. Love your posts. Congrats AGAIN.


Posted By: Muzzfishing
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2017 at 10:28pm
Nice Geoff cheers for the report. 

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http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow">     A Good Skipper Keeps the water on the outside of the boat.


Posted By: White snake
Date Posted: 08 Oct 2017 at 11:28pm
Great report thanks Geoff.how the whitebaiting going.must be hard work with all this rain.


Posted By: Snappa Geoff
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2017 at 4:39am
Originally posted by krow krow wrote:

Living the dream. Love your posts. Congrats AGAIN.
Thank you krow! always appreciate your replies. Cheers.....


Posted By: Snappa Geoff
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2017 at 4:50am
Originally posted by White snake White snake wrote:

Great report thanks Geoff.how the whitebaiting going.must be hard work with all this rain.
Hi White snake, thanks for reply. Love the rain for whitebaiting! I'm a 95% mouth Scooper. There's a few of us that get e'm that way! The more rain-floodwater in the river as the whitebait come in the more they hold to the side and edges as the outgoing current flood water is to strong for them to swim in. along we go scooping e'm up! Sometimes hard work but rewarding when you get a few kg's or so. Cheers....


Posted By: vr4king
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2017 at 12:39pm
Man you must one of the only people in the Naki fishing....Id love to get an invite to join you one day, I absolutely love stray lining from my kayak normally head of Urenui in about 7-12 mtrs water with mixed results but generally get a good feed. 




Posted By: Snappa Geoff
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2017 at 1:18pm
Originally posted by vr4king vr4king wrote:

Man you must one of the only people in the Naki fishing....Id love to get an invite to join you one day, I absolutely love stray lining from my kayak normally head of Urenui in about 7-12 mtrs water with mixed results but generally get a good feed. 


Nice Big Snap there vr4kingThumbs Up Don't need an invite, just P.M. me. Will work something out. My Brother Kayaks out from Rapanui and gets the big ones in close like yourself, when i have one of my mates in boat with me. Have had a couple of other Naki Kayakers over the years row out to where i fish. Enjoy meeting and helping other Forum Members....Cheers


Posted By: feeder
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2017 at 5:51pm
Another great day Geoff, here's my take on softie's out west.
 
Yes I have tried them, had the tail bitten off one at Gannet, my neighbour is an avid soft bait fan at Coro, I took him out to show him the ropes out of Kawhia, granted we were fishing in 50 odd metres, Kel thrashed the water, after I had boated my 18th snapper he asked can I have one of those flasher rigs and he promptly caught a double header including fish of the day, completing our limit bag.
 
I use softie's up north with reasonable success.
 
I rest my case.
 
Cheers


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The only bar to frequent is the Kawhia Bar


Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2017 at 6:47pm
That's some mean fishing Geoff. We did well on Saturday but no big fish. Jigs were working well and we had a frozen coutta for bait that got hit every drop. Bites were shy and smaller baits got the fish


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Best gurnard fisherman in my street


Posted By: Snappa Geoff
Date Posted: 09 Oct 2017 at 7:20pm
Originally posted by feeder feeder wrote:

Another great day Geoff, here's my take on softie's out west.
 
Yes I have tried them, had the tail bitten off one at Gannet, my neighbour is an avid soft bait fan at Coro, I took him out to show him the ropes out of Kawhia, granted we were fishing in 50 odd metres, Kel thrashed the water, after I had boated my 18th snapper he asked can I have one of those flasher rigs and he promptly caught a double header including fish of the day, completing our limit bag.
 
I use softie's up north with reasonable success.
 
I rest my case.
 
Cheers
Thanks for that feeder! I hope me Mate Mark-ak (ramcoed) doesn't read this he will be wanting to wind you up as wellLOLLOLLOLPretty sure he's caught good Snaps off Kawhia on the Softies!!


Posted By: jackel
Date Posted: 14 Oct 2017 at 8:53pm
Nice work once gain Geoff, your a bloody snapper legend..liked!!


