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The weatherman often takes a verbal beating, but being a weather forecaster in NZ seems like a lose:lose situation a lot of the time. Forget all those ‘ra ra’ sales meetings and win:win and all that. The unpredictable and extremely changeable nature of NZ’s weather – it’s a little island in the middle of some very big blue watery stuff, thus weather patterns are inherently changeable.

 

So whatever is predicted has to be taken with a grain, or maybe several kilos of salt. No matter what the weather forecast is, it pays to be ready set…go fishing. Gassed up, fully sorted so when the weather turns right, you’re ‘allowed’ out and the entire matrix of life seems to suddenly turn up trumps and almost encourage you to go fishing – well that’s how I like to think, others take it as ‘any excuse’. Let’s go fishing!

 

It’s still going absolutely mental out there at times, catching fish wise that is, although the Gulf is starting to show the inevitable winter fishing signs, the Snapper and Kingie catches are just starting to diminish a bit in both quantity and regularity as they wave their fins farewell for a while. Therefore go forth and fish I say! For tomorrow – who knows what may happen. Which reminds me – time to bring out the winter type clothing it’s getting very cold out there, although other times it’s more like Crowded House sang, 4 seasons in one day.

 

Wet or cold feet, head etc really sucks in my book, spoiling a great days fishing. And all it takes is a good pair of boat boots, a beanie, a Skivy type shirt…and believe it or not some people use thermals – they may not get you wanton glances by the opposite sex at the end of the day, and don’t be caught putting them on at the ramp that’s just a horrible thought, but they can make a cold day extremely pleasant…so I’m told.

 

Those big fat hard-charging line pulling drag stressing tasty Snapper are still all over the show in the Gulf. It certainly has been a Spring, Summer and Autumn season to remember, for so many months now we have been treated to some outstanding sport and culinary delights. So many different ways of enjoying the success of fishing in the Waitemata and Hauraki Gulf. Tonight I am being spoiled once again, the freshest of Snapper only just cooked through, on top of my favourite curry.

 

One of life’s extremely indulgent pleasures, washed down with an ice cold ale from Austria! You see, long ago on one of my overseas ventures to see the world I ended up in a bar in Vancouver. They professed to having all the beers of the world – well from that moment on I was destined to trial them all, in the name of research of course. I am glad to say that even with strong determination it is a goal I cannot fulfill – mainly because new brews are being released all the time (a bit like fishing tackle!). Thus my neverending enjoyment of fine ales continues…and beer was made to be enjoyed with fish. Thus I go fishing- all in the name of research you see. Sounds a bit like a beer advert. But I digress just a little.

 

The Snapper have been spread out lately. Spread out over the entire Gulf, feeding beneath Whales and workups, but even these have been a bit more spread out, thus the Snapper have been non-existent under some intense and exciting workups! Hard to believe there’s no Big Reds feeding up large under the Pilchard massacre happening on the surface. It’s been breathtaking watching the Dolphins, Whales, Gannets etc feeding to overflowing on the Pilchards – and yet many of these buffets have hand no Snapper in attendance. My remedy – move on!

 

Not sure about your fishing, but when it’s lights out in terms of fishing lately they tend to be off the bite instantly and for longer, time to recoup if you’ve been lucky enough to be in among some of the high energy bite sessions. If you venture out through the fog, or perhaps on one of the a crystal clear days looking for fish with a good bit of forethought as to where and when they’ll be feeding, moneys on you’ll come home with an outstanding feed.

 

Good strong fish are both around the 30m mark and 50m mark in the gulf, Takatu, east of Flat rock, Wellington reef, a few sporadic schools heading through the Tiri channel still, and of course the northern end of Waiheke is still holding some excellent pannies.

 

AC/DC were right, it’s a razor edge all right, out there, right now unfortunately. The dreaded Barracouda are back in black. These fish are tackle mauling, line chewing, gear wrecking and just plain nasty. And they’re right in by Tiri already, big schools of them. Upping your trace weights can help get your terminal rig back, but I find the only sure thing to do is move. Just one of those things you have to put up with…or go into the shallows. Kind of like Politicians – ‘Couda are something I have no time for.

 

Natures balance provides some outstanding Puka closer in during the winter and some lucky fisho’s have already started to target and bring them aboard. Jigs and livies are doing the business. Venturing out just that little bit further into the chill provides one of the best eating fish there is, Hapuka – simply superb!

The humble yet delectable Gurnard – common quarry for the Westies, are around in good number for the East Siders. Being a Softie myself – these fish can be the best and the worst…the best because they are another simply superb eating fish. While not that big in the fillet stakes, the fillets are certainly one the favourites among my friends and family. Sometimes just thought of as a great by-catch for the Eastside recreational fisho, really they are worth targeting.

 

The worst I say because these guys can destroy Soft baits with reckless abandon for the unwary – yet the traditional baits can work wonders, say using a Gurnard Grabber Flasher rig or Terakihi Terror catching them seemingly with ease.

 

The tell tale tap tap tap of the Gurnard checking out the SBs can be frustrating at times, but through much trial and even more error I’ve found that down sizing the SB size, having a very subtle action on the SB twitch, leaving the SB on the bottom for a lot longer than say for Snapper works a treat. Stay in contact still, but when you feel the gerbil fondling the SB, give a more gentle, almost semi-strike/hook set and if no hookup, leave it to sink back and settle on the sea floor. And this combined with the smaller SBs such as the Catch Green Anchovy or Sparkling Anchovy can end up with several of these little critters gracing the ice bin. And usually they’re the first fillets to be claimed at the end of the day such is their delightful taste.

 

Yes the ubiquitous Kahawai – true I don’t tend to target them but with such big KY providing such great sport I do keep a couple on each outing and return the rest virtually unharmed. I admire the KY, a trout look-a-like, an exceptional fighter all the way and if treated with care can be returned to the waters happy enough without damage (I tend to release while in the water). Any I keep are gladly accepted by friends as prime smoker-bound fish. I look forward to my new smoker so I can enjoy these fish myself – a winter project that’ll pay off by being able to devour freshly slow-smoked big ocean-going KY. Excellent flavour with firm marinade absorbing flesh.

 

Fast moving bait schools and their KY shadowing them are all along the Whangaparaoa coastline, around Tiri and along the North Shoreline. Trolling a lure, flicking a SB, ledger rigs, from the shore, a dinghy, a Kayak a PWC (Jetski) – simply great to catch, land and eat when prepared properly. And as for fish cakes – personally I find smoked KY one of the better fish to use.

 

 

And will you look at that – a big ‘H’ over the North Island – see you out there!