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Taranaki help for a newbie

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Newbies Corner
Forum Description: If you're new to fishing this is the place to ask any questions about getting started ...
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=131945
Printed Date: 02 Feb 2026 at 9:32pm


Topic: Taranaki help for a newbie
Posted By: Mjd83
Subject: Taranaki help for a newbie
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2019 at 12:16pm
Hi all,

I’ve recently bought a 5m boat and am based in New Plymouth.

I’ve been fishing all my life but I’ve only lived in NZ for 18months, previously from Brisbane in Oz.

I’m struggling to get my head around the seasons here, specifically where should I be looking for snapper at this time of year (September) and how does it change over the coming months as they migrate into shallower waters?

I’ve only been out as far as 30-40m mark and have found nothing, the locals at the ramp apparently are cleaning up at 60-80m so clearly I need to head further out.

Once out there is the idea to find structure? Or are the fish out feeding on the sand?

Any help from a naki local would be much appreciated, not looking to steal secrets just a guide to what depth in what month, and what to look for on the sounder?
Cheers
Mat





Replies:
Posted By: canadakiwi
Date Posted: 22 Sep 2019 at 2:52pm
I am out of the country so have no current info, ask about at the boat ramp, Tasman marine/hunting and fishing, most guys will give a general depth, its a big area, 
 I don't bother with snapper too much, till they come in to about 40-30m as I only have a small boat and 50m of anchor line, plus I get pissed off with the spiky dogs sharks, early in the season. There will still be a few snapper in on the reefs, 
  wait a month and they will likely be in 50-60m. 
 They will be in the shallows, once water temp warms up. say post spawn, Jan-May, pick up a feed 15-5m on the rough. 
 I tend to  target gurnard, early part of the season, on the mud, 30m off the port, or Waitira.
A steep deep curve is the sonar return for snapper, trevally, deep body, more curve in the return, a more shallow elongated return, is more likely a slender elongated fish, ie Kaiwahi or kingfish


Posted By: vr4king
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2019 at 12:37pm
Hey Mjd83

I have fished a lot around north naki.....You cant go wrong with heading out off the airport and setting a decent burly trail going, Although this time of year it can get very sharky...Straylining is fun here too.

Burly is the key here, I never used it till I moved here.

Cheers


Posted By: Catchelot
Date Posted: 23 Sep 2019 at 4:19pm
Originally posted by Mjd83 Mjd83 wrote:

Hi all,

I’ve recently bought a 5m boat and am based in New Plymouth.

I’ve been fishing all my life but I’ve only lived in NZ for 18months, previously from Brisbane in Oz.

I’m struggling to get my head around the seasons here, specifically where should I be looking for snapper at this time of year (September) and how does it change over the coming months as they migrate into shallower waters?

I’ve only been out as far as 30-40m mark and have found nothing, the locals at the ramp apparently are cleaning up at 60-80m so clearly I need to head further out.

Once out there is the idea to find structure? Or are the fish out feeding on the sand?

Any help from a naki local would be much appreciated, not looking to steal secrets just a guide to what depth in what month, and what to look for on the sounder?
Cheers
Mat


 
Hey Mate, give Snappa Geoff a PM he is the Naki Snapper Guru, he'll sort you out.Thumbs Up
 


-------------
"The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever." - Jacques Cousteau


Posted By: Mjd83
Date Posted: 29 Sep 2019 at 7:51am
Hey thanks all for your info so far.

First thing to get sorted would be some decent weather! At this rate the snapper will be in the shallows by the time we can get out again.

Cheers
Mat



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