I actually managed to get out for a fish myself last week. The high-pressure system finally arrived last Tuesday and off we headed out from the west coast that had been out of bounds for weeks due to the weather. With hopes of some nice snapper we headed out to some foul in 50m…

Snapper

There is still plenty of big fish around although they have seemed to have gone off the bite (although that could all change this week) and the schoolies have really come on in the upper reaches of the harbours and around inshore channels. A feed isn’t hard to get at the moment with pillies being the best bait although they seem to be eating anything once they come on the bite. And as for our west coast attempts. Well we didn’t land a single snapper but we more than made up for it with some nice Puka and plenty of the biggest ‘Golden snapper’ I have ever seen. My 6kg Shimano snapper set accounted for a 12kg and 17 kg Hapuku. In the shallows on light line these puppies really go!

At this time of year the deeper water dwellers like the Golden snapper and the Hapuku are found in the shallower foul so hang on. The locals on the west coast say they expect the snapper fishing to die off now until after Christmas.

Kahawai

The Kahawai were feeding on anchovies and they were in prime condition, the west coast Kahawai tend to be a little skinnier than the east coast ones but these ones were FAT! The Kahawai should be in the range of the surfcasters, so if you ever wanted some nice Kahawai for the smoker – now’s the time.

THE FISHING SHOW Tonight…We’ve tried to do a bit of something for every one with the different types of fishing in our shows and we have enjoyed making all of them, but I do have a favourite… and it’s on this week. So I’ll see you at 8.00 pm tonight on Sky sport 1, and till next week be safe out there and tight lines.