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The annual fishing.net.nz group hug was held recently (see I can be PC, yeah right), a great opportunity to see the faces behind the screen names. An eclectic bunch of mad keen fishermen in one spot, on land, no weigh-in. A sight to behold and many a short, medium and tall story was told, no doubt - they’re all fisho’s.

Accolades and near misses, a few stories with two halves, all good stuff! All thanks to the fishing.net website – the biggest prize has to go to the people here the Mods, the organizers and creators. Thank you. A few near truths and a few of that ever necessary inside knowledge was exchanged… speaking of stories, fishing stories have been a little sparse lately from out on the water, not surprising on the East coast with the Easterly winds hammering away regularly, apparently this can be good for kite-surfing, but it’s not great for trailer boat fishing. But the determined and mentally ‘im’ or is it ‘pre’(?)…pared have been out recently – or the very quick because the weather windows are only just cracked open at times.

Mental gymnastics
Those who have ventured have been rewarded and more often than not very well. It seems that all manner of apparatus are being used with success on the infamous Snapper of late. Jigs! Who would have thought?! Then stories of burleying up and having a frenzy of fat Reds lining up astern chomping baits are cast about. Heavens what next!

Big Red Snapper – bring ‘em on, they are here, there and everywhere…but what about the Gurnard, The Dory – both welcome catches. They’re here and partying hard too. Even further a-field the Hapuka have been obliging and provided some excellent fishing, although the ever present tackle manufacturers sponsored fish the ‘Couda have been slashing their way through a fair amount of equipment as well. But as Bob Dylan sang, “the times they are a changin’ “ the water has started it’s upward temperature climb again and heightened with it the Marlin hunters anticipation.

The tension is mounting and can be seen as clear as the salt spray at Piha when two or more of these types are found verbally exchanging their latest ideas on this season.

Kingfish are starting to show up in closer and some good numbers have been spotted. Only a few have been caught so far – maybe because a lot of the time they’re there but unless you target them you wouldn’t know. Unless you get lucky and see one chasing a retrieved SB, bait or flasher back towards your boat.

 

So where again was that to catch some fish?…..almost all of the usual haunts. Out wide the Marlin and Tuna are coming ever closer to within the reaches of semi-sane men, the Kingis, Dory, Cod, and the almighty Snapper are ready and waiting for you much closer, much much closer!. Spot X is firing well, the shallows, deeper reefs, in close, out wide, and most spots in-between have an excellent chance of turning up the goods…now it’s over to you. Use a little bit of that human superiority to overcome your subordinate quarry, the ‘stupid fish’ (ironic how often they’re called that when they bust ya off). The spawning is well under way and the race is already over for many just like the Visa card at Christmas, they’re spent. So if now isn’t the time to be out there or planning the next trip out there, or something, when is?

 

Carpe Diem
Fish the Day - who knows what could happen next week…an unknown wealthy relative could leave you a billion dollars, a politician could tell the truth – but let’s not hold our breath on either, so in the meantime I suggest we go fishing and enjoy. With holidays looming, so close you can nearly taste the salt air right on sunrise arriving at your Spot X, you’ve heard the predawn Tui from your overnight anchorage, sipped the instant coffee, the anticipation is kept waiting no longer – the first hit and hookup! We’re on! At that moment ‘you da man!’. Adrenaline courses instantly and the world is right again.

Now is the time.

Cheers