Fishing Reports

Let the good times roll.......

Water temperatures are up on last years in the Hauraki Gulf and all the signs are pointing to a bumper season. This time last year the water was around 13C but it is now over 18C in the Gulf with some speculating a spawn has occurred already and we could get a second spawning. Not being a marine biologist I won’t comment any further except to say that if the fish have a good breeding season then we as anglers will profit later down the track.

The first initial runs of “school fish” were great and turned up right on time. Snapper schools quickly moved onto the worm beds between Tiri and Rangitoto, the sandy flats north of Tiri and into the top of the Firth in late September and early October and have remained in these areas in preparation for spawning. Amoungst these massive schools of Snapper were a lot of the prime breeding fish, you know the ones, 6-10kg, fat and healthy and ready to rumble. Our local weigh station has seen some big Snapper cross the bench this season including a 14.06kg monster. Now that is a big Snapper for the gulf.

The Tiri Channel has been the spot for the most consistent catches this past month. Earlier on it was the edges of the channel that produced fish up to 9kg but now it seems they prefer the faster running water of mid channel. There is also a lot of feed for the Snapper in this area and the current makes it easier for the fish to sift through the bottom, turning over the feed.

Both strayline rigs and ledger rigs have been working well. It is for this reason that the Snapper also like areas like the channels around Auckland. The Rangi Channel, Motuhie and Rakino Channels will really fire up soon. There is already fish moving into these areas so it would be worth a shot. Keep in mind there is now a ferry lane in the Motuhie Channel and there is good information at your local tackle shop about the location on the northern side of this popular spot.

Flat Rock and the foul along the back of Kawau are starting to produce a few more Kingfish along with some pretty good catches of Snapper and a few big Trevally. We normally pick up a few John Dory around the place too at this time of year but I feel that the commercial pressure that is on this species in our area has reduced recreational catch rates dramatically.

Nelson Rock, Tarapunga Rock, Fairchild Reef and Maori Rock are all good places to try for good snapper and kingfish during the next few months. Whangaparaoa Bay and the island south of Kawau are all holding fish and there have been reports of fish up to 13kg from some of the islands. Not uncommon at this time of year as a lot of fish move into this area. It is a pretty sheltered bay too with not a lot of swell getting into the place making it ideal for the small boats. Plenty of launching ramps around too.

The middle Gulf is getting a bit of a hammering from the seiners and trawlers at the moment but the Kingfish are showing up on some of the reefs and can be targeted using livebaits, poppers and jigs. The Zest jigs are awesome for this style of fishing with fast descents and a really good action. Often the fish will go the jig on the descent so it pays to stay alert! We have seen a lot of “bird nests” as a result of a strike on the drop.

The majority of Kingis are only smaller fish around the 6-10kg mark and are only juveniles that haven’t and a chance to breed yet and should be released to help procreate the species. Responsible anglers are only taking 1 Kingi a day and that has to be over a metre long. Just because the size limit is only 75cm, doesn’t mean you have to take it. Not many people take just legal Snapper at 27cm!

Little Barrier is starting to fish again now that the stocks are being slowly replenished with school fish and it wont be long before the usual big work ups of Kahawai and Kingfish start to appear. Normally indicted by Gannets diving into the melee, these work ups can provide some great fishing action and some big fish. I try to have a few livebaits aboard for this sort of fishing as often a weighted livebait will get monstered in the work up. The long jigs are proving to be pretty darn good too.

The deeper reefs around Little Barrier are also worth fishing again now. Locations like Horn Rock and some of the deeper pins and foul around the island fish really well over the summer months. Getting in close to the weedline and rocky points is also worth a shot especially at the change of light. You may not get a lot of fish but there are certainly some big brutes living in the shallows. I prefer areas with current and again low light conditions for best results.

Great Barrier is still holding ‘Pukas on the deeper foul around the needles. Most fish are only small so release them if you can. Often they will be “non-recoverable” by the time they get dragged up from the depths though and it makes no sense to put it back ½ dead. They make for good eating too. There will still be the odd good ‘Puka around though and fish to 30kg are not uncommon. Kingfish will also be on the reefs and pins now.

The harbours and bays of the island are filling with Snapper for the holiday makers and local anglers. Some really good fishing can be had during the mornings and evenings in Port Abercrombie on the worm beds that run down the middle of the bay. There is also another good worm bed inside The Pigeons and back towards Whangaparapara. Drifting these areas can be very productive over the next few months. Try both weighted strayline rigs and whole NZ Pilchards or a ledger rig or flasher rig with a cube or strip bait.

There have been and still are a lot of people working really hard to protect the rights of fishers in this country. Check out the great work that Option 4 and The Kahawai Challenge have done for us so far. We need to get in behind these groups with vocal and financial support so that our fisheries are not jeopardized. Both groups have excellent websites and are easily contacted.

Make sure you check out our web page in the charters section on this great web site. Play safe out there and have a great Christmas. We will be working through of course so give us a bell if you want to get into the action.

Damian (Damo) Clayton

The Charter Connection – Where fishing is catching!

ps. Good onya Bushpig for your personal best snapper off MY REEF!!!!

From

A Charter Connection...