Uk Angler Advice
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Destinations
Forum Name: Northland
Forum Description: Northland destination info, advice, fishing spots, hints and tips here
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=136957
Printed Date: 02 Feb 2026 at 6:27am
Topic: Uk Angler Advice
Posted By: Custard52
Subject: Uk Angler Advice
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2022 at 12:39am
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Myself and my father will be travelling to New Zealand - based on the North Island - for 3 weeks and will be taking some of our gear. The main objective is to catch as many species as possible, due to the UK not having anything close to what NZ has to offer. We will have a range of light and heavy gear to give us good flexiblity. Top of the hit list is a Kingfish and Red Snapper. The kingfish has been covered with a booked charter from Russell but I wouldn't mind a chance at one from the shore. What lures work best in the various areas? Not asking for specific spots but what areas offer a good range of species to attempt out challange? |
Replies:
Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 22 Aug 2022 at 4:11pm
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First up, best areas in the country for saltwater fishing are Northland and Coromandel, both are relatively easily accessible from Auckland. Russell is a good choice for kingfish. If you want to catch anything that swims, you're going to have a ball. Lots of smaller species that can be targeted from the shore or wharves. Google aji fishing. Many would consider softbaits the number one lure choice for snapper whether boat- or land-based. I would recommend Gulp "baits" as they will get you a lot of bites. There is definitely a role for plastic baits (most common brand here is Zman), but in my opinion, Gulp with give you the edge. 5 or 7" jerk shads are popular. Also, don't discount microjigs which can be cast a good distance from the shore. When bounced off the bottom, they will take snapper. When given more of a straight retrieve, they will take kahawai and even kingfish. Stickbaits tend to be used by those targeting kingfish specifically off the rocks with heavy gear. Small reality check. Lure fishing from the shore for bigger fish can be hard work, even in our fish-filled seas. You can turn the odds in your favour by casting your lures over burley, basically chopped up fish bits presented in a net bag. You can buy burley in every fishing shop and gas station and even supermarkets in some places! If you want to keep it pure and not use any bait at all, I get that. Another issue to consider is that a lot of the best land-based spots are remote and might require a good walk to get there. I don't know how old your dad is, but a reasonable degree of fitness is required. Safety first. A lot of people were lifejackets and employ ropes when fishing gnarly coastline. If you haven't already, I would recommend that you watch the "Lateral Line" on YouTube to get a good feel for the environment. Just bear in mind, those guys are at the top of their game and don't always catch! Good luck! |
Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 23 Aug 2022 at 12:05am
Another thought, there is a "Spot X" book for surfcasting. The Spot X series are not perfect, but would be a good start.
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Posted By: Bertiesdad
Date Posted: 23 Aug 2022 at 3:33am
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Posted By: Custard52
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2022 at 8:54pm
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Thanks for the detailed answer. We specifically booked a campervan for the ease of being able to move around and try new areas plus a few other tourist spots. Sounds like we will be spending a few days up by Russell then. I have a fairly good selection of soft bait lures which I enjoy using here in the UK. How are they for getting through airport security in NZ I have heard they are not a fan of flavoured or scented soft plastic lures? What sort of jig head sizes would you reccomend for a lightweight approach? I am planning on taking a Daiwa 6000 BG MQ with 79lb Daiwa Grand Jbraid and a mixture of heavier leaders ranging from 80 to 110lb test as medium to heavish setup. Is that reasonable for trying to get a kingfish off the rocks, as I mentioned the charter is where I am mainly looking to get one but if I could get one from the rocks that would be amazing. Having watched pretty much all the lateral line videos, I was planning on using a burley bag in most sessions as it seems like a no brainer. As you say they are clearly on top of their game and still have days that don't pan out as expected. Having spent many a day on the rocks here with nothing to show for it, I am fully aware I may not get into anything but if you don't wet a line you definitly won't. Both me and my father a fairly fit, walk munros(mountains) in scotland and I play rugby at a fairly high level so we wouldn't be put off by long or remote marks. If the UK remote marks match up with NZ ones they tend to be better due to limited fishing. |
Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2022 at 9:27pm
Sounds like you're on to it Custard. Biosecurity can be a bit full on. I would have thought that unopened, packaged softbaits would be OK, but you might save yourself a headache by buying locally. You can buy them in any tackle shop. Gulp are usually single use "baits" anyway as something will eat them or they become damaged or dry out. You can send any leftover packets to me when you go back home  Jig heads, realistically from the shore, 0.25-1oz for snapper and 1-2oz, maybe 3oz for kingfish gear. Again, all easy to buy locally. May be the way to go anyway as the hooks on European products maybe too light. Berkley Nitro jig heads are my preference, but everyone has their favourites. Your setup sounds about right for the light end of kingfish gear, similar to what I use from a boat. Some land based experts might think you need heavier, but I think it'll be OK. Just bear in mind, there are no prizes for finesse fishing when targeting kingfish off the rocks. It can be brutal. Sounds like you are both in good physical shape, you'll be absolutely fine!
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Posted By: Custard52
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2022 at 9:59pm
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Yeah have been planning this trip since Feb tying it in with the Womens Rugby World Cup, my mrs plays for Scotland. I was hoping to take as much as I could from here due to working in a tackle shop. I assumed if new and not opened no issues but have heard horror stories, by all means anything being left is up for grabs. Weights and single rubbers will purchase in NZ as less weight in my baggage and more relavent lure designs. As I say I want a relatively heavy setup so if I did get a kingfish I could try to land it  if you have any links to a few lures I would appreciate that. I have a range of Halco and Rapala hard lures looked out along with some other less known brands. What shops would you recommend my father found marinedeals in Auckland they seem to be okay priced.
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Posted By: MB
Date Posted: 24 Aug 2022 at 11:48pm
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I'm not the guy to recommend hard body lures as I don't use them much, but Nomad Design seem to be popular, or at least hyped at the moment. The trend is for stick baits rather than poppers or bibbed lures. As for kingfish softies, I like big paddletails on a jig head. I think Americans call them swimbaits. Alternatively, we are seeing 10" jerk shad models now. These can be rigged on a standard jig head rather fancy rigging involving multiple hooks because kingfish tend to inhale whole baits. https://lureme.co.nz/products/10inch-catch-black-label-livies-softbait-caipirinha?_pos=3&_sid=275cfc683&_ss=r" rel="nofollow - https://lureme.co.nz/products/10inch-catch-black-label-livies-softbait-caipirinha?_pos=3&_sid=275cfc683&_ss=r Just bear in my that straight jerk shad type baits need more action imparted by the angler than paddletails. Marine Deals are a staple. I may as well get my wages paid directly to them! Prices are usually good, but NZ is expensive for everything in comparison to other countries. Marine Deals also have some knowledgeable staff in store and online to give good advice rather than the hard sell.
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Posted By: Bertiesdad
Date Posted: 25 Aug 2022 at 12:26am
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Hey Mate Hope info was useful. Just had a rummage through your web store- there’s lots there that would be decent. Big sluggos were a thing here for kings a while back but they are a bigger to cast from shore esp in any headwind. If you can get the belly weighted hooks it helps . But I would t get too caught up on size- whilst it does matter for the big beasts you would be surprised what smaller lures will yield- esp for snaps trevs KY and even rat kings. Those small 10-20 g fast cast lures in green/ silver red colours will work- I use an light st croix spin rod with a 3000 reel from shore and boat throwing very similar micros and it’s produced well on its day- esp in shallow harbours up north bottom bouncing on the retrieve . Have also used all the Fiiish Minnow lures- incl the sandeels here. The sandeels work well in small sizes again on light gear. The big ones with ultra strong hook jig head (60g+) are the biz off the boat but the bodies get mashed and it’s expensive. They work though. I would bring a few small size fiish minnows in the blue or black (10g) heads…..if you don’t mind replacing bodies. Hard lures I have used are as mentioned above - Nomad- make sure whatever reel you have for kings has a decent drag- drag power is more important than actual size I think-you will want at least 8kg off the bricks the more the better. Anyways that’s my 2c. |
Posted By: Custard52
Date Posted: 29 Aug 2022 at 8:05pm
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Use the info was very useful and has potentially changed a few plans to have a look at some the spots you mentioned. I will definitely get in touch when we are out there to see if we can meet up. Regarding the drag both of my reels are 12kg drag so hopefully that will prove to be enough. Lure wise I am going to need to limit my weight or I won't have room for clothes
. I am taking a few Fiiish and Strom soft plastic jigs but will probably just look to get jig heads out there as I do want to try some non UK style lures as well. |