Fishing Reports

One day at a time

It’ just been too few and far too far in-between days enjoying life out on the big blue lately. Winter does that. Winter can bring about all sorts of algal life. I’m not talking about the inevitable load of flopsum we are being subjected to from politicians spouting forth around election time. I’m talking how we Fisho’s are expected to be able to get through the winter staving off brain barnacles from the general lack of fishing, trying to remain semi-sane.

Fortunately there are, on occasion, some excellent fish being taken here and there. Mostly in close, extremely close around shallow structure. The irregular short sharp bite times are continuing, lot’s of Fisho’s reporting undersized fish nibbling away but a few are luckily in the right place and at the right time.

As can be expected when the fish are on the bite, they are ON! But watch out, the Pavlos Dog feeding switch gets flicked off just as quickly. For the majority of us though recent weeks have been about doing everything to do with fishing, but the actual fishing.

The British are coming, the British are coming

Yessiree – the jungle drums are growing in volume and the inside whispers are that the Snapper are taking notice of the early change in season. The near frozen stiff-upper-lip is starting to thaw and the fish out wide are turning. Turning their fins towards the coastline and the Hauraki Gulf with their attention on the oceanic equivalent of the birds and the bees.

Coupled with this expectation is the massive increase in feeding needed to keep the required energy levels at their peak for all this springtime exercise! Good news, there is a ton of baitfish around. Up and down the coast and there is a lot of baitfish ready to run the gauntlet of their own springtime activities. The primary target species of Snapper and Kingfish should be prolific this summer and hunting them a certain pleasure whatever  your chosen fishing methods are.

The outer gulf and deeper channels are starting to have some excellent sized Snapper in good sized schools, it’s just the relentless wind velocity that’s stopping many Fisho’s getting into some very exciting Snapper action. If you’re lucky enough to run the weather gauntlet successfully and you have a good sounder, you might just see some very welcome Snapper sign. They may only bite hard when the dinner gong sounds, but it will happen! It’s all in the timing if you’re waiting for the mother-lode.

Same ol’ same ol’?

While the tried and true methods of hunting fish, feeling the line burn out under load and returning home for the after-match function(s) will always put a smile on any Fisho’s dial, change is a welcome thing too. Always searching for the good oil, inside knowledge, an edge if you like is part of the enjoyment of our fishing sport. And this year is no exception.

There are more choices now than ever before and this is a good thing. Browsing around fishing shops, scanning magazines or the www.fishing.net.nz forums lets you in on some pretty exciting developments. Whether it’s the latest and greatest toys to heft onto the credit cards shoulders or enjoying reading about others exploits, there’s always something to learn. And who knows what will be on offer in the near future?

Just as sure as fish-eggs there’s some very cool new things to try, from new terminal tackle developments to fishing from a PWC (Jetski) of all things! Who would have thought? Sounds like an excellent excuse for a ton of fun to me. So does setting up a saltwater aquarium at home (my 500L test tank resurrection is getting nearer), re-arranging and improving storage of fishing rods, reels and gear…and I’m still reading up about all the different styles of smokers now available – there’s some real beauties!

So even if your fishing is taking a pause lately, it’s great time for heads up on how to get into some new things this summer and continue to expand our enjoyment of fishing. The next weather window available I’m heading out to test some new gear and terminal tackle prior to its release, I’ll be heading to the reefy shallows to start the day, drifting past the Noises/Ahaa’s first up, then on out into the outer Gulf hunting down some of those fat 10lb+ specimens that are lurking in schools over the sand.

Cheers.

Grant