Big snapper still a feature

Well, summer feels like a distant memory now. Since my last report, there has been a lot of heavy rain and strong winds across the Top of the South and we are now officially out of ‘drought’ status.

However, despite the strong winds and heavy rain the snapper are still in Tasman Bay and several fishers who are getting out are still having great success. The size class is still good with a number of fish between that 60-70cm size being caught and these are not only great fun on light gear but good eating size as well. With the cooler waters we will start to see more sharks, particularly spikey dogfish turn up in Tasman Bay. So, I would suggest limiting the use of berley from now on to avoid attracting the attention of these unwanted species.

Water temperatures are continuing to cool and that will certainly help push the fish out of the shallows and into deeper water. D’Urville Island is already holding a number of good snapper, so it is looking like it is a good winter of fishing ahead. A lot of people will put the boat away for winter and wait until spring again, but we are very spoilt here in the Top of the South with some stunning winter fishing. There is no seabreeze generally over winter either so get the day right and you can be treated to many days of glassy calm seas.

The snapper are still in Tasman Bay when the weather allows.

There have been a few nice kingfish caught throughout the top of the Marlborough Sounds as well so good to see a few of those fish being caught, as well as a large number of them being released.

As conditions continue to cool more people will be starting to think of southern bluefin tuna. I see there was a good bluefin caught while bottom fishing out of the Otago coastline and a few people are going to be out looking at Kaikoura over the next couple of days by the sounds of it.

Anyway, I will leave it there. Good fishing is there for the taking if you can get out and don’t let the cooler temps put you off, just put another layer on.

Cheers!

Dan Govier 

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