When I posted a note about a “window of opportunity” in the discussion group on Friday, I was happy just to be able to get out on the water in some really good conditions. Those that took advantage of the weather and got out fishing with us did really well with over 130 snapper landed not to mention the bins of kahawai and some really good trevally!
Saturday started with the Tama Autos group getting over 30 snapper in about the first 40 minutes, and only 20 minutes from the marina. We were fishing over some rubble and broken shells with the outgoing tide ripping across it which gave it a good stir up. It was shallow and the fish were taking baits on the Flat Rock Special as soon as it touched down.
It seemed the Lolago squid and strips of skip jack were the preferred baits. The pilchards didn’t really get a chance to fish as they were partially ripped from the hooks by the strong tide run. I had ½ the crew on the Ryoshi recurve hooks and the other ½ on the VMC snapper steelheads. Both went well till the tide slowed and we opted for another location.
In close off the on the reef by the Tiri Wharf was the next stop. In about 8-10 meters of water with not too much current we could lose some of the weight we had been using and float the baits back a bit. It worked really well and we filled up on snapper, kahawai and trevally by the time we had to leave.
Sunday dawned as another great looking day and Andrew and Adria, who took the initiative after seeing our post about the window of opportunity, turned up with the rest of our casual group. They also went home with a limit of good snapper by 1.00 pm. We did pretty much as we had the day before but the incoming tide had me fishing on a hunch that paid off. Everyone on board went home with a limit bag of good fish (see Graham Ts’ post –Winter snapper, on the discussion board).
Some really good trevally were landed, and a few lost too. Chester, one of our regular clients had his limit by 10 am and the others were not far behind. Graham T, from memory was using the incredibly sticky VMC recurve hooks on a FRS and a ledger rig and needless to say was getting them one after the other. The pink flasher rigs were working too. When it comes to these rigs, we prefer the Gamakatsu Snapper Flasha, as it has a really good quality hook and a huge range of colours. We didn’t really have time to experiment with colours but the pink was the one they wanted on this day.
The “window” has closed for today it seems and we have space on Thursday for casual anglers. $45 per person, depart at 8am and return by 4pm. The forecast looks pretty good so give us a call on our new number, (09)4240607 or (025)2446346. You can also email us at
[email protected]
By the way, was talking to a group that had been out all day in the middle of the gulf chasing the gannets around and doing drifts under the work ups. They caught very little. They maybe struggling with the idea of seasonal movements of fish or drifting the wrong side of the work up, but if they are not there, you can’t catch them. To catch fish you have to think like a fish.
Lets Go!
Comments