Good luck, let us know how you go.

Good One Manaia for taking time out to post catch report, theres very few these days! Not sure but Iv'e always thought when theres pods of Dolfins around the fish go off the bite or bugger off? Seems to be wot happens to me on the few occasions they have come around my boat. Maybe it could of  been a contributing factor with your day?  Is it an old wifes tale? or is there fact in it, wot you guys Think?

I think generally when there are dolphins around the birds follow them waiting for them to feed. Once they have rounded up the baitfish into a work up it’s all on then they move on. If I’m fishing the same areas but no work ups are happening, I will look for a group of Gannets sitting on the water and drift with them. Usually get some good fish as the snapper follow along cleaning up the debris. This can be a while later as it’s 40 odd metres deep.
On Wednesday I caught my fish close to one of the rises near flat rock. It usually holds fish, but they do move around a bit.

Snappa Geoff wrote: Good One Manaia for taking time out to post catch report, theres very few these days! Not sure but Iv'e always thought when theres pods of Dolfins around the fish go off the bite or bugger off? Seems to be wot happens to me on the few occasions they have come around my boat. Maybe it could of  been a contributing factor with your day?  Is it an old wifes tale? or is there fact in it, wot you guys Think?

Bit hard to get out Geoff when 80% of weekends is Sunday: Westerly 15 knots turning northwest 15 knots for a time in the morning and afternoon. Then westerly rising to 20 knots in the evening. Sea becoming moderate in the evening. Cloudy periods, a few isolated afternoon showers.

Monday: Westerly 20 knots. A few showers developing.

Tuesday: Westerly 15 knots, becoming northerly 15 knots early. A few showers developing.

Wednesday: Northerly 20 knots, changing southwest 15 knots early. Rain, clearing.

Good morning out in the Gulf again today. Started at Flat Rock about 7 and then after a few hours headed out just past the cable zone and drifted for another couple of hours. 2 of us came back with 10 fish, half being mid 30’s and half being 5-6lb. No birds or dolphins out today and the fishing was pretty consistent throughout the morning.

We are coming up to spawning season very soon so mainly undersize in close , but worm beds in 15 to 25m especially will be where the better fish are

If you listen metserv one woulds never go to sea. Windy/predict showed sw12. Went to Kaiaua from 7.00 to 8.00  3 different parts of farm for no bites. Decision made Coro farms here we come. Moored between to charter vessels and deployed burley. There 30 minutes 7 in bin and charters went elsewhere,from what observed very little being caught. Further 1hr had our limit . Switched to chasing Kings as we had a good number around us. Couldnt land any,had a stalemate. where no movement next minute going gone,did the unexpected dive.

Been a long time coming, but a few mates pulling out last minute and a few average trips on the yak was enough to pull the trigger for a solo mission on the boat.

Up early to avoid any traffic at the ramp ( half moon bay )at 5am I had my pick at pontoon and a park right out in front, I was heading for some rocks just past the noises and got there at 6am.

First time fishing this area, found some good spread out structure and set up a drift. Threw a softbait out and before I flipped the bail arm over it took off. Good snap on, got it to the surface reached around to grab my net and when I turned back there where 3 decent kings on his tail. In a mad rush i Scooped the snap, threw it, the net and my rod on the deck and grab the closest rod I could find . Dropped a big softie and watched the 3 kings fight over it. It was an instant hook up right in front of me. At this point I looked down to crank the drag and realized I had me mates $200 Sedona combo. Locked it up and managed to stop it from getting to the bottom, then followed a Mexican stand off with it just pumping and me to scared to apply anymore pressure. After a few minutes it came towards me and I managed a few quick winds before it turned and taught me a lesson. Bugger, all before 615am. The thoughts and frustration that followed looking at my stickbait rod thinking you fu#$ing idiot. Caught my breath and continued softbaiting with some really good snapper coming on board. Picked up 7 snaps all over 45cm with the two biggest going 55cm & 60cm. Back to the ramp for a stress free retrieval and a bit of a yarn. The yak has been knocked off its perch.

smudge wrote: Hopkins wrote: Good snap on, got it to the surface reached around to grab my net and when I turned back there where 3 decent kings on his tail. In a mad rush i Scooped the snap, threw it, the net and my rod on the deck and grab the closest rod I could find . Dropped a big softie and watched the 3 kings fight over it. It was an instant hook up right in front of me. At this point I looked down to crank the drag and realized I had me mates $200 Sedona combo. Locked it up and managed to stop it from getting to the bottom, then followed a Mexican stand off with it just pumping and me to scared to apply anymore pressure. After a few minutes it came towards me and I managed a few quick winds before it turned and taught me a lesson. Bugger, all before 615am. The thoughts and frustration that followed looking at my stickbait rod thinking you fu#$ing idiot. Caught my breath and continued softbaiting with some really good snapper coming on board. Picked up 7 snaps all over 45cm with the two biggest going 55cm & 60cm. Back to the ramp for a stress free retrieval and a bit of a yarn. The yak has been knocked off its perch. Well you know the old saying:  Don't take a Sedona to a Saltist fight!

following your advice"smudge'upped the trace to 100lb with 30lb braid and dedicated rod reel in anticipation for Saturday farm trip

Hehe nothing like everything going wrong when fishing solo. Hope that hook wound doesn't get an infection