Temperature and snapper distribution 

When our waters cool over the winter months, temperatures affect snapper in several ways. Firstly in distribution: shallower waters have more of their mass exposed to the surface, so they chill out (and warm up) more quickly. When the water cools down some fish will stay inshore, but the majority of snapper move from the shallows out to deeper waters, where the larger water mass holds the temperature up a bit better. This varies from north to south as the southern waters are colder. Generally, snapper in the north do not move so far, or for so long as in the colder southern parts of their range. 

The degree of movement seems to vary a bit depending on the severity of the given winter, too. We can remember some very cold winters in the Hauraki region when the water temperature dropped to around 11C (no laughing from our hardy southern readers, please). Then, the snapper seemed to be pretty much non-existent in inshore waters. Recent milder winters have seen better numbers of our red friends lingering in inshore grounds. It is probably fair to say that, with the right approach, a reasonable catch of snapper in winter is an achievable thing from East Cape, north.

Thermal mass

A second variable affecting snapper distribution in the colder months is the size of the individual snapper. The law of thermal mass means that the bigger a fish’s body is the more heat it can conserve and the colder the water it can stand. Consequently, more small snapper move out to deeper water than big fish when the water gets cold. This thermal sorting-sieve will help you catch a better size of fish on average. Although there are still some small fish about in winter (mainly in the medium-depth channels   15-25m), the average size is greater and the biggest fish are often tucked up right in the shallow foul.

Where are they?

There are several places to concentrate your search for inshore winter snapper in the north:

•    As mentioned, the biggest fish will often be tucked up in areas of shallow foul, (say 2-12m) with plenty of rocks and weed. 

•    ‘Funnel’ areas with nearby foul, where there is good tidal water movement (read channel edges) in 12-25m can hold reasonable numbers of snapper in winter as there is always plenty of food to be had.

•    Fish sometimes hold in shallow reef country near river mouths and in harbours in winter. They can feed well just after a winter flood has flushed out a lot of food and the water salinity is starting to return to normal. A couple of tidal flushes after the rain stops can be a good time.

•    A storm smashing into a rocky coast will break up and disturb lots of food items. Try for big fish in close right on the heels of a storm. Don’t risk dangerous conditions, though.

The biggest winter snapper will often be tucked up in areas of shallow foul – perfect areas to flick softbaits around.

Winter bait tactics

Unfortunately, cold water slows the metabolism of snapper, making them much less interested in feeding at this time. They may only come on the bite for short periods (the length of the 'bite time' is much reduced in winter) and even then, they seldom feed very aggressively, often toying with and picking at baits. They can be frustrating to fish for, and a change of tactics may be required:

•    Berley can help get fish interested in feeding and tempt them out of the heavy foul where fishing for them is more practical. However, if there is likely to be a barracouta presence in the area you are fishing, berley can be counter-productive. If you do decide to use it, release it on the bottom for minimum snake attraction.

•    Winter fish must often be allowed to play with the bait for a long time before they will take properly and move off. This means that tough baits that can take a bit of a mauling and still stay on the hooks are required. Favourites that have produced the goods for me are salted skipjack or live or freshly-killed whole jack mackerel (these can produce a useful by-catch of john dory too, if used alive).

•    Use a strayline with the least sinker weight, lightest line and leader that you think is practical. Likewise, smaller baits can be more effective. A half-matchbox size is about right.

•    Let the fish run – resist the temptation to strike until the fish has finally taken the bait firmly and started to move off. 

•    Use sensitive tackle and treat every tiny nibble as a decent fish. Often the very lightest bites are from the biggest snapper. 

•    Often the fish will only bite for a very short time and you must take advantage of this. Check the advertised bite times, change of light, and appropriate tide periods and plan to be on your spot and ready to go at the right time. You must make maximum use of the short feeding time, so have backup tackle ready to go should you get snagged or bitten off.

•    There are big fish in the shallows, but there are not many of them, and they are not feeding aggressively. Wrap up warm, take a thermos flask and be prepared for a long wait between bites if trying the skinny water. Keep noise and vibration to a minimum. 

Softbaits in cold water 

The weedy, rocky inshore zone ordinarily gets little pressure – most boats won’t go right in there (often preferring to use berley to try and entice the fish out) and most shore anglers find the heavy, weedy foul eats terminal tackle for little result. 

Fish tucked up in this heavy country in winter are often not really in a feeding mood for much of the time, but will snap at a well-presented soft-plastic lure. In these shallow areas the fish feel exposed and are more comfortable in times of low visibility such as first and last light, or when there is a heavy shadow cast by the land (or a heavy overcast). A decent white-water wash for the fish to hunt under can offer cover and this usually means turbulence that will expose food for snapper as well. For these wary fish, approach quietly and cast well away from boat. 

Standard softbaiting tackle includes a spin rod and reel loaded with braid rated around 4-6kg (although it may well break at considerably more than this). Braid copes well with weed, often cutting itself free if snagged. Surprisingly though, despite the gnarly terrain, I have lost little tackle fishing the weedy shallows. Working the lure a little above the bottom helps (lighter heads come into their own here as they don’t sink so fast), and lead-head jigs ride hook point up, reducing snagging further. Often, if you do hang up, it is just the nose of the lead-head that has dipped into the weed. A sharp jerk will usually tip the jig up and it will pull free.

Use a strayline with the least sinker weight, lightest line and leader that you think is practical.

A ‘Texas-style’ rig with a worm hook and sliding head weight can be rigged ‘weedless’ too, with the hook point skimmed just under the surface of the tail, and popping up to do the business under the bite of a fish.

At this time of year sluggish fish require slower retrieves. Smaller tails can be inhaled by fussy fish more easily (4” is a favourite) and one with lots of action at the slow retrieve speeds required, such as a grub tail or split-tail/leg model. 

Fishing for snapper in winter is usually slower than in the warmer months and most fishers are happy with modest catches at this time of year. But winter fishing is also more challenging and interesting, and the sense of achievement is greater when you are successful and can put a feed of fresh fish on the table.

- NZ Fishing News