The Hauraki Gulf skippies and kingfish have stolen the show this week. A few skipjack schools can still be found, and the solid 20kg+ kingfish have been providing a thrill for anglers on board Wave Dancer.

My predictions for next week? Be standing on a boat of your dreams completely fitted out with all the shiny new tackle for whatever fishing spins your reels. Spearfishing, big game, salt-fly, slow pitch jigging, soft-baiting – you name it. If its fishing or boating orientated, start your preparations now. The weather looks average to poor to go out fishing anyway. A 4000km wide anticyclone over Australia now heads our way bringing windy wet weather to New Zealand from the west. Perfect weather for sauntering around the Hutchwilco Boat Show with everything on display. Whether buying or just looking it’s a great way to pass a few hours in amongst New Zealand’s fishing and boating showcase.

Where’s The Fish?

Skipjack in a school or two are still in the confines of the gulf. Too much fun these fish. The size of some of them reflect the mass bulking up they have been doing since being in the confines of the Hauraki Gulf the last couple of months. Real barrels of nitrous-like speed they are, just inside the gateways.

Boiling surface tensions of mid-sized to monster kahawai are just off Tiri and over by the top of Coromandel. However even they can be temperamental with blinkered focus for what they have rounded up at times. Normally just trolling something flashy and silver along would be sure fire hookup. But no, it takes time on more than one occasion out there. However logic wins with very small fluttering micro jigs (20gm) on the drop has been ‘fish of the day’ in kahawais eyes. Other offerings flatly ignored by the masses. So how often must this happen when we are generally fishing? Just not putting the right menu item in front of the fish whatever species we are after, like a restaurant showing you food you don’t like or want. Next.

Challenging, frustrating – lots of terms have been bandied around in close proximity to snapper discussions of late. A lot of miles for just a few smiles. Yes the chase has been just that, lots of chasing at times. Tapping the sounder doesn’t help either – yes it’s working and yes those are snapper. Quite a lot of them in fact over the general 40-50m gulf depths. The key has been to use smaller lures particularly to start with, get into the swing of things with the fish and what Mother Nature is telling you. Then try to upsize and changeout lures to entice the bigger fish to strike. Otherwise plenty of pannie sizes to grace the bin, with happy and well-fed families as a result.  Drifting the 40+m depths, somewhat consistent snapper fishing.

Kingfish, good solid 20kg models are doing what they do. If you can nab one of them, you’ll have an unforgettable adventure ride. Or a very short lived thrill, too short. Best be prepared and don’t be out gunned, kingfish know how to fight hard and fast. And unfortunately for us, so do the sharks on their tail. Terry Vernon on Wave Dancer has been catching these brutes right through the past week. The right gear, the right time and right place – you just need to be out there doing it.

The Hauraki Gulf’s gateways beckon loudly at this time of year. The inflow and outflow of such volumes of life giving currents, with so many different species of fish is immense via the Colville, Craddock and Jellicoe channels. Good moon, good water temperatures with fish-action encouraging variations. Marlin still being caught, skipjack in the gulf, kingfish, trevally, kahawai, gurnard all eager and waiting. Make the effort before the big blow if you can.

The 2019 Hutchwilco Boat Show

Later next week it is time to have some fun, kick back relax and wander around the Hutchwilco Boat Show to see new things, familiar faces and all dreams are free there. Why not? You’ll find us in Hall 2 on stand 258, and there is so much happening this year, so call by and say hello and have a go with our rods and reels on the fishing simulator. Plus the whole range of Catch rods, reels, lures and other tackle is available at great prices. See you there!

Espresso

 

Catch Fishing / Wave Dancer / Extreme Boats / Honda Marine New Zealand / Savwinch Drum Winches / Isuzu Utes New Zealand Ltd / Oakley / Musto Australasia / Furuno NZ