Posted By: Snappa Geoff
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2017 at 7:30am
Originally posted by jackel jackel wrote:

Nice work once gain Geoff, your a bloody snapper legend..liked!!
Cheers JackelBeer Na just a determined Fisho who catches a fewBig smile


Posted By: crabman
Date Posted: 15 Oct 2017 at 3:35pm
I had an epic morning on the soft baits a few years back over Labour weekend fishing in close over the Tongaparutu reef in front of the ledge area.
The water was very clean at the time and there were 2 of us fishing.
We had only gone out on our Yaks to pick up a Cray pot we had out overnight.
We generally only bait fish but for a change we only took the soft baits.
My anchor had snagged up the day before and we had all the fish we wanted already.
 What resulted was about 30mins of chaos as every time we cast at my anchor float we hooked up and hooked up big, The Smallest Snap would have been maybe 10lb through to maybe 21lb. All fish were released as we were only fishing in 8m of water.
The interesting part was that we only seemed to hook up when casting at the anchor float, Maybe acted as a bit of a mini fad or something??
I have never had soft baiting success like it again but still have some good catches in the cleaner water conditions that we generally have a couple of days of each yearLOL



Posted By: Snappa Geoff
Date Posted: 17 Oct 2017 at 6:50am
Originally posted by crabman crabman wrote:

I had an epic morning on the soft baits a few years back over Labour weekend fishing in close over the Tongaparutu reef in front of the ledge area.
The water was very clean at the time and there were 2 of us fishing.
We had only gone out on our Yaks to pick up a Cray pot we had out overnight.
We generally only bait fish but for a change we only took the soft baits.
My anchor had snagged up the day before and we had all the fish we wanted already.
 What resulted was about 30mins of chaos as every time we cast at my anchor float we hooked up and hooked up big, The Smallest Snap would have been maybe 10lb through to maybe 21lb. All fish were released as we were only fishing in 8m of water.
The interesting part was that we only seemed to hook up when casting at the anchor float, Maybe acted as a bit of a mini fad or something??
I have never had soft baiting success like it again but still have some good catches in the cleaner water conditions that we generally have a couple of days of each yearLOL

Cool, Great Story Crabman! I here alot of Yaks fish there when Taranaki Kayak Classic is on with good success. Cheers...


Posted By: John'o
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2017 at 11:37pm
Great to read your catch ups.
John'o .bay of plenty.


Posted By: smudge
Date Posted: 31 Oct 2017 at 9:59pm
Originally posted by Muppet Muppet wrote:

Originally posted by Snappa Geoff Snappa Geoff wrote:

Originally posted by Muppet Muppet wrote:

Nice Geoff!

I still think you may be pleasantly surprised if you gave softbaiting a go down there. I reckon you would still smash it Approve
Hi Muppet, thanks for reply. Until very recently i discovered why softbaiting is hardly used off Mokau. Our Fishing club president does alot of fishing in Tauranga- Gulf with softbaits and enjoys it alot. I asked him why not use off Mokau? He's tried numerous times without success. Puts it down to the visibility of the water when near the bottom. Because of the two main rivers here spewing out dirty water all the time even when it appears clean theres always a bottom layer thats dirty. He reverts back to the good old Smelly fresh baits like myself! Maybe wrong but he's a very experienced fisherman. Still with all options and Brands of Softbaits out there, would still love to see some serious softbaiters come here and give it a go! Would happily put them on all my good spots and make sure they have a good time down in Mokau. Cheers.

I can imagine that being the case Geoff I would go bright and use 7 inch softbaits personally. I would also think trying it after a few days of drier weather would help being a bit clearer. Snapper that size would give some epic bites as the softbaits descend. If I get a spare day or two ....


I reckon jigs would have to work too. I have had little success with softies out west up here but jigs are amazing. to be fair I haven't tried softies in years. Keep doing what you do Geoff it's awesome



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Best gurnard fisherman in my street



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