surfcasting and tides.Whens best????
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Landbased & Surfcasting
Forum Description: From rocks or beaches, here's the place for the landbased fishos to share information
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=16882
Printed Date: 29 Jul 2026 at 11:54pm
Topic: surfcasting and tides.Whens best????
Posted By: bimma
Subject: surfcasting and tides.Whens best????
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2006 at 10:48am
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Hi there,
I'm a newbie and just wanted to ask (for some of you it will be) a silly question..Whens the best time to fish on a tide.I am about 20 minutes from Lake Ferry in the Wairarapa which is a petty good producer..thx |
Replies:
Posted By: Grovo
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2006 at 11:33am
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Gudday mate and welcome. Don't know too much about the tides I'm afraid...
Just I'm a student in Palmy, how far from Palmdog is this lake ferry and what do ya catch there bimma? |
Posted By: Rusky
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2006 at 12:14pm
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I would say high tide mate, if you can get their of course when the tides in. My theory is that when the tides in, there is more water between them and the surface, and can lurk into the shallows more confident and feed on kina, and other molluscs and crustacians.
Having said that though, i have seen some good snapper sitting in 2-3m of water at low tide right up hard against the rocks while ive been for dives.
But in general i would say low tide is better fishing for the parts of Northland I fish, just because access is that much easier too. Now if i had a kayak or small dingy, then accessing spots that are impossible to get to at high tide, would be well worth the effort!
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Posted By: Grovo
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2006 at 12:27pm
| Sorry, just had a look on a map, thats a cool looking spot. Do you fish just either side of the river/lake mouth bit there? |
Posted By: bimma
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2006 at 12:42pm
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Great thanks guys..Low tide it is for a try.I'll do a couple of hours either side to see what happens today (5Pm).Its pretty windy down there and you have to piuck your days LoL..
The lake produces some pretty good fish though, plenty of Kawahi,red cod, gurnard, doggies, snapper and salmon, oh and truck loads of crabs. I have always gone down there hit and miss on tides etc and usually end up with something, but this time I thought I would just ask to see what everyone finds best with high or low tide. |
Posted By: Grovo
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2006 at 12:50pm
| Wicked man, so it is a tidal lake. Might have to make a trip sometime, sounds like you haul a real mixed bag outta there. |
Posted By: bimma
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2006 at 1:09pm
| Yeh sure is tidal.....You really need to pick your days though.No worries bout you contacting me for a weather update :>)) |
Posted By: Grovo
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2006 at 1:20pm
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Haha. Thanks. Maybe an end of exam trip in a few week or so, if not it'll be start of next year uni, I'm getting the hell outta Palmy for summer. What time of year fishes best incidently? if ya know..
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Posted By: bimma
Date Posted: 28 Oct 2006 at 8:40pm
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Well that worked out well...Went down to the lake at 3 oopm Low tide was at 5.oopm...Ended up getting 13 good sized red cod between 4 and 6.30....Windy as anything, water dirty as.!!
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Posted By: Shorefisher
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2006 at 3:05pm
Hi bimma 
Lake Ferry is a great place to fish, there's always something there to catch even if they aren't the most desireable at times.
I don't think tides matter so much there. The water is deep regardless and there's lots of water movement.
Seeing you're so close I recommend targeting Smooth Hounds from down there. The bigger ones are an awesome fight. Try fishing with paddlecrab baits at night time with a moonless sky.
The Hounds don't mind dirty water and rough sea either which is a big bonus. A way of getting crabs from there is casting out a stocking with bait in it or a ball sized birdsnest of old fishing line. Just wind in after ten minutes and you should catch some tangled up in it. |
Posted By: bimma
Date Posted: 30 Oct 2006 at 11:11pm
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great thanks for the tips.....
I feel kind of lucky being so close, one of the perks of living out here I spose. I always take a wire trace on the off chance of one coming around, but never needed it.There were seals out there on the weekend but they didnt seem to put any of the fish off.I herd they do?? Greg |
Posted By: Shorefisher
Date Posted: 01 Nov 2006 at 12:09am
Not really sure, I always dread they do when they come along. But nothing seems to put Red Cod off 
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Posted By: redcod38
Date Posted: 05 Nov 2006 at 9:13pm
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Hi,
I went for a fish today down at the ferry.
landed something like 30 redcod kept only a few for the pot and put everything back... you can only eat so much redcod...lol....
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