Summer is when many occasional anglers dust off the cobwebs and get ready to throw a fishing line into the water. Funnily enough, although the days are hot the fishing can often be the very opposite, meaning putting a feed of fish on the table over the holiday season can be tricky. Fortunately, this article offers a few handy tricks to help you land that whopper you can brag about at the holiday campground! 

So, why can fishing be tough over summer? A major contributor to the sometimes tough fishing over the holidays is the increase in fishing pressure and boat traffic as everyone heads for the rocks, beaches and fishing grounds (or just out on the water for general recreation) all at once. The fish don’t vanish, but with all that zooming around they can get flighty and hard to catch during the day. Often, over the Christmas break, snapper have finished or paused from their spawning and many inshore areas fill with small, undersized fish. Other popular species also become lethargic with the higher water temperatures – perhaps the water becomes too warm to sustain extended feeding activity, or the longer days simply spread feeding opportunities out over a longer period. There are a few tricks to help increase summer success, however. 

Change of light

Keen anglers know from experience that the prime fishing times are dawn and dusk. Sunrises and sunsets mean the ‘changing of the guard’ in terms of species and, consequently, the first or final chance for species to feed for the day or night – akin to humans eating dinner or breakfast. Fish like snapper and kingfish are less wary in lower light conditions, coming into shallower water and becoming easier to fool into biting. 

I do acknowledge that getting up at the crack of dawn may be difficult for some during the silly season. If getting up before sunrise is too much to bear, just aim for the evening session, my friend!

Fresh baits

Often making the effort to catch your own bait pays dividends. Does the bag of frozen bait from the local gas station look very appealing compared to a fresh, shiny baitfish pulled from the water? Fish can be snobs, too, and when they are being finicky, fresh bait is best. Another bonus with fresh baits is they are robust and won’t get nibbled away from small ‘picker’ fish in the same way frozen bait does. 

The best fresh bait of all in many situations is livebait. Not only a great option for large fish like kingfish, livebaits such as mackerel, sprats, and piper will also tempt desirable species like john dory, snapper, and kahawai. Baitfish can regularly be caught from wharves, harbours, and bays all around New Zealand. Sabiki rigs or bait nets are perfect for the job. If you’re overnighting on the boat, you can catch jack mackerel at night from most coastal anchorages. 

Bite times

What is a ‘bite time’, you ask? Well, it’s a mysterious thing based on the Solunar Calendar, which considers the moon’s position relative to the Earth. And although some might think it’s bogus, many keen anglers only go fishing according to these timings. There’s also a fair amount of scientific evidence to back up the bite times theory (but we won’t bore you with that). You can look them up online here. 

Smaller is sometimes better

Although ‘big bait = big fish’ is a worthwhile concept, you must remember that elephants eat peanuts, too! When summer fishing, sometimes dropping down in bait or lure size can make a big difference with lethargic fish.

Current events

A key consideration some part-time anglers gloss over is planning a fishing trip according to what the tides are doing. Some inshore spots will fish best in the lead-up to high tide as fish move in to feed in the intertidal zone, whilst others might work better at low tide as fish are concentrated in a channel. Fish will generally sit on the up-current side of reefs and structures, and inshore fish like snapper often bite best when the current is flowing. Fish use smell as a major sense when hunting their food and this includes the scent that your bait and berley put out. Without a current flow to distribute these scents, the fish will find it harder to locate the bait. Many spots will work better on either an incoming or outgoing tide, so it pays to experiment yourself or talk to a local guru.

Shush! 

When fish are under pressure, particularly in shallow water areas, a stealthy approach can make all the difference – hence why many kayak fishers catch fish in places that those from boats do not. When coming up to shallow-water spots, try to make the final approach quietly. If this is not feasible, allow an extra half-hour for things to settle down before expecting much action. Foam decking, marine carpet, or tube mat on the deck helps deaden noise, especially in tinnies, and keep your voice down while fishing, too. When putting down the pick, lower your anchor (especially the chain section) carefully to avoid clanking.

Stealthy fishing techniques can involve lighter tackle, too. Except when trying to drag big fish out of heavy foul (when a bit of firepower is needed), light lines with minimal trace and terminal tackle can often make a difference. Use light lines, the minimum amount of lead you require to get down to the fish, and the lightest leader you think you can get away with.

Vary your approach

Vary your approach if your usual techniques aren’t working. Mix up your bait (and lure) types. Sometimes fish prefer one over another, or, if fish are picking at the baits, something tough baits like freshly caught mackerel will last better than soft pilchards, for example. Using shellfish or crustacean baits may open the door to species not usually caught on fish baits, such as blue moki or spotted dogfish.

It pays to always have a ‘big’ bait out, too – a whole or half baitfish, or a livebait. Often this will produce something substantial – maybe a big snapper or a kingfish – and one decent fish can be a day-saver when times are tough.

A surface berley trail will often entice fish like blue maomao, piper, and yellow-eyed mullet – all good eating and easily caught on small hooks with light line. 

Don’t give up!

Stick at it, even if the fishing is not on fire. The fishing itself is rewarding and it is satisfying to rustle up a catch when conditions are difficult. Persistence usually pays, and often a couple of fish are all that is needed for the family to enjoy! 

For all your fishing tackle and boating equipment, visit jarviswalker.co.nz

- NZ Fishing News