Thumping easterlies, a complete reversal of last weekโs wind direction has provided few and fleeting weather windows for heading out wider. Yet when on itโs on, itโs really on out there!
A fishing fix can still be had, although consistent high winds keep us all within land based fishing distances of shorelines. BUT thereโs been some good fun fishing in close for those that have made the (at least) mental adjustment. ย
Out over the western side of the divide there have been full bins. Big snapper tails unable to be squeezed under the lid, literally bursting out. There’s great fishing when the conditions allow out off Raglan and Manukau.
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However, even with Spring fever there are still a lot of times when fish just seemingly donโt want to know.
Captivated by the stunning New Zealand scenery on the Pure Fly NZ fishing show recently, it was shown how using a lighter leader can make all the difference to fishing fortunes. It can be the difference between not even a glance at your offering, to โyep, fish onโ! Watching leader weight drop down just 5lbs to 15lb had the fish respond dramatically. This approach also rings true in salt water. Consequently, when the bite is quiet, do the same with your jigs and baits. Go smaller in presentation and lighter in rod/reel action especially with the smaller soft-baits and micro jigs.
The effectiveness of lighter leader was driven home again during last Friday and Saturdayโs fishing. When only a tentative bite was presented at best, you know the ones, the yeah-nah approach to hooking up, and hook-ups were soon dropped… a change to smaller jigs and down from 30lb to 15lb leaderโฆ and every drop was hit hard on descent or within mere moments of touchdown. The difference was significant! It was the difference between scratching heads wondering where to go and what to do, and hook-ups with 10-15lb snapper time and again.
So when fishing the invariably snag free Hauraki Gulf like so many fishy areas around our NZ coastline, perhaps try 15lb or even 10lb leader, with 6-10lb braid and you may well be stunned at the difference in strike rate. Just use a lighter drag and landing net. After all itโs about the journey as well as the destination. The pictured snapper was caught on 15lb leader.
Enjoy!
Espresso.
