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Winter. Just like that, summer’s over. Like clockwork, daylight saving stops and a few days later, bang, slam dunked into winter weather, no ifs, buts or maybes.

 

The water temperature itself is actually a pleasant surprise although the air temperature and wind chill have been noticeable more and more, the water temperature is still in it’s 20’s. But ya can’t complain too much after such a stunning summer ay.

 

Have the Snapper noticed yet? Yep I reckon, reckon those Red schoolies might be getting ready to wag class and head out the gates. There’s a lot of good keen studious fish still hanging around in closer feeding hard out, but the word around the watery playground… winters a-comin’.

 

Right now my personal preference for a days fishing is definitely split, split between wanting to see the excitement of a workup in the bino’s, or just enjoy the ever-entertaining surprise of catching random Reds while drifting along over the vast expanse of the Gulf with a twitchy soft bait.

 

Tough decisions do sometimes come along during a day of fishing. Left or right, shallow or deep.

 

Either way it's been good times out there whichever you choose. Here's Ian, a good keen fisho with a couple of nice pannies from a random Soft Bait drop we tried just a few days ago in 34m of water just north of Tiri.

 

Summer. Well summer type weather anyway, it’s not all doom and gloom as the days quickly grow shorter and the winter woolies get dragged out for cooler days on the water hunting those scaly sea creatures.

 

Hapuka come to within reach of many trailer boats and there’s still plenty of good Snapper to be had…but the weather? Those cool clear autumn mornings are only but a good cast away, crystal clear days with mirror flat seas - not using the sunscreen ‘cos of the nice cool air.

 

But getting a sun-burnt face after all does make it harder to explain to the boss the sudden tan after a mid-week sickie.

 

Workup spotting around the 45-50m mark and drifting the 30m to 35m depths in the Gulf for Snapper have both been great and jigging for Kings at the usual Hard Rock Fish cafés around the place is still pulling a few. Moving around the inner islands on any one day seems to be getting a few fisho’s more success than putting up with nil/slow biting or tiddler fish for too long, especially if anchored.

 

The waters around the south side Whangaparaoa Peninsula have been rippling most days with junior workups…baitfish and Kahawai. Great for giving Junior fisho’s the thrill of catching the hard charging KY, or to stock up on junior sized KY livies. There’re lots of perfectly sized KY livies for monster Snapper or Kingie missions, and there’re some real horses of KY too for an added thrill.

 

It’s just a matter of being out there!

 

Cheers,

Espresso.