29.11.2021

We took a couple of softbait newbies out at gentlemen's hours (10.30am launch from Bucklands Beach) and drifted Sargeants Channel.  Had four rods with four different coloured zman shads. Bruised Banana got a few hits, Motor Oil and pink one very little but the silver shad had a lot of interest so we all changed to those. Bite time was quite short from around 11.30 to 12.30 but lots of action and we put ten in the bin between us.  Nothing big (largest was 42cm) and quite a few around 30-32cm went back to grow.  Not a lot of current and once it died further, so did the fishing. Followed up with a nice swim and picnic on Motuihi.  Happy days and lucky to be here.  

Checked out the harbour from Navy Docks/ North Head/ Narrow Neck, then Rangitoto channel, strong westerley made for long wet ride back to HMB, all for 3 keepers

Yesterday went out wide of tiri up towards kawau and tiri channel - just small snapper everywhere - nice morning for it with a big swell running further north we went

Fished the morning tide at Pakatoa Island with Towkay, kept 9 chunky snaps up to 40+ fishing the shallows, biggest fish on Zman bruised banana, using Gulp was just heartbreaking. Also used a cheap 20g microjig, not tungsten, for a bigger profile in the shallows on the drop, worked well.

Watched crazy about flyfishing and tried the 10-12m drift around park point. Teeny 350grain with chartreuse clouser was outfishing the gulp until the wind kicked up. Heaps of birds in the channels, lots of 31.9cm snaps which went back to fatten up more.

I'm back for a summary of a poor summer's fishing.

Before I do that, well done Keith C, great snapper from a wee boat in Taranaki.

After many years of regular reports I've been taking a break from posting.  Since my last report I've fished the Rangi channel near the lighthouse 4x and off Narrow Neck once, the city channel maybe 5x, out near Matiatia 3x, Sergeant's channel (Motuihe side) 2x, Motuihe channel 2x and so on.  Sad to say there has been the odd zilch and other times 1 to 5 keepers.  Been using a lot of Gulps, Zmen and my old trusty 60g orange/yellow kabura.  Occasionally used microjigs with no success.

None of the areas have fished well, and the best bite I had was at the southern end of Sergeants channel over near Crusoe rock in 15m.  The snapper were hitting the Kabura (slow wind up, drop, repeat) and I got 3 or 4 keepers in about 15 minutes.

City channel has been poorer than usual.  Maybe got 4 once, but a long dull session.  Not many undersize snapper recently, and all the keepers since Xmas have been 32 to 38cm with the occasional 43cm.  Most recent trip there was last Thursday morning from 9 to 11, beginning of the outgoing - nada.  The drift past the naval base has been very poor.  I tend to pick up most snapper within 500m of Fergusson wharf.  Last few trips the water has been murky and thinking of going back to bait and berley.