Fishing Reports

With the cooling water (and air!) the Auckland Snapper fishery went through its annual change from summer fishing in the channels to winter fishing on the foul. This change over (for lack of a better word) can be a testing time as the schools break up and move out to deeper warmer water in the Gulf and onto some of the local foul to provide us with our winter stocks. Finding the fish again, especially after a week or so of bad weather can be quite hard and it is easy to become disheartened by not so good results but never fear – the fish are there. We just have to change tactics a bit.

One of the tactics we like to use, is to start heading deeper and Great Barrier, Little barrier, Cape Colville, Kawau and Auckland’s North East Coast and the Bottom End of Waiheke. These areas, except the Bottom End, don’t get as heavily fished as the local winter spots and offer anglers the chance of some really good fishing. Recent trips to Great Barrier have produced Snapper to 12kg and Kingfish to around 25kg. There have been catches of small Puka to around 12kg and a mixed bag of Terahiki, John Dory, Shark and the usual reef fish that abound the outer Gulf.

I prefer to spend a few days out at such destinations to help get a better feel for the place. It can be quite hard to do really well if you are limited by time on just a day trip, so we have put together trips that are 2-5 days, which helps in getting better results for the anglers without breaking the bank.

This doesn’t mean there are not fishing opportunities to be had locally of course and we also offer these to anglers wanting to fish the winter months. Any way enough about that – here’s what’s been happening.

Being based out of Gulf Harbour is a bonus as we are close to the fish all year round. Places like Tiri, offer some good fishing in the cooler months for those with some patience. The deeper reefs behind Tiri are holding Snapper and Kahawai but it is the Snapper that seem to be feeding on one tide then slowing right down on the other. It doesn’t seem to matter which tide but I have found the outgoing to be best at the moment out behind Tiri. In saying that, there are no rules in fishing, as yesterday was blowing a cold Southerly (normally the kiss of death for Snapper fishing locally) and we didn’t expect to do very well, being that we were weather bound to one area and it was blowing 25knots of cold stuff. We ended fishing with about 60 Snapper and a couple bins of Kahawai. The Snapper were on the bite all day and although there was nothing landed over 6lbs the crew went home with a good feed and fish for the smokehouse.

Quite often on a still calm winter day we will head out in the Gulf to around 50 metres or so and sit it out for a day. This has also been quite rewarding and although no big Snapper to report of yet, the Gurnard are of a good size. Ledger rigs with small cubes of Skipjack, Pilchard or Lolago Squid seems to work best. Connect all this to a good 6kg rig and you’re away. The lighter line is definitely catching more fish. Flasher rigs are still working well in most deeper spots. You could even try a couple of small lumo beads just above you hooks too as these have been working well in the deeper water.

Another advantage of fishing out in the Gulf, is the close proximity to places like Flat Rock, Anchorite Rock and the odd wreck out here.

Flat Rock is holding fish as it does for most of the year but it is this time of year you can luck into some bigger fish. Experience has taught us that the Snapper on the foul up this way certainly can grow to quite a size but they need to be targeted using bigger baits and good gear. I prefer the smaller tides up this way as the current can really rip through this extensive reef system. Closer in behind Kawau Island is also holding fish and there is a huge selection of foul and different reefs to choose from, be it shallow or deeper water you are after.

Maori Rock in the Takatu Channel is fishing well but again the smaller tides would be better because of the current. Excellent strayline country abounds all along the coast of Kawau Island and Takatu Peninsula the latter offering pretty good shelter in the Northerlies that make getting out wider tough. Remember there is a marine reserve on the peninsulas' north eastern side.

Along the inside of Kawau was fishing quite well too but I have found the size of the fish to have decreased over this last few weeks but the islands to the south of Kawau have produced a few better fish, although not in great numbers. Try drift fishing the channels and points if you are not picking up fish from a berley trail.

Whangaparaoa Bay is holding a lot of fish but you have to wade your way through a few small Snapper in the process of getting onto the better ones. Haven’t seen anything over about 8lbs from this area in the last few weeks and a good berley trail is essential to any success in here.

The channels around Auckland have been pretty hit and miss this last few weeks and it won’t be until later in the year till that story improves much either. The best shot would be the change of light with good berley, sharp hooks and fresh bait. The Rangitoto coastline will be holding fish for those wanting a shallow water strayline as is the East Coast Bays and some of the reefs systems along there.

The Bottom End of Waiheke is fishing quite well and will the haunt of some of the Auckland charter boats over winter. A good place to secure a few pannies for dinner or perhaps target a Kingfish on one of the reefs down there. There are a few options down this way with some of the holes being over 50 metres deep. Have a go around the points near Hooks Bay or the area of foul north of Tarahiki Island with a berley on the bottom. Further along the back of Waiheke has slowed down as has the Noises and around Rakino. There is a lot of juvenile Snapper in this area but you may have more luck at the Ahaahas or straylining around the foul of the David Rocks and Maria Island.

Not for us though. We prefer the chance of bigger fish from areas that hold bigger fish. It is also great to be able to get into the odd tasty bit of by catch as well. Hopefully this winter will provide us with Terahiki in better numbers than last year with a few John Dory to help the day along. It was about this time of year a few years ago we plucked 4 Crayfish off one rock in a day! Bring that good action on!

Location of the month: Any deepwater foul in the Gulf.

Bait of the month: Top quality NZ Pilchards – you know the ones, they bleed when you cut them in half, have good skin condition and clear eyes. Half Mackerels or fillets of Skipjack are great on the deeper reefs especially around the Barriers.

Rig of the month: Pretty hard to go past a lightly weighted strayline rig if fishing the shallows. Use only enough weight to get you down and don’t be afraid to let the bait float along way back down the berley trail. It is not unusual for me to have half a spool of line out when straylining. On the deeper foul the same again applies but because there is normally more current in these deeper spots more weight may be required to get you down onto the reef and not floating out past it. VMC hooks stick to fish so we use those.

There are just a couple of things I would like to mention. Firstly, don’t feel bad about all the bad press New Zealand recreational fishermen are getting. There are powers beyond ours, hell bent on over regulating and corrupting our rights as Kiwis to go and catch a feed of fish for our families or enjoy fishing for its sport. When the time comes and there have been a few opportunities to date, to have you say, make sure you do.

Secondly, to those bait suppliers out there trying to peddle seconds Pilchards as first grade – get real! You are only harming your business. Don’t forget your name's on the bag! The NZ bait market is only big enough to support quality suppliers and that’s who we direct our clients to and source our bait from.

And lastly, We are only a phone call or email away from your next fishing trip, be it a few days away or a day trip in the Gulf. Bring it on!

Cheers