Fishing Reports

The last 2 "storm events" sent the water temp down a degree or more in the Gulf and we have seen the switch get thrown that sends a lot of the inshore fish onto the reefs and reef edges and those that are bailing for winter, head out to the deeper water of the Gulf. The Auckland channels have slowed right down now with your best bet being the change of light and along the edges of the channels where the sand meets the foul. The inshore softbaiters would do well too if they targetted these sorts of areas along with the many reef systems down here.

We have spent the vast majority of our time out wider and its been brilliant! With cleaner, deeper water and fish anxious to get some condition on prior to the coldest months there has been some great catches especially in the work ups - Yes we are still getting work ups out wider...not every trip but they have been pretty consisient over the last month.

Many are just short intense bursts that last only 15 mins so you have to be on the spot or close by to really take advantage but a few we have been party to have wound on for 40 mins or so and its from these that the best fish have come.

Video and photos here

We tend to get away a bit earlier than everyone else in the mornings mostly due to the fact we have a bit of a steam in front of us and this sometimes works to our advantage with a quick drift round Shearers, Shag or over the "Boiler" area east of Tiri on the way out. Not every time do we sneak up on a few fish but everynow and then a goodie will pop up just showing there are still good fish on the local reefs during winter.

We use to pick a few livies from the marina before we left but we have been told not to do this as its a breach of a marina by-law (how anal can you get!) so we often put a few in the tank from around the point on the way out if they are there and happy to jump on the sabikis. Its these fresh baits, both live and cut, that seem to be the early morning temptation for a big snapper.

In a bit of rough weather during the last week we had a bit of look up around Kawau and found it to be pretty patchy with the best fish coming from off the foul again. The snapper were spitting up crabs and shell so guess the the rough weather had dislodged a few from the reefs. 1 of them spat out what looked like scallop and when we fiinshed the drift we nudged Diversity around the corner and into the rough water where we knew there were a few scallop beds. Doing this, although not comforatbale fishing by any stretch of the imagination, earnt us a few more snapper and 2 big dory. The Dory took cut baits on Snapper Snatcher rigs.

Outwide we are encountering a few more barracouta each trip. A commercial source tells me around the Hen and Chicks is now thick with them and they are heading south. Im hoping we dont have one of those winters where they infest the Gulf and make a right nuisance of themselves! Sadaly there isnt much you can do except move on or put up with them. I know some people like to eat them and I guess this would be fair revenge for how much tackle they have cost us over the years.

The reward for putting up with the 'couta is the good snapper fishing we often get out deep in the winter. Its not "fishing in a barrel" like summer can be and it can be long cold days but the range of species is better, the snapper can be bigger and when you get those mill pond midwinter days there is nothing quite like being hooked up in 100m of water to a big tail thumper

.

Thanks to Daz for this photo...too much goin on to reach for the ciggie eh Daz!

Keep an eye on our webpage for the list of dates for casual anglers and if you have a group wanting to get in the action then just email usn and we can send you everything you need to know. We also run specials on this page too so check in regularly to make sure you get a great deal! The page is updated every few days too.

Stay warm and dry out there and forget about hanging up that tackle..we're on the job 365 days!

Cheers

Damo

The Charter Connection - Where fishing is catching!©