I reckon fishing techniques change as much as fashion trends in clothing.

There is a constant stream of new products coming onto the market, meeting the thirst of smart anglers looking for new techniques to catch their favourite fish. There will always be fishermen thinking of ideas, and a few will put their thoughts into the design and development of new products. As one of these people myself, I can tell you it is just about compulsive, and sure can interrupt your sleep patterns.

New products spark new ideas and new thoughts about how fish find their food and what triggers them to attack your bait or lure. With these new thoughts and techniques come different views on what is the best technique to use in a certain situation. The best fishermen keep an open mind about new techniques and are always willing to give them a try. It’s fun and exciting to try different things; getting stuck in a rut, fishing the same old way in the same old place, won’t do much for your enthusiasm and capabilities in the long term. An open mind, on the other hand, will make you a better fisher, who catches more fish and has more fun doing so. I see this in action all the time while onboard my charter vessel Wave Dancer.
Educating yourself is key to staying on top of the latest fishing techniques. Sources such as this magazine, the internet and attending seminars will improve the number and size of fish you catch. Think about your techniques, constantly analyse the way you’re fishing, and don’t be afraid to experiment.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions especially if someone is catching more fish than you. Try to figure out why this is happening, then change what you need to so you catch more fish.
Lastly, celebrate and absorb any interesting information that may be offered, as no matter what your experience, there is always something new to learn.

What’s changing now?

The biggest change I’m seeing at the moment is the move to catching snapper on lures. Sure, we have been catching snapper on lures for many years, but now techniques are changing rapidly following trends from overseas. Rods, reels, lines, leaders, hooks and lures are evolving fast, and there’s new ones coming onto the market every season. As a result, tackle distributors are in a race to be the first to stock new tackle and lures as they become available. Being involved in this industry is truly exciting right now.

I’m lucky enough to be able to acquire the latest gear from overseas, test it, and then tweak it so it’s better suited to local conditions. I then test it again on my charters until I’m happy with it. (The main thing to come out is that our snapper tend to be bigger than the fish most overseas lures are designed to catch.)

I’m not sure what my wife thinks anymore, as I have used the words ‘product testing’ a few too many times, so try to avoid them.

Specialist boat rods have changed a lot in the last few years. Now that rod manufacturers are shifting to ‘Nano’ technology – which means designing and manipulating the materials rods are made from at a molecular level – they are getting slimmer, lighter and more powerful all the time. Consequently, modern lightweight, high-carbon rods are an absolute pleasure to use.
Reels are also getting lighter and smaller. I am particularly fond of Shimano’s new Ci4 technology, which is a super lightweight and corrosion-free carbon-type material used to manufacture many of their latest reels. In my opinion this material is the future for fishing reels. Well done, Shimano.

Line technology is also evolving fast, with braid getting finer and stronger. It’s now down to a thin cotton diameter line that’s super-strong with little or no stretch.

Meantime, hooks are getting sharper and lures are getting more complex. This is typified by the trend towards hard-bodied lures, with inchiku jigs and madai type slow-jigs becoming increasingly popular in recent seasons. And, more recent still, is the interest in developing methods that make use of ‘blade’ lures in the shape of baitfish, which wiggle and vibrate. There is a lot to choose from, and the range of lures is growing all the time.

As for soft-baits, they’re not standing still either, with stronger materials and patterns available that provide even more enticing movement.

So, if you’re up for trying new and exciting ways to catch fish, you’ll need to purchase new fishing gear. This does not have to be an expensive exercise to start with (and once you have the gear, you won’t need to buy bait anymore!). Start by visiting your local specialist tackle store, and make sure you purchase your gear from staff who actually go fishing and know about fishing from a practical point of view.

There are many brands out there; some are good and some are not. It’s the same old story: you pretty much get what you pay for, so buy good quality and you’re much less likely to be disappointed.

Try to avoid cheap copies, as the quality is usually poor and the product has not been tested. Once again, knowledgeable tackle shop staff can steer you in the right direction. There are some excellent tackle retailers in New Zealand who have a wealth of knowledge to share with you.

Think like a fish

When looking for snapper, try to open your mind and think like a fish, too. Whatever area you’re in, have a look around, study your marine charts, observe the water temperatures, and watch the behaviour of sea birds and mammals. Take in all the information and use it to locate feeding fish. With an open mind you will soon identify likely-looking places where fish hang out.
As fish must feed to survive – that is the number-one consideration I have in my head when trying to find them. I’m sure my guests think I am ignoring them sometimes, when in fact I’m concentrating hard, so can’t process anything else. No multi-tasking capabilities here!

I like to find baitfish, so I’m always keeping a lookout for baitfish signs, which can be marks on the sounder, seabird activity, surface splashes, changes in bottom contour, high current areas and previous experience (remembering where I’ve seen baitfish in the past). It’s just a big puzzle, so the more pieces you have at your disposal, the easier it is to put it all together. That’s why the thinking angler will catch more fish.

Lure fishing for snapper has become a proven way to catch trophy fish, requiring an attitude adjustment for many anglers.

When the likes of the Shimano Lucanus madai style jigs were introduced onto the market, it took a while for anglers to accept them as an alternative to ‘bait’ fishing.
The use of lighter tackle when targeting snapper has added another dimension to sportfishing.
Another mindset for anglers to overcome is the use of braid line and ‘trout’ rods to take on big snapper.

	This article is reproduced with express permission of NZ Fishing News written by Paul Senior - 2011 Re-publishing elsewhere is prohibited Originally published in New Zealand Fishing News