What a wicked fishing season we are having - not only with the exceptional snapper and kingfish numbers that are around - but with tuna in abundance as well. In contrast to last year - when the tuna were few and far between - this year good numbers of tuna are being caught south of Mana, down to Makara, and all the way further north.

Hot colour lures have been black, purple, green and yellow Zukers along with Rapala CD9 and CD11 lures. My personal favourite Rapala is fluro green and orange with black stripes. Kingfish have been fishing exceptionally well all around the Wellington region, not just the West Coast, with several reports of 15 – 20 kg fish being caught in the Harbour and on the South Coast.

Along with the kingfish in the Harbour, there has also been good snapper fishing around Ward Island and along Nauranga. Pictured is Felix Wenzel with a lovely 16kg Wellington Harbour kingfish. One thing that has been very encouraging this year is seeing the numbers of families out there enjoying Wellington's wonderful Harbour, fishing off wharves, rocks and jetty's.

With only a few weeks left until daylight saving finishes, now is the best opportunity to get the younger family members out fishing. Using a set of Sabiki flies, or small hooks with little bits of bait will give kids the opportunity of catching their first spotties, mackerel herrings and other assorted fish.

For those that are interested, the New Zealand Angling and Casting Association Nationals are being held in Wellington over Easter and are being hosted by the Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan Club. This is always a great gathering of super keen fisherman, and we look forward to seeing people fishing all around the Wellington coastline. Good luck to all those who have entered, and we look forward to seeing you there.

Go hard, be safe and have fun. Cheers, Steve.