Fishing Reports

Northland fishers are making the best of some very good winter fishing whenever sea and weather conditions allow. According to the law of averages, the best fishing is more often than not during the week. To deal with the very high likely-hood of bad weekend weather, a most effective winter strategy is to take to the rocks.

With opportunities the length of Northland’s east coast, locations that star over winter include Matauri Bay and the Cavalli Islands, Mahinepua and Flat Island as well as the whole Cape Karikari peninsula. For those willing and able to venture even further north, any accessible headland or piece of rocky coast either side of the Cape Reinga light-House are also well worth the effort.

Species targeted in this manner include both kingfish and snapper, two of the world’s best sport and table fish respectively. The Rolls Royce of strategies is to use baits caught in situ. However, berley needs to be carried in since a gravy trail will be required to attract both bait and target species. Remember: the more berley the merrier. Add to your trail with chunks of the locals. Don’t throw away your eels!

If you fancy a kingfish or three, any injured live bait ranging in species from snapper to sweep or blue maomao to both kahawai and any mackerel will do the trick. Don’t let yourself be fooled into thinking only mackerel or kahawai will do, and don’t be put off if your first shot is a big kahawai – sure, it may attract less attention, but the fish of a life-time might turn up before the end of the day. And if you can set up your live bait under a float such that it drifts off along the berley trail then your chances are high.

The windage of any floatation device will usually take the livie off in another direction, but it may be possible to use a mini FAD or drogue to help current overwhelm the wind so as to keep the bait in the zone. The effort to achieve such an ideal outcome may require some experimentation but is well worthwhile.

If a big fat noddie or five takes your fancy, then the kingfish strategy as outlined above remains hard to beat. So don’t be surprised by what takes an interest in your live-bait. And a john dory or two is not to be sneezed at.

Downsizing somewhat will be required for snapper. Jack mackerel and smaller kahawai followed by smaller sweep and blue maomao are often just what the doctor ordered. Dead bait fillets, frames and slabs also work for snapper but any injured live member of the three common mackerel found around our coast are about as good as it gets.

Apart from using your feet, a floatation device such as a kayak or inflatable can often get you too that extra high potential rock ledge. Getting on and off such a device is always a challenge as there is always some lift about, even on a seemingly dead flat day. Next you have to work out what to do with said floatation device. If you can’t safely anchor it off the rocks with a recovery lead ashore, then best thing is to drag it high and dry lest the arse gets ground out by the ebb and flow of lift in shallow water.   

visit my website Fish North @ Steve's Place for more useful northland fishing info

If you would like to advertise in my newsletter, please contact me