Manukau Harbour & West Coast fishing

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Pcj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan 2025 at 8:15pm
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Originally posted by smudge smudge wrote:

Nice fish Paul. Last time we fished that area was two weeks ago. We came home with two snapper way smaller than that and had 8 bust offs on sharks Big smile
Had no issue witth Sharks but then I took no burley,fish few and far between but mint day to be out there after Sunday..Still a bit early for snapper??

Off to Coromandel next week for a week so will see what northern farms hold.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 Jan 2025 at 9:36pm
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January can be tough, from now until June is the best time
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote tobez Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2025 at 2:40pm
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theres gurnard over here smudge - bloody things swim around your feets
Waikato North Harbourmaster...Got a Nav Safety question for the Waikato region?...call me 021705642 or download the app Marine Mate!
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Jan 2025 at 8:24pm
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Wow, Toby! Good to see you here. I'd love to go to the Chathams one day.
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The harbour didn’t disappoint. Woke up at 4am and on the water by 5am.

I struggled to catch anything for the first 2 hours.

After sunrise, the softbait came into effect and I caught all the fish i could carry in my kayak. Back home by 11am. 5 of the snapper measuring over 55cm and 2 measuring over 48cm. The longest measuring 57cm.

The snapper/tāmure are very fat and in prime condition!
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Jan 2025 at 6:45pm
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wow, great catch. Wouldn't have wanted to be out there this afternoon. Gusting 30knots. With rain right now.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote matwould Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Jan 2025 at 3:54pm
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Nice work, what a great haul!
What softbaits were you using if I may ask?

Where did you launch the yak from? I might have to drag mine into that body of water.

Went out with my old man on his boat a couple of weeks ago near the airport and was fairly slow, went home with 6 snapper between 3 of us over about 3-4 hours.
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Originally posted by matwould matwould wrote:

Nice work, what a great haul!
What softbaits were you using if I may ask?

Where did you launch the yak from? I might have to drag mine into that body of water.

Went out with my old man a couple of weeks ago near the airport and was fairly slow, went home with 6 snapper between 3 of us over about 3-4 hours.

There are some pretty flash fullas around here Matt. It is indeed a great haul
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Schecter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jan 2025 at 2:44pm
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Hi Matt.

The pinks and whites are working particularly well for me.  I think the kayak is in it's element when you can drift at a slow pace.  I find the drifting speed from to 0.3 to 0.8 knots is perfect for softbaiting.  The slower the better.  

I kayak fish back and forth in the Waiuku and Papakura/Pahurehure channel.  There are boat ramps nearby. 

I went out this morning for a quick mission and it was tough this time around.  I struggled to catch a feed.  

The new moon brought strong tides in the harbour.  I couldn't feel the sensitivity of my softbaits with the stronger tides pushing me too swiftly and the seagrass smothering my softbaits.



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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote matwould Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jan 2025 at 3:10pm
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Thanks Schecter. That's helpful. Guess I'll have to try the softies on the Manukau at some point. Been fishing it with fresh mullet for years.

When you're drifting that slow do you have a drogue out? Or no need given you're only kayaking on the Manukau on a really flat day?

Dad and I launch the boat at Bottle Top Bay and usually head just off the channels out near the airport, or in between Weymouth and the airport.

Bugger about this morning. The Manukau can be a bit finicky. When you say seagrass, are you talking about that red weed? It's a pain in the arse.

This is my first time really posting in this forum even though I've been a member a while, was on the KFNZ forum for a long time but that seems defunct now. Albeit I've now got young kids and my fishing time is almost non-existent these days.

Cheers.




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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jan 2025 at 3:48pm
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The red weed is horrible stuff alright. Sea grass is the long green stringy stuff that looks like long grass, there's been a fair bit of it in the harbour lately.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Schecter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jan 2025 at 7:38pm
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Red weed. That’s what it’s called 👍. Thanks smudge
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I’ll use the drogue if I’m doing a long drift or if the wind is blowing my kayak around.

I don’t use it most of the time.

Flat days are nice, but I don’t mind a bit of wind and chop. I’m primarily focused on the wind against tide and the tidal coefficient. The lower the tidal coefficient, the better it is for me.

Yes, I’ve learnt a lot from the KFNZ forum. Some top tips and tricks from that lot. Good luck 👍
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Jan 2025 at 9:51pm
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From what I can gather Gracilaria secundata is the red weed. It turned up here in the 60's I believe.

This is sea grass, much nicer stuff but still a pain at times https://niwa.co.nz/sites/default/files/import/attachments/A4-Seagrass-Guide.pdf
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Found fishing along the banks you get t no he weed but in deeper once line covered in it.time to go home.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote matwould Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Jan 2025 at 9:11am
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I've seen the red weed plenty. Mostly in deeper water/channels. Usually if I move shallower then I don't see it/catch it. I've found if I'm catching red weed I'm not catching fish.

Interestingly, I have not seen any of the green sea grass in the Manukau.

Thanks all.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote BananaBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Jan 2025 at 10:43am
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Originally posted by matwould matwould wrote:


Interestingly, I have not seen any of the green sea grass in the Manukau

Heaps of it this morning off Titirangi, usually is when big tides happen.... big spring tides this weekend. Ive never seen the tide so far out like it was this morning

Explored around the banks this morning for gutters & holes to mark out for winter gurnard, couldn't find any from the intel given a few times of specific places
Only had a 20min sesh this morning before slack tide... then it always stops. Kept 6 snaps, all 1 size = 33cm on fresh arrow squid baits.
The fish shop up the road was selling seconds arrow squid as baits, very tough & bloody good too at 2 bucks kg
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (2) Likes(2)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Jan 2025 at 3:06pm
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Last winter there was a heap of the green sea grass washed up on the beaches. I shoveled a heap of it off the ramp at Te Toro - enough to totally fill my ute tray. I took it home for my garden.

When the red weed is around I've found the fish won't bite as soon as some gets on your hook. It's a bugger to deal with.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Schecter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Jan 2025 at 9:58pm
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Very true smudge. I was getting plenty of nibbles and bites, then it would stop.

When I wound up my softbait, it was covered in weed.

I recall one gusty day last year, I was at Renton road reserve looking for a potential spot. The beach was awash with seagrass. Thick masses of the stuff all over the beach. Very smelly as well.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Schecter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 31 Jan 2025 at 10:00pm
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Nice work BB.
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