Amazing sights and sounds to see all around the mid gulf and inner areas right now, from Orca cruising the shallows among anchored yachts

at Waiheke Island to kahawai workups just off Gulf Harbour golf course, as well as brief encounters of the workup kind spread out all over the gulf!

New Zealand summertime, a south sea paradise right now.

Kahawai are having a ball chasing the many bait schools out there, whether accompanied by dolphins and/or gannets, or not. There are some big schools of various bait species – which may only be indicated by a few birds fluttering around in a small bunch on the sea surface, possibly fast moving kahawai chasing even faster moving pilchards! This is just one of the many baitballs just under the hull yesterday, check it out >>  https://youtu.be/33kLTriT_2o

Snapper are definitely in go-slow mode though, after all there’s the big bright full moon right now, temperate waters and post-breeding lethargy, so the snapper bite can be rather short, usually good strong stuff but more limited in duration, so make hay while the suns shines (the bite starts) when you’re out there.

Skipjack tuna are just starting to nose into the gulf, around Little Barrier – outstanding fun, the Lil’ Squidwings is an absolute favourite for these blue and silver bullets, around 5-6kts troll speed is great on a smooth sea, if the lure is jumping out of the water, slow down until it doesn’t.

Tidal current is on the upswing which should help with increasing the bite time length over this coming weekend.

Interestingly when the bite drops off, micro jigs have worked incredibly well, out in 45m a tungsten micro works well to get down faster particularly if you are drifting along, the Catch Pocket Rockets have been a stand-out success this week, making the difference between just a couple of fish, and a proper fish bin for the family. Slower action too rather than an aggressive long fall working noticeably better.

Lots of different fish out there to enjoy, so if one species isn’t in the mood there’s usually one or two more that are.

Enjoy.

Espresso.

Snapper are softening in their voracious bite of late, getting more into breeding mode and less in a  bulk-up frame of mind, more snacks if yo

u like. Higher

water temperatures, the time of season and much more all align to some soft bite times out there,

 however there are still times of fast feasting alright. Inner areas fished with softbaits have been doing OK, the usual highways and byways aquatic style that is, handy since there’s usually somewhere relatively calm even when the wind speed is making some noise in the local Christmas

trees – pohutukawas in full glorious bloom. Bright coloured softbaits could do extra well over the next few days, lots of murky inner harbour water so give the fish something easier to see and strike in the cloudyness. Out further things are changing as fast as the weather.

Increased kingfish catches have made for some great BBQ banter, unfortunately by the time many kingis are boat-side, sudden erratic behavior and immediate weight loss has been common – sharks are quite happy to feed on fresh kingfish steaks provided on a tether. Flat rock has been performing well over the past week, jigs, rapalas, top water all have had their fun in the sun but the taxman is everywhere. Best of luck avoiding the top tax rate.

All sorts of ‘other’ fish like gurnard, Dory, kahawai, mackerel are all doing what they do in their lead up to Christmas, plenty of these fish around – perhaps time to target something other than snapper?!

The key to coming home with fresh fish (and various forms of delicious seafood) is simply a little more of an open mind right now. 2020 has been a prime example of adapting to external change, fishing success is no different and a whole lot easier!

Typically for instance you’d set up your slow pitch rig the night before a fishin’ mission with say an 80gm favourite lure, so you’re pretty well sorted for some drift fishing out in 30-40m, a good place to be. Awesome. Out there the next day you could however be faced with any number of different opportunities – a huge kahawai school say (jig or troll some for fresh cerviche and smoked fish pie), throw both a top water lure out and a big jig down to target kingfish that’ll be hounding the kahawai for sure. Several hundred metres away after some fun, stop for a casual drift fish for snapper hard on the sea floor with your ‘never fail’ lures. Snapper are breeding and can be extra fickle in their food a lot of the time so throw down very different lures and vary your action massively from erratic and fast rod movements with variations all the way down to zero__. It pays to hold your lure completely still for several seconds just off the sea floor, count to 10, then slowly, slowly wind it from the sea floor up half way…it works with all sorts of lures you wouldn’t think can work this way, mechanical jigs included. Increasing current levels will be helping perk things up out there from a bit of slumber this past week too.

It’s a crazy busy time on land around the Auckland region, mad motorways and the increased hustle and bustle to “get it done” by Christmas imperative for many. What better way to calm the nerves than ensure Santa wishes you a ‘Happy Fishmas’ i.e. under the guise of giving, give yourself a well deserved reward for getting through 2020, prepare for and enjoy some time fishing over the Christmas period whether at your favourite local spot x, or further afield where new adventures begin. Discover some new ways to hook into your prized fish, some new types or style of tackle for yourself perhaps? Getting fishing tackle for family or good fishing mates a bit like giving the famous scorched almonds or box of chocolates – you’re in with a good chance of some for yourself.

That westerly quarter wind drops right off next week, half a chance – crack into some fresh snapper, throw in a battle with kingfish or two and drop a couple of ‘others’ into the fish bin. Sound a plan!? Get into it there’s simply no time like the present.

Enjoy.

Espresso

Browse at your leisure, like fishing should be: www.catchfishing.co.nz

Picture: Another snapper falling to the NEW 45gm Pocket Rocket, tungsten 😉

Tungsten Pocket Rockets – Catch Fishing

Rollercoaster rides of fortune have been the norm out fishing the Hauraki Gulf lately, from simply superb to scratching

of heads – Where’s the Fish!?

Great fishing for several days on the trot while the entire food chain rattles has been experienced for many during the past week and this excitement can be expected to continue. Inevitably following such feasting is a bit of a lull, some good old RnR and general aquatic activities other than feeding on other fish. It just depends when you decide to be out there fishing whether not it’s all on with big jigs and big snapper/kingfish, or a ‘Kabura and microjig day’ i.e. a slow bite but you still want to catch fish.

Whales have been enjoying the pilchard schools out in 50m, long may they remain as a vital link in the entire food chain.

Workups have been spread far and wide from the Firth of Thames out to Anchorite rock, some great activity also out at Gt Barrier, but most will be happy chasing action in and around the 40-45 metre mid-gulf mark. Even if the gannets aren’t showing you the way, the mid ground has plenty of snapper to keep you entertained, just drift with your best lures.

Hey hey – the inner areas have also been getting some good supplies of snapper the past few days – out form the North Shore Bays, the Rangitoto channel, Rakino, yes there have been surprisingly good numbers of pannie snapper, as well as some great looking little grunters, gurnard. Soft baits and microjigs are the go in these sub-20m depths.

Kahawai seemed to vanish for a few days, however these fish are charging around all over the show – so a few of these fish for the smoker of fresh are on the list. How you catch them can be the best part of the day whether light tackle, or trolling whatever takes your fancy.

Spring fishing is ON!

Espresso.

Better weather, better fishing, better be out there! What a great start to the season over Labour Weekend with hundreds of boats enjoying the Hauraki Gulf including the armada of yachts up and down the coast along with most of those that could – out and about getting into their fishing.

Good activity and some excellent catches of snapper, kahawai, kingfish, John Dory, some gurnard too. A slowing down or tightening of the bite time could be on the cards as the full moon effect comes into force over the next few days. However there is good fishing to be had for sure. The overriding urge to feed is strong right now and there is plenty of bounty waiting.

Workups are on all over the gulf, Firth, east of Flat Rock, Kawau, GT Barrier, Whangaparaoa bay, Colville and open area drift fishing is productive and in close is also good – inner areas like the Noises, Crusoe and the harbour channels have seen some good snapper caught, good early stuff!

Big game hunters are on call – slender tuna have been caught recreationally BOP, Coromandel Far North and out of Whangarei, bigger predators must be hot on their tail fins.

There’s not much more to add to your current fishing fortunes, you know what to do, as you know you can’t catch fish at home. November is traditionally one of the most intense fishing months of the year in the Hauraki Gulf and it starts this weekend. Good fishing and good times directly ahead!

If you’re not sure what lures to use, that’s easy and save money too, a Catch Value Pack is a hand selected range of well known high performing lures in a waterproof box, for you, your fishing mate or family fishing fanatic to enjoy. So the next time you’re out there, you’re ready, locked and loaded for fishing action and capturing those magic smiles holding a great fish, making memories for a lifetime.

Microjig Pack Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXhgj0QWmXM

Snapper Pack Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixj6OfEOSaY

Kingfish Pack: https://www.catchfishing.pro/product/kingfish-value-pack/

Softbait Pack: https://catchnz.wpengine.com/product/softbait-value-pack/

Enjoy.

Espresso.

Pictured: Another prime snapper on the Engine Oil LIVIE on the Stingaz jighead.

Nirvana-style workup fishing tales abound but sometimes early

advice can be a bit of a red herring. Diving gannets doesn’t necessarily mean loading the bin with monster snapper, it does mean gannets are trying to eat baitfish which is usually a great start.

A workup without dolphins to round up and hold the baitschool can be ’empty’

for instance (among other reasons) particularly at this time of year so yes there are workups, and then there are WORKUPS! Fast furious stuff out straight east of Kawau, and just out north of Waiheke – as I say, fast paced

workup activity, lots of movement, can mean ‘no fish here’ said the fisherman, and possibly the gannets, and dolphins – happy baitfish, for a while at least.

Dolphins have been on the charge, big pods making a lot of splash while jostling for position around the gulf, quite eye catching but usually it means they’re not likely to feed. Perhaps the occasional fast food stop off, like when on a road trip to the Far North for monster 25lb snapper say! Brief stop offs along the way only, on a mission style.

Full moon threw its curve ball again, some did well, most had to put in the big effort, lucky ones were rewarded. This reaction was well observed over much of the eastern coastline of the country this past several days, right up and down the coast, some good, many thoroughly challenged. Out wide some big snapper have been caught, except the exceptions e.g. Firth again this week, a stonker or two along with a fair bit of head scratching to find fish too.

50m is doing well, including fish variety from kings to cod, solid snapper and the occasional sea-monarch the beautiful gurnard.

Colours – can make the world of difference, but that can change too. OK so the darker coloured Engine Oil LIVIE for instance is easily a go-to favourite particularly in Northland for BIG snapper, yet orange softbaits like the Glowing Gurnard are prolific fish catchers the majority of the time, similarly smelt-white softbaits have held 1^st place on many occasions. Working out which works for you is half the fun.

Not sure whether the bite is on or off? A good inchiku lure with maximum flutter and rocking motion on descent, erratic skirt flick, luminous parts to attract in the depths- particularly flickering, strong twin stainless steel hooks, with high speed of deployment = ideal! The Boss Squid hybrid inchiku for instance designed and developed in NZ is a unique and highly effective lure design – tie them on the night before, with the leader to the lure itself onto the big head end (not the solid ring of the hook) 20lb fluro is a good starting point. If out in 50m expect kingfish hookups even when fishing for snapper – the rocking motion does the trick on the drop usually. Like most inchikus let it freefall to the sea floor, be ready to strike with any sudden speeding up, or slack line – hit it! The action is largely up to you, vary your rod lift in terms of speed and height, small flickers, then more slow pitch style, then a steady retrieve – always be ready! Have a look at the “How to fish Inchiku” link here for a minute. A well designed inchiku lure is highly effective, very economic and so much fun to use, particularly when primarily targeting snapper!

Inchiku – how to fish them: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WH1-ebYXcQ

All signs are good, in true Spring form if history repeats is the second week in , tik tok, tik!

No lockdown, all signs aligning, the wind swings to the east over the next few days  – Spring action could be a van Halen like Eruption. If the weather doesn’t ring true for you, later in the week looks promising. Fortune favours the bold, be bold, go fishing and enjoy living the adventure whatever fishing fortunes unfold.

Espresso.