Spring madness continues

The annual influx of snapper, as you are probably aware, is well and truly under way. The number of reports and boats coming in with bumper catches and big fish is not unusual for the time of year and many who have laid dormaint throughout the cooler months are catching fish now.

Here's what we've been up to and how we've been doing it:

Middle Ground: The area north of Waiheke and east of Tiri (about 8 miles off both) has been the home of numerous work ups, mammal activity and good snapper fishing. The bait seems to stay quite scattered but when the dolphins round it up you will often have great work ups to yourself if you have the patience to hang out there long enough. Of course you don't need work ups to catch snapper and long drifts will get you onto the schools of fish in the area.

Tiri to Kawau: It's fair to say the area is loaded with bait schools that are being shadowed by the snapper, kingfish, kahawai and barracouta. Many of the fish you catch here will be spewing up bait fish and some of the work ups through this area have been nothing short of spectacular. Closer in around Motuora has been very good too with both sustained work up action and big snapper coming from well set up burley trails in 15-20m. Kingfish are taking stickbaits and jigs in the work ups. I haven't bothered with livies when jigs and top water gear works as good and is easier in these heat of the moment events.

Takatu to Cape Rodney: The 50m line has been good along this line too and some of the work ups very intense and long lasting. Less boat traffic is good through here too as further south the usual dipshits are driving into the work ups still. Have a look out off Takatu Point and across Omaha Bay in 30-40m. There are some big snapper up this way and a few good kingfish are coming from the area.

Tiri to The Noises: This last week or so has seen an improvement in fishing through here. We steamed past a small cluster of boats coming in last week and landing nets were out, rods were bent and good snapper were coming up. Try directly south of Tiri without going into the Telecom area. Either tide should work. Also a short hop across the "cable" towards Motutapu should have you into them too.  

Gulf Harbour to Rangi: Pretty good evening fishing through here at the moment so the locals tell me. Small boat, jetski and kayak fishers could do very well in here. The last I heard was that in 12-15m out off Long Bay was the best.I guess going early or later in the day would be best due to the shallower conditions/locations but Im unsure how it will be after this rain. The Oakura and Weiti Rivers pour out into this area and there's been a solid dumping of rain today so far.

Tackle Tips: Its pretty hard to go past a Flasher Rig for bait fishing at the moment especially if you are on the drift. Anchored and burleying is a different story but for drfit fishing and with a heavier weight required we are seeing bait fishers doing very well on these. Orange/yellow is a good colour combo.

Pack Jitterbugs! I don't know how many people we have introduced to this slow jigging but its a lot and that means a lot more people are catching good fish. It's easy, fast and exciting snapper fishing using them and' there is less mess to clean up after a session. A little drizzle of Secret Sauce will get them biting even harder on those slower days too.

Soft baiting has sort of gone out of vogue in the shadow of slow jigging but there is still very, very good fish coming from those using softies. The Zman and Gulp range reign supreme above all other brands and styles but it is important to make sure you have enough of a jig head to get you down to the feeding fish. The Ocean Angler Light Bulbs in 1oz seem to be good in light conditions to about 30-40m but we do step it up to the Berkley Elevator Rigs for deeper work. Pack some of each.

Bait...if you still use it hahahaha. Seriously though folks, buy New Zealand Pilchards. Look for the IQF (Individually Quick Frozen) branding on the box.These pillies will bleed when cut and are are what our NZ fish eat and have been been frozen and refrozen when moved from bulk to retail boxes.

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Over and Out!

Damian (Damo) Clayton

www.charterconnection.co.nz - Where fishing is catching!©