The promise of an early gamefishing season?

While the air temperature most days doesn't reflect it, we're now a long way into spring, with the promise of an early summer gamefishing season.

After a winter of getting most of the kaimoana we needed pretty close to home, snapper and crays being our staple, spring has seen us switch into jigging mode, and for the last eight weeks our fishing trips have almost entirely involved blasting past the Aldermens to the Pins, chasing kingfish. The surface all the way out is alive with birds and baitfish from the moment we leave Tairua. Not only has the lure fishing (jigging) been outstanding, but the kingfish are also in amazing condition, with any fish we've kept having had the most amazing fat content, and absolutely stunning on the plate.

On most of our trips we get the business end of the day sorted early so we can spend some chill time in around the islands, and show our clients how to make the most of this beautiful eating fish, preparing a range of banging kingfish dishes for them.

Jigging for kingfish has been consistently productive for the past eight weeks.

It's been about eight weeks of consistently good kingfish jigging, and from here we move on more to slow trolling baits a bit shallower as the water starts to warm, and the bait gets squeezed in onto the coast.

There are signs of an early game season; on last week's big swell I am pretty sure I caught sight of a marlin very close to the bait hammering a baitfish, bill and pec fin out of the water.

Our signature offering at Provider these days is a four-day Men's Wellbeing Retreat, providing some tools and relief for men who are feeling stressed and burnt out, with a solid dose of fishing, diving and clean eating at the core of what we provide. If this sounds like something that might benefit you or someone you know, get in touch.

Carl Muir

Provider Retreats and Men's Wellbeing

M: 021 227 4354

www.theprovider.co.nz

[email protected]

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