Fishing Reports

Close Shaves

Yes the straight-back razor gang are marauding the entire Gulf, maybe not in maximum force just yet, but when they’re coat-tailing along for the ride under the boat among Snapper enticing tidbits, they can bring forth expletives from even those among us who imagine halo’s above oneself! Yep, just when you think it’s safe to go outside...’Couda.

While they can make excellent bait for more desirables like ‘Puka, more often than not they merely provide a test of personal Zen. They hack, slash and destroy terminal tackle at an alarming rate. Early bust-offs can be a blessing in disguise if time is of the essence, either way it’s going to cost you.

Those toothy grins of theirs are dynamite, wouldn’t get my fingers near them, their dental work is meant for ripping flesh whether it’s prey or your digits. Often mistaken for a good sized Snapper on the line initially with their fake nodding effect on the rod…but the tell tale sign when compared to a Snapper nod is an odd twitchiness and sudden slack line, only to be instantly pulling again.

They can give a good fight and apparently they can be eaten. But after filleting one few years back for ‘Puka bait and watching their flesh crawl with maggot-like worms throughout, well it’s just not my cup of tea especially since the alternative fare out there is so much more attractive.

I’m sure with a face like that the breath must be pretty bad too! One good thing is they can actually give a pretty good account for themselves on lighter tackle and with some rather barren winter days fishing we all inevitably experience, they can provide some much needed action. So they’re not all bad.

‘Couda quicly RSVP any invitation remotely resembling food and workups are no exception. If you’re getting good hits, but quickly find a shredded piece of leader is the only thing at the end of your line, ‘Couda. Persevere or move.

Chilli Snapper

While a delicious way of eating freshly caught Snapper, actually any style you like they taste great, but spicy hot fish certainly puts a warm smile on the dial at this time of year. Most of the temperature discussion is not culinary however, it’s meteorological. Hail storms while fishing is something I’m not used to, but some of the recent few fishing sessions have provided just that, cold driving hail, then typically bright sunshine attempting a momentary thaw.

The sea temperature has plummeted and it’s barely bobbing around the 16 degrees Celcius mark in the Gulf. As a result many Snapper have left for their idea of a winter escape – out into deeper water. Not quite a sunny Pacific Island escape that look oh-so tempting in the glossy brochures, but certainly good enough to draw a vast number of fish out of the Gulf. However in saying that I am thrilled at how many Fisho’s have been doing very well lately in the salt ice slurry a.k.a. the Waitemata and Hauraki Gulf.

Right in close, in just literally a metre or two depth from sandy shores on the northern side on Whangaparaoa and the islands immediately north of the Peninsula have been turning up some outstanding Snapper to 16lbs.

Burley and bait sessions around Rangi, as well as drifting in close have both provided great success to eager Fisho’s desperate for a winter fish fix. If you’re out wider on a great day keep the eyes peeled for surface feeding Kahawai like these  ones glinting in the sun, if they’re not moving along too fast, a surface retrieve through them will grab a few of these fish (excellent in the smoker) and underneath – a few Snapper might just be hanging with the crowd.

There are a few other varieties of fish that like a buffet invite now and then...Mako’s and Kingfish also lurking and using this opportunity for a feed, and the SPs can catch these impressive fish too, like this 1.6m Mako who took a shine to the Catch Glow Squid you can just see hanging out its mouth.

This well conditioned Kingie was also caught on a Catch Glow Squid but using the Catch Depth Charge hooks for some extra skirt attraction. Great fun!

Power

Hey it’s winter, it’s a costly exercise to use lot of energy this time of year so like humans,  expect longer times of inactivity as the fish simply are not in the mood to expend lots of energy. They seem to prefer shorter, sharper feeding times and more resting times, seems logical. So being in the right place at the right time is even more important to both quantitative and qualitative fishing success as winter tightens its cold hands.

Having said that though, a year or two ago I coined the phrase random drift fishing. This method can work well over the large sandy areas in the Gulf, picking up a gradual feed of Snapper with the odd Gurnard or John Dory thrown into the pot for good measure. During the big freeze this is still possible and a great way to get a few nice fish while waiting for the mother-lode or simply filling in between two daylight bite times.

In this situation of cold water, lethargic fish and cold air temps it pays to do a few things…dress very warmly as inactivity saves energy alright but you can soon become de-motivated and just plain frozen which means a lack of focus and ultimately less (if any) fish coming aboard. If drifting in deeper areas, downsize the SP, use ultra light line and go about a sneaky fish hunting experience. Definitely try different colours of  SPs or different baits (e.g. Squid, half Pilchards, fresh Kahawai strips).

About 1.5 oz weight in up to 60m deep water  is all I tend to use or SP style with 1.8kg braid maximum line weight. I also chill out on the twitching method and rely more on small blips and/or allowing the SP to drag in the mud/sand kicking up some fish attracting puffs of mud. Alternatively whether you are a Soft Plastic, Soft Bait or Bait Fisho, try a similar method but use much more weight.

Our ever present mate Rod Holder has a wonderful knack for this technique. Put several ounces of lead (whatever terminal rig you prefer) and drag the rig along the muddy bottom. Snapper are quite often just dozing along the bottom, and a little sign of murkiness can get enough of  a spark for them to bite…often it can be good sized fish that are barely seen on even the best of sounders.

And no matter what your fishing craft from the smallest and slowest tiny tinny with oars, blazingly fast and exciting PWCs, trailer boats or mighty launches – there are days that are simply magic and provide both thrills on the day, culinary delights for several days plus years of great memories.

Winter fishing can be just the winning ticket.