Attention turning to kingfish

The rising water temperatures in the Hauraki Gulf have signalled the start of snapper spawning. While there has still been decent workup action off Kawau and up into the Jellicoe Channel, this will soon fizzle out as we approach the holiday period.

When the snapper action slows down, we turn our attention to targeting the influx of kingfish into the Gulf. There has been some solid kingie action around the outer Gulf, particularly the southern and western coast of Great Barrier Island and around Little Barrier Island. Topwater and livebaits have both been delivering great results.

The kings are now taking up residence closer to the city, too, with some solid catches coming from the reefs and marker buoys around Waiheke, Noises, Rakino, and Rangitoto. My buddy Nick Jones found some nice greenback action pretty close to port on an NZ Fishing News ‘work’ trip yesterday. They found a big school of kingies around a local reef, although some perseverance, a change of tide, and fresh mackerel livies were required to get them on the chew.

Adam Pompey and Kurt Capewell with some inshore Auckland kingfish on the NZ Fishing News boat.

See ya out there!

- George Bourke
Hauraki Express