Percolating like an old school coffee maker, Spring is bubbling and bursting into life out there, full on mode, at times. Workups are having a whale of a time out past Anchorite still, turn your sounder off to help stop annoying the whales and dolphins who hunt and maintain the workup using sound – their own echolocation, add a bit of extra-awareness as you move around carefully and you’ll be into some good-sized snapper and kingfish keen on mechanical jigs in attendance, along with a few other welcome combatants.

Water temperatures eking upwards bring promise of more good tidings to come and this summer should be a cracker for fishing. El Nino already taking effect will bring a longer hotter drier summer, more westerly wind tendency, yes sounds like much better summer coming right up, imminent. Like many the excitement is already building with (fishing) vacation plans well underway as they should be, time to make up for the fishing time of the past few summer seasons.

There’s something about the pleasure and ubiquitous nature of fishing that really does show just how around the world, enjoyment of what fishing brings crosses any language barrier and much more, fishing thrills and enjoyment is the same wherever you may be. How about Croatia – to the right of Italy across a nice bit of fishy looking water, and good keen anglers doing their thing over there just like you ‘n me. And what do you know but choosing and using the Catch Eels in the stunning waters there. The fishing world is a small and great place to share stories, information and good times.

There’re quite a few local fishing competitions coming up, and more to be announced soon so get your fishing calendar out and get into them again, fun times, great people, good fishing and epic prize giving’s too. Most competitions emphasis the enjoyment factor rather than full-on competition, and there’re all sorts to choose from, big game, small game, ladies only, kids only, inshore, offshore, local, regional and national. The time has come to surge forth out of the doldrums of winter, perk up and get into the wonderful world of fishing and all that it entails.

Top picks right now:

1. Workups with big jigs (200gm and up, both slow pitched for snapper down low, and speed jigged back to the boat for kingfish, your choice of lure, but that Double Trouble is hard to beat. Anchorite and outwards with the whales (Brydes) there, happy places.
2. A straylining session with wind, tide and territory lined up. Casting out the back where the big boys tend to lurk – how about a stunning little 20-35gm stickbait to get them rising! Or a big 10inch Livie softbait hurled out the back on a 1/4oz jighead – just barely wafting down towards big snapper, or a microjig cast well out back on your spin gear and retrieved back to the boat through the burley trail (go up a bit in leader strength).
3. A few short hours of calm weather window – head out, and simply drift with a Beady Eye kabura (one wind off the bottom in Rod Holder can work wonders) while you cast around on your lightweight spin gear a little microjig, whether something like the 7gm Pocket Rocket or the 20gm Dominator , simple brilliant in the inshore areas.

Thank you, for the amazing feedback about The Espresso Reports, the Lure Coaching Seminars and to all of those who send in their fishing pictures to www.catchfishing.pro from around the world, simply epic stuff! From Rarotonga to Rangitoto, California to Croatia, the fishing world is a wonderful place.

Whatever your fishing preference, tick tock, the Spring clock down-under is ticking along whether you’re ready or not, so don’t miss out this summer, which can mean getting rid of the old/never used/rusty/inappropriate stuff, and possibly trimming down to just some good gear you know works and works where and how you fish, often less – is more. The right rod ‘n reel to suit, a few lures in your shoulder bag/back pack and you’re away laughing.

Espresso out.

Winter fishing, and HOT tickets – with super deep water softbaiting.

Some of the best table fish bar none are caught in winter, and to those who know and have experienced it, a clear winter’s day fishing is truly hard to beat.

And it pays to make the most of your time out there, here’s a brilliant way to catch deeper water fish (whether snapper, kingfish, bluenose, gemfish, hapuka, bass), by getting a big live-bait look-a-like down in front of a deep water fishes face. Luminous fish-adverts seen from further away, perfect bite-inducing action, and useable over and over again. Brilliant. Imagine you’re a big ‘puka say, and a ‘Livie’ struggles nearby somewhere, sending out it’s ‘eat-me’ vibe, the big ‘puka feels it, swims closer to investigate this potential opportunity for a meal, getting closer it can now see the illuminated fish in it’s death throes, helpless, hapless and all tasty. Smacko, get in my belly!

So what is this rig? So easy and yet highly effective, the big 10inch LIVIE softbaits, with a 500gm or 750gm Squidwing (with or without the Squidwing skirts). A simple, yet so effective setup for fishing deep waters and high currents, with softbaits. Get the edge, the advantage and see for yourself. Also – how else and where else could you fish big rigs, combinations, adjustments to your territory and the day itself. The fishing world is literally your oyster – how are you going to adapt and enjoy.

The Spring rush is coming fast, every year catching us out with repairs and maintenance, BEFORE the inevitable bust-offs, lost fish, fish of the day getting away, you know the excuses we have. Is your gear really in fish-fighting condition? Reels with dodgy bearings and grabbing drags, old weak mono, and rusty hooks in with good ones, stinkin’ old rags/towels making for seasick pax, the list goes on, missing out on the prime fishing days coming up due to the various things that didn’t get sorted BEFORE Spring. Do it all now. BTW great bargains are to be had in many tackle stores, a perfect time to get those things that really do make life that much more enjoyable out there in our chosen passion. Hot flask, EPIRB, sea anchor, how’re those rods guides – have you actually looked (a magnifying glass is great – a big cheap kids one). Actually opening up the tackle box(es) and throwing out those nasty old, rusted, never used/never will, ragged gear, donating some maybe. Get hold of a few new-tech lures, softbaits and presentations like better suited hook rigs, jigs that are actually for where you fish (use my ‘Rule of 2’ i.e. 2 x depth of water in metres = lure weight in grams e.g. 50m deep, x 2 = 100gm jigs, easy).

A well sorted tackle box (rather than one full of rubbish you don’t want and don’t use) cuts down on space, weight, frustration and adds to your fishing pleasure and leisure. Get on and do it, your future self will be very happy with you and thank you immensely. Look after yourself and your fishing. Pliers that aren’t nearly locked solid from rust, a wide-mouthed net that works well and folds away out of the way, gaff sharp secure and ready for the BIG ONE. Kingfish jigs – those assists in tip top order or ragged, dulled point and generally unappealing? Slow Pitch and mechanical jigs 100% ready to tempt the trophy sized? Old mono on board (how many seasons of salt sun coupled with the normal degradation of PE over time). And how’s your last 30m of braid looking on your line, a bit frayed? Waiting for the big disappointment break? Perhaps a properly suited rod/reel combination that actually matches what and where you fish (or will be fishing) i.e. time/tech changes over the last few years have been massive and for the better – find out what you’re missing out – like SO MANY people at seminars, it’s not what we know and are catching, it’s what we are missing e.g. the game changing twin hook Stingaz system for softbaits Catch introduced. Coastguard’s busiest time of year is coming up, when you me and everyone else heads out for great days on the water…don’t be one of ‘those’.

*Wheel bearings – a regular let down and drama creator

*Batteries!

*Old fuel and/or fuel filter with water in it – triple check

*Favourite reel – you can give it a basic service yourself, clean, spray…but any dodgy-ness, get it fixed NOW before you’re about to go out. Or like many things, it may be better to get a new reel/rob combo to suit your fishing. Live a little, enjoy a lot.

Then you’re ready to head out – especially if you’re chasing the dragon (workups) out in the prime zone at the moment 50+m

A few whales have found some good food supplies and they’ve been feeding, creating some epic spectacles and fast ‘n furious fishing. Almost to Horn rock, between Anchorite and Pigeons areas with so many Gt Barrier gannets pounding the water to whitewash. There’s still some action back down in Firth of Thames, and I suspect the whales and workup action may push over east towards the top of Coromandel over the next few days. And there’re a few good keen anglers heading out even further chasing tuna and deep drops around the top and out of the gulf. A good moon now, leading up to the full, absolutely ideal to get out and get into it.

Enjoy your fishing, whatever your preferred style and fish.

 

Winter briefs – Spring is just a month away with all that it promises for the upswing in fishing conditions and snapper numbers, but right it’s best to go

small to catch the big one, whether you are land-based, or water-based. Catching those hibernating big reds often requires a gentler more tidbit tempting approach rather than offering a full 3 course dinner in one go. Easy eat items are generally accepted, so in terms of lures – microjigs , and even using smaller kaburas with nice light wafting skirts – those tantalisingly tempting tentacles with the all-important hidden hooks or soft tentative bites. Right now is also when lighter leader really does come into its own – it can make the difference between getting a lot of attention and ‘no fish here!?’ Many anglers’ fish with 30lb leader, I suggest 20lb is plenty for the majority of the Hauraki Gulf year-round, 10lb and 15lb are even better in winter. Similarly lighter gear helps provide the right approach, better feel and more hookups with fish having those oh-so-gentle mouthing takes. Perhaps it’d be an interesting time to try new some new softbaits like eels – grubbing along in the mud slowly? Softly-softly catchy fishy. Weekend weather is looking much better than the usual of late. If you are headed to one of the various mussel farms – that’d be a great place to be, just quietly lurking on the outside – casting a little Pocket Rocket microjig and drawing the fish out – hook up and enjoy the battles, micros work so well like this. Gulf fishing further out – the wide open world of workups, enjoy! Deeper water should be good, if it’s not happening when you’re there, just drift with your smaller lures on and near the sea floor, you may not even see any sounder sign. Tungsten micros are the go out here – easy money as they sink fast in deep water like the Pocket Rockets, the 45gm version is outstanding even with a bit of a quick drift on. A few flicks once the jig has reached the bottom and puffed up some mud, but don’t forget the slow retrieval up 10 winds (approx. 10metres) out in 50m.

Or perhaps heading out well offshore chasing the huge southern bluefin tuna is more your bag baby? And with a striped marlin just caught out off the Alderman’s this week – who knows what you could hook up! Only one way to find out, check the latest weather on a few different sites, and make your plan.

Lure fishing and coaching seminars are in full swing, it’s the perfect time of year to learn new and improved ways to enjoy fishing and catching fish. Last week’s seminar was at The Maraetai Beach Boat Club, a packed club with lots of like minded people sharing fishing information, new release of softbaits, different rigging options and techniques too.

There’re more coaching seminars coming so stay in touch, the next one is at Hunting and Fishing in Gisborne, be there if you have half a chance.

Enjoy your last few weeks of winter fishing.

Cheers

Great inshore, kayak, small boat, landbased and longline fishing – still, despite the weather tantrums! Those tiny anchovies relentlessly hounded by all and sundry from the tasty little aji (mackerel) and hard

charging kahawai to some snapper and even the odd kingfish thrown into the mix of possibilities fish-wise. Those immaculately dressed little white terns are your airborne spotters, spy them dabbing the sea surface and you’re in with a grin. Yes you can chase the often-fast-moving school(s) of fish underneath the birds or wait as the hubbub meanders back and forth. Often on an incoming tide the anchovies end up literally at your feet some days, beaching themselves in an effort to avoid these predators hot on their tails. Madness, mayhem and thrills for any angler, novice/seasoned/young/old with rod ‘n reel or longline, so many ways to enjoy an hour or three. Happy Autumn days can occur at any time, anywhere, just keep that ever faithful 2-piece rod in your car/close at hand, a couple of microjigs and you’re 100% sorted for the next pop-up fishing thrill. It’s worth checking those tides – incoming is awesome. Small, medium and large predators abound, solid chunky monkey kahawai are marauding around within casting distance. The lighter your line, the further you’ll cast. North Shore Bays and Whangaparaoa Peninsula have seen their fair share of inshore action this past week.

Further out, not many out – boats that is, due to the consistently high winds, higher than forecast at times, so with the increasing tidal range/current up to that big bright looney-tune full moon on Saturday, things will be stirred up out there. So when the weather is good – great go out and get into it, but more likely it’ll be stormy, so sheltered inner areas can often be a real and new thrill, ajiing, shore jigging, night fishing…lots of options when you don’t get stuck in a fishing rut.

Do you PITCH – slow, medium or fast!?

Slow pitching tackle and techniques are going ballistic, and rightly so, keen to know more? While watching what happens to the actual jig in water, you can see the rod and reel actions that create the ideal slow pitch jig drops – it really gives a great view of different ways to make jigs work their magic…the new video, a simple, quick and easy watch is now up on Catch Facebook and Instagram.

Yes indeed, the showcase of NZ fishing and boating and all that goes with it is imminent. Catch Fishing will be there of course with a big bright stand, NEW products, pick ‘n mix or complete ready-to-fish setups so you’re good to go, 100% from the show onwards. Time to make up for lost time, see you there: The Hutchwilco NZ Boat Show | NZ’s #1 Boat Show for over 65 years.

 

Tiny tasty anchovies are on fire! Here, there – back there…way over there. Then suddenly gone, where? Whether you like to eat them yourself or not, the

fish fraternity goes bonkers over anchovies. So it really pays to keep your 2 piece softbait rod and a handy tackle bag always ready, especially at this time of year.

Easy to spot, white terns are often diving after these tasty morsels (although sometimes just a big blackish mass that looks like a cloud shadow – but not). Seeing kingfish dorsal fins lurking the coastlines oh so near anchovies huddled into areas like Army Bay, Browns Bay, Gardners Gap…gets the heart racing. Inshore, offshore – an anchovy school can be hounded for days on end, periodic skirmishes

out from shorelines (and further out), all over the place, like pop up flash mobs. Birds are usually with, near or diving on them or perhaps just groups of birds sitting waiting around – there’ll be anchovies somewhere near. Expect kahawai small medium and large, snapper are also in tow, and kingfish.

Yes often smaller kingi models, but on light gear, simply the best thing since bait-free fishing was invented. Some big kingis are lurking on the north side of Whangaparaoa peninsula – by the reefs there.

Even kahawai can be frustratingly one-eyed when chasing anchovies so fast easy hookups are not a given, in fact being completely ignored with incredulous looks from the fishermen lined up along the beach throwing out all sorts earlier this week (like whole and half pilchard, big treble hooked trolling lures, even softbaits) all virtually ignored, except the anchovy-like microjigs, fish on, fish on!

Such a brilliant anchovy imitating lure, perfect for this style, ideal including Aji fishing – the renowned Pocket Rocket . Being denser tungsten they’ll cast that extra distance often required to get right in amongst the action as it moves in and around. It helps to tail rig your microjigs (probably the best lure to use in this situation), tie your leader to the jig itself at the opposite end to the hook, having the hook trailing behind the lure, so your speed retrieves work even better. Have a look at today’s reel on Catch Fishing Facebook – it shows all.

The 25gm Pocket Rocket is ideal if your using say the almost standard 20lb leader and braid, but going lighter to 10lb and 10lb leader you’ll be able to cast the tasty and ultra-tempting baby anchovy 7gm Pocket Rocket further than ever before! You’ll catch a lot of fish.

Get ready right NOW for your next fishing thrills, Catch 2 piece softbait rod, your shoulder tackle bag, simply match the hatch with a Pocket Rocket  and you’re on!

Cheers