Fishing Reports

Size matters

 Those poor little fishermen, tiny tinnies, struggling to catch reef tiddlers and only down at the local shore. Yeah right! They may be a bit short in waterline length, but limited to small fish ? No way Jose’.

Being at base of most people’s boat fishing experience here in Kiwi-land doesn’t have to put the dampener on achieving big things. Such small craft easily and speedily adjusting both the areas targeted to hunt fish either in terms of wind direction or areas where there are some great catches happening. This year’s early season start to snapper swimming in to feed and breed (although the water is still a cold 17-18c when you jump in out there), means very good pannie snapper right up to the golden goal of the magic 20lbs within reach of even the smallest of boats. Not everything is about size. And with such an easy craft to tow, launch and retrieve, oh yeah and they run on the smell of an oily bait rag, cheap to buy – yes I miss mine at times.

Having a gander down along the bays the other night just looking out to sea as you do – the wandering focus materialized on yet another north shore-line gathering of birds and bees, well birds and fish actually. Kahawai surfing right in on the waves, terrorizing the tiny yellow eyed mullet so far into the shallows they died by their hundreds on the sand as the relentless pressure from behind drove them onto the dry stuff. Instant amphibian evolving mullet - they were not. Free bait ‘n burley if nothing else though. This local was catching his bait in another local bay, getting ready for an evening’s fish in his 12ftr.

Drifting slowly past the reefy outcrops in a tinny all around the shore (early morning or evening) and channel lines would have to be the go on a fine evening after work wouldn’t it?! Sounds like Dave Dobbins Slice of Heaven to me. There are increasing reports of snapper in the 14-20lb range, with the big fish lurking just over the sand, but right in close. Reckon that might be the epitome of a successful evenings fishing along the coast, close to home. A bait ‘n burley session or a drift with the soft plastics, a light jig, whatever works for you.

And here’s a sizeable gilt edged fish glinting in the warm evenings sun after capture on 2lb line with a little bit of a softly-softly approach further out in the depths (see Youtube link below).

Hard Rock

Some big boys are banging their heads, guess that’s how they get that lump on their noggin, is it the heavy metal or the big jigs?! Anyway whether you’re into going out to reach the Barriers of the gulf, or just want to have a nose around the local haunts there’ve been some very nice fish taken up to that magic number 20, concerted efforts around the rocks – horn rock, gannet rock, flat rock, d’urville rocks…anywhere where there are rocky bits dropping down into deeper sandy areas around the shoreline, the big red predators are a-huntin’, sounds like a good place to be if you’re further up the food chain.

Competitive Nature

 It amazing what goes on all around the country fishing wise On Any Sunday (the original off road bike movie) , as I was out for a ride last sunday I happened to cruise into Gulf Harbour Yacht Club to have a nose at a fishing competition in full swing.

Over 200 keen fisho’s out there having a great time at the time. Prizes for Africa, a fantastic setting and everyone sharing that common thrill of hunting fish. A familiar face Derek the Chef was there holding up one of the big snapper in for a win…

 and with a fabulous looking new boat too!

Pretty much every weekend from now until the end of summer there’ll be a fishing competition whether big or just local, and not too far away - it’s the season for fishing competitions.

Storm Chasers

 The workups out in the gulf have been varying between scary big, tumultuous opening of the skies like a vortex from the heavens with an endless supply of gannets dive bombing anchovies, pilchards and mackerel schools, either with or without dolphins or the recent pod of whales feeding around the gulf …to extremely patchy with slim pickings. When the whales are feeding on plankton sized morsels, not much for the rest of us hangers on to get our teeth/hands/beaks on – so snapper aren’t that keen on hanging around either, but when the big girl feeds on bigger bait, it’s all on. Workups are as workups do – they constantly move with the flow of food, so last week’s mid week workups consistently south of the Whangaparaoa peninsula were no more (until the one last night). No doubt they’ll come back as the baitfish scurry around. North-side and east-end of the peninsula bait schools are getting a hammering now as well as the middle firth and middle gulf.

Catfood, bait...but wait, there’s more.

 Mackerel the size of kahawai are out there in numbers the size of Rangitoto Colleges roll, a school of thousands! But hang on, the lowly mackerel – who cares…snapper, snapper, snapper right. Well yes I enjoy snapper as much as anyone, but the massive mackerel industry worldwide is not just for cat food or bait as many think, and as I am discovering more and more stories and legends exist, but truth is an entirely different kettle of fish.

Smoked mackerel is very tasty and with the size of them in the gulf, and like the snapper they too are in breeding mode, these mackerel provide not only bait, but food and entertainment. Dropping a sabiki rig down is often forgotten (by me) and what better way to either catch fresh bait to use as a livie or freshly cut strip bait, it also allows you to see what bait, whether pilchards, mackerel or piper are in your fishing zone. Catch ‘em and send them back smiling with a hook, or imitate the bait du jour with lifelike soft plastics.  Any bigger predators in the area –you're provide the feeding opportunity they’re hungry for.

Kids (of all ages ) love catching mackerel as they wriggle and fight fast providing the thrill and excitement of catching fish along with knowledgeable stories by parents …oh yeah and they taste great smoked. Yes, smoked ‘em myself a few times now, definitely worth a try as they can be very tasty  – a bit like the Kiwi-Indian meal of freshly smoked tandoori snapper the other night, worth its weight in gold.

Geeks

I am now in the depths of developing and learning the technology behind posting live fishing reports from the Hauraki Gulf on the www.fishing.net forums. Real livies. The idea is simple, a bit like me really, to report as the action is taking place, real time, showing what’s happening and what’s working. Initially text and pictures, inevitably video as it all unfolds. How exciting is that! I can hardly wait. Youtube footage of gulf fishing has also been on the technology update agenda too. Even older dogs can figure this one out, 4 minutes of big snapper hunting on silly string, ultra-light line and big snapper go together – check it out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5wDiresc5U
    

The Catch Patch

 This picture from Dean of the Glowing Gecko and Glow Squid doing what they do best – catching bigger snapper, gets our monthly free Catch Pack of goodies. When you capture your fish on Catch, email me your pictures (info@airescience.com) as each month a free Catch Pack is given out for the best shot.

How to buy Catch, the ultimate soft bait?  

The best fishing stores at the moment are places like Fish City Albany, Top Catch Whangaparaoa, Westhaven and Glen Innes, and Smart Marine and Full-on Fishing.

If your local hasn’t got the ultimate soft bait yet (remind them what they’re missing out on!)

then simply click www.instantfishingsupplies.co.nz and have them delivered.

Easy as that for you to experience the ultimate soft bait for yourself and start catching bigger fish.

Cheers