Big snapper turn up on west coast

With springtime here, the big snapper have turned up since the last report.

West and north of the bar leads in around 55-65m have been producing the best with good-sized snapper schooling – with some big moochers in the mix.

Fresh baits are working the best with strips of skinned kahawai producing the biggest fish. Though if you want to increase the quantity of gurnard in your catch you should have some skipjack tuna in your bait selection it seems. Once they are on the bite the school snapper are hitting squid and other traditional baits.

There has also been the odd tarakihi and kingfish caught over the sand too. The barracouta seem to have moved out to 80 meters plus with just a few spiny dog sharks turning up as by-catch. The bigger sand school sharks are also appearing along with the odd mako, so expect a bit of gear loss!

Out deep, the ‘puka continue to cooperate with good catches when you get onto them.

Tight lines