Moontide Fishing Episode 1 is out now! How good is this, a locally fished, made and produced TV program, epic stuff and well worth a watch. Congratulations to everyone involved, impressive stuff and it just goes to show what can be achieved with passionate people making it happen right here. What better way to witness and learn the moon’s influence on your fishing (and more) than to sit back, relax and watch some excellent snapper fishing on TV?! Epic.

(Moon Tide Fishing, Episode 1 | Māori Television (maoritelevision.com)

Out wider in local Hauraki Gulf there’s been some good action to get the heart pumping, some reasonable size workups in 50m but there’s also been some main events i.e. thumping great workups hammering in for half an hour or more, a bit further north this week, no need for binos style, easily seen from a few coastal golf courses diverting the attention of golfers between hooks of another kind. When the need to feed is on, it’s round ‘em up time and the time is now.

It can’t be long now for the sea temps to near their minimum for the year, hugging the heals of the plummeting air temps around NZ this week yet there’s still good fishing to be had. Southerly quarter winds can really put the dampener on the enthusiasm for getting out from under the duvet but keep an eye on that forecast, not too far on the event horizon are a smattering of those beautifully clear air days, cloudless, sunny and warm – once the sun is well up with appropriate clothing on (Aucklanders!). It is now officially winter and with it a few stunning days are heading our way and what better way to enjoy than enjoying a day hooking up on hard charging winter fish.

At this time of year, particularly for snapper – they can be disinterested in feeding a lot of the time, but with a bit of cunning, or trial and error, you can get them to succumb to your wiles. Much lighter leader particularly if you are drift fishing relatively open areas can turn a nah into a yeah. Reducing from 20lb to 10lb for instance can make a massive difference in attention. Microjigging comes into it’s own, whether zinc alloy for lightweight, lead for most, tungsten for deeper fish with it’s higher density. There are many whitebait/smelt being devoured out there, in the relative shallows in particular so similar small easy-to-eat morsels get the attention of many good sized snapper that would otherwise be a yawning yeah-nah and let it slide by. Little grubbing softbaits, curly tails gradually, slowly, but continuously up and away from bottom feeding snapper can get them to follow like a dangling carrot, just make sure they can take a bite, slow to a stop….bite-strike.

How about a nice small top water stick bait, micro-style?! A little 20gm or 35gm job, like the Zingaz , shore based, surf based, boat, ski…a nice little baby pillie flapping about on the surface? Easy action no masterful technique or gear required – too good to pass up for fish lurking nearby, like one of those ‘bite size’ chocolate bars/Moro/Snickers to us … kahawai, kingfish, snapper…what have you got? Ideal in a bit of the lee, throw in a few shadows, smooth-ish water, prime fish time 😊

Espresso.

Trevally – what some have regarded as second rate bait from gas stations, yet also now a prized sashimi favourite with it’s firm but light texture and clear shimmer of beautiful sashimi slivers. Trevally can be found both inshore and out in deeper waters and the love smaller offerings usually, although they have

been known to attack big mechanical jigs on occasion. Mainly though a renowned micro jig like a green Dominator works very well in the shallower areas – a good

fluttering style being the key, as is the Double Trouble slow pitch jig which can also make for a great deeper water lure. Deeper water microjig style – best to go for tungsten, Pocket Rocket, spot on. How about a small (soft) baitfish imitation – perhaps the little white smelt in the Black Label LIVIES range? Hook-up up on a trevally is snapper like, but the line will have faster vibrations and not a thump thump, also quite different to the kahawai, a distinct feeling and action to Trevally runs – good to know. Because then it’s a matter of not putting too much drag pressure on that will readily pull hooks from the soft lipped fish, but also note that the longer the fight goes on the more likely the hook’s hole will open and any shake of the head or slack line and the hooks are thrown. Easy does it with steady pressure is the go. Use a net or gaff every time to land them, money’s on Trev if you try to lift it out of the water by the leader and hook. Outstanding fighters that fight all the way, whether up from the depths or charging hard in the shallows, a worthy, good looking, good eating, good releasing fish (avoid handling), an all round great fish whether targeted or you just get lucky!

The Field Days – Waikato, what an event! Eye opening whether you are a primary producer or otherwise, a spectacle it is and with last year’s being cancelled, this one is burgeoning, brimming so if not fishing, it could be a great place to be too, wet or dry.

Tunamania – those afflicted are frothing at the mouth, as the Southern Bluefins are rounding the eastern side of the North Island. Many keen anglers are starting their pilgrimage to the eastern Bay of Plenty to try their hand at finding and hooking up on these monsters. Tag and release as well as landed options.

15c around the inner edges of the gulf and harbour, 16c for most, 17c out Barriers – where it nudges 18c – been lots of activity fish and bird – wise.

Enjoy your fishing Autumn fishing opportunities!

Espresso.

And just like that, winter chills! Officially winter isn’t until next week but we’re already switching to winter mode and associated adventures for the next 3 months, coming ready or not!

Murky waters have predominated over the past week as have high winds, high seas and extra-high tides with that huge tidal current that peaks over this weekend then drops away. The 2m swell is dropping thankfully, water temps too which are still holding OK but the inevitable slide of several degrees has started.

Inner areas are definitely shifting into more winter mode although good snapper are still being caught in the fish highways – Motuhie channel, around the Noises, Tiri channel and similar. Good feeding times are to come with the waning blood moon along with those clear crisp winter days (still sunburn at times) with beanies and visible breath. The recent tumult out around the kelp beds means seaweed gatherers for winter gardens are in luck, lots of luck – many beaches are full of prime seaweed, free.

There will be areas close to shorelines that are (almost) glassy calm in the lee of the wind direction as it wanders around the compass, ideal times for a nudge around with soft baits, over sandy areas for snapper and kahawai, drop-offs from rock ledges – again good snapper territory and don’t forget kingfish! Many kingis will be cruising the edges of the gulf looking to pick up a stray ‘baitfish’ whether real or imitation. Kingfish prefer a hapless struggling baitfish to most cut or dead baits, they love the chase. Softbaits, poppers and stickbaits are ideal for these shallow water green machines. Go exploring, try a new spot or perhaps one so obvious that no-one fishes it – like just around the corner from so many ramps.

Best of all… ***Join in LIVE on Facebook this Sunday (NZ time) 09:30 Catch Fishing***  for the next level of soft baits BLACK LABEL LIVIES. Watch and see exactly how they look in the water, how the fish see them when you fish! How to target and catch bigger fish with them, better than ever. Find out first hand how to give your fishing a massive boost, see you Sunday morning for a coffee with these exciting new soft baits (after the 08:30 MagicFM radio Sunday Café) !

It’s also good time to a quick look at those hours clocked up on boat engines, and other bits of critical machinery, prevent a Coastguard callout with some basic servicing. Reels and gear suffer from neglect if not at least semi-stored properly, there’s nothing worse than gear failure – you’ve spent all that time energy to fish Spot X only to be let down by a nick in a rod guide, a sticky drag, a corroded reel handle, not refreshing that leader that ‘looks OK’ but was used on several fish last time.

The main hindrance to catching good fish? Warm duvets. Carpe Diem, seize the day.

Espresso.

 

The Hutchwilco NZ Boat Show in Auckland is in full swing, and with the blustery weather I suspect a prime Spot X is at the show! So much to see, whether familiar or completely new, after all it has been 2 years since the previous show. Catch Fishing is there with the Catch crew in attendance, stand #258 to help out fellow anglers with their fishing quests, and at the Master Class presentations on how to fish even better 100% Bait Free. It’s an awesome place to be.

Deep sea anglers who made the most of the last big ‘H” over the country made gravy, big ‘Puka and other tasty deep fish from the deep coming up and gracing decks. The Giant Squidwings has now established itself as a must-have and goto when dropping for these denizens of the deep. Your fishing 100% of the time your line is in the water – no losing (or worse being unsure) of a bait hundreds of metres down. Light sticks are often used – but the Giant is already lit up with it’s glowing ‘Eat Me’ look and tough skirts. Using them over and over again is both effective and cost-effective. The motion of the boat combined with the lure design works in harmony perfectly, making the lure swim and pulsate like a big tasty looking squid – delicious to all those residents down there. The huge 15/0 circle hook makes landing the fish a near foregone conclusion. If you go to the boat show, check these out in person, impressive.

Speaking of the dark depths, have you checked out the new BLACK NINJAS in the Double Trouble and Beady Eye range of lures. WOW!

Good water temperatures all around the gulf seem to be in holding patterns, the outer general area past Anchorite holding kingfish, snapper and some solid gurnard too. Further out and around the Barriers still holds patches of skipjack, no doubt along with their predators too, awaiting your presence and presents in term of lures – once that wind drops again.

Good feeding from fish is still on the cards, it’s only Autumn not winter yet, so given half a chance it’s the perfