Sounds Snapper Starting to Fire

Saltwater:  

I mentioned the outer Marlborough Sounds/D’Urville Island area in the last report, and almost like clockwork we are getting reports of great snapper being taken up there.  

I had a couple of mates make the most of a two-day break in the weather and sneak a trip out to D’Urville earlier this week, drifting with slow jigs was the trick. Being prepared to run thin braid and lighter leader allows you to get the most action out of these lures and present them to the fish in the best fashion. I learnt firsthand last winter that adding the likes of a Daiwa Kohga Mega 6 skirt to your slow jig increased the catch rate, it does hurt more when you lose a lure, but it’s that balance between pleasure and pain isn’t it!  

Bluefin action in Kaikoura has gone quiet in the past two weeks, but I suspect that is more an indication of tricky weather conditions than there being no tuna out there. Closer to home, hapuku are often the target at this time of year out of Lyttleton and Akaroa, and it helps that the weather is more settled as a rule too. We will be keeping an eye on the conditions out there and I hope to have a solid report next time around!

Barry McFall with a D'Urville snapper showcasing the Mega 6 skirt system.? 

The reports I have been getting from the Hutchwilco NZ Boat S how in Auckland have been good. It soulds like the new ‘Heavy Metal’ for Ben Brown of Built to Fish fame is an absolute beast and worth the price of admission just to see that!

Freshwater: 

We had our first frost of the winter in the city this week after a bit of a cold snap coming through. That said cold snap seems to have turned the trout on up in our lakes too. It is certainly fresh up there now, so please go prepared for winter conditions - from what our fishing department team are reporting the fishing is worth it. Their best success has been fishing lumos at night around stream mouths, where rainbows and salmon have been taken. Fishing soft baits in the daylight hours has proven successful for rainbows, browns, and salmon.  

The canal fishing could have been considered slow in recent weeks, but that colder weather and another blast coming this weekend should turn the fishing on down there too. The same applies down there, go knowing it will be cold, and if you’re organised you will still have a fun time, nothing worse than being cold. Remember to take the blinkers off and mix up your techniques, all methods work at varying times, stay on your toes and change things up when the fishing is a little tougher. 

We have a very active team of keen anglers in our Fishing Department, so please fire any questions our way and we will point you in the right direction to keep you on the fish. Please check out our Facebook page for more info on what we are up to in Canterbury.

Cheers,

Simon McMillan
Christchurch Hunting and Fishing New Zealand
75 Clarence Street, Addington, Christchurch
03 3430212
https://www.facebook.com/ballingershf.co.nz
www.huntingandfishing.co.nz