Fishing Reports

Missing in Action

The Hauraki Gulf with its stunning scenery and most excellent adventure family fishery, especially at this time of year, can still throw down a fishing curve-ball or two. Just lately finding snapper by piggy-backing other species looking for fish food has taken a bit more lady-luck and a lot more gas. Dolphins have been conspicuous by their near absence in the gulf for days on end, even the big speedy tourist boats out there daily watching whales and dolphins have been searching far and wide sometimes. Gannets often feeding seemingly at will on the abundant baitfish - near, far and wide i.e. fewer than normal concentrated workups with their accompanying frenzied snapper in the middle of the puddle. Other days, well it’s as if the gulfs inhabitants all arrive home after a long trip…hungry! You can do no wrong and be home for lunch with a bulging bin of big fish. Overall storm chasing has been tipped off the top of the pops in terms of fast and furious fishing action, good snapper having moved into the shallows and staying put. Good news.

Channeling

With the water temperatures in close nice and balmy the snapper are still keen on breeding, after all they are known as serial breeders - while sounding a bit dubious it’s a good thing as they may well spawn more than once this season. Certainly around the inner islands as they play centre stage for congregations, and like the Big Day Out the closer you get the bigger the throng, in this case schools of hungry snapper.

An absolute barrage of baits of all kinds has been thrown down with snapper schools running the gauntlet among literally hundreds of boats of all manner of size, shape and state. The number of boats out on any given fine day is amazing and most seem to come home with either some excellent snapper, a dory, and/or a KY or two – sounds like a good day out to me. Just at the edge of the channels in 15-20m depth has been and still is the area that so many snapper are sitting and waiting. Waiting patiently for tides to run and get the party started, using bait seems to bring the first snapper aboard and once the current runs well soft plastics go mad with attention too, colour changes are a very good idea for maximizing success… and most importantly weight. Just the other day while fishing an inner city channel, drifting along quite fast with the incoming tide (the best for me lately) the difference when the weight was increased to a 1oz jighead was astonishing, hardly a nibble, yet just prior to, and immediately after a change back to a 5/8oz it was fish hitting on every single drop. The presentation difference was all that it took from being the one peering around at the other boats to see if anyone was catching anything, to being the excited one hooked up grinning from ear to ear with a rod bent double and line peeling out big time. The inner channel fish fight so well too, using current and everything they can to fight all the way to the boat, and handled carefully if at all they can be put back to continue …as you were. Oh and there are a lot fewer big sharks taxing your fish take in close.

Marlin Rash

Both Westie and Eastie marlin hunters have been off and running to a good start this year. Like the snapper fishing the season started well and slightly earlier than in 09/10. Long may it last because as the weather bombs forge their way over the country periodically, the marlin seem to keep their heads down for a while between gales. Marlin fever ramps up in those afflicted as the fine weather breaks are short affairs and the forecast calm winds can appear and disappear very quickly. An early season for sure that’s shaping up well indeed with a good number of stripeys and blues caught already along both coasts.

Back To School

Land based schools for humans rapidly re-populate after the holidays but this doesn’t mean a stop to (fishing) education, evenings are longer and there’s plenty of time to go out for a fish after school.

Schools of kingfish and schools of snapper are uniting with the best fishing in 20m or less of water in every channel around the town, incoming tide running well, flasher rigs if anchored or long sliced nearly defrosted pillies straylined well out back, or nice ‘n light weights using medium sized soft baits like the Catch Green Anchovy and the Gulp Nuclear Chicken, like this nice 12lb pound snapper caught with the Anchovy by 12 year old Kit, school holiday memories extraordinaire.

Just Quickly

No red algae all around the gulf like 2 years ago at this time

Still no skippies returning to the gulf

Small kingfish are everywhere

The snapper condition has improved significantly over the past few weeks

Sharks sharks and more tackle tearing sharks abound from the very small sand sharks to fun filled aerials by threshers like this one being released after an excellent 20 minute battle on the lightweight soft plastic gear.

Speaking of kingfish…Alan says: “this was in my 12 foot tinny using my Penn softy set and Catch Green Anchovy! I find them good for Snapper and Kingies off the bays.”

Alan gets this month’s Catch Pack of free goodies for this classic picture.

Have a great time fishing in February whenever you can, and savour the flavour!

Cheers

Espresso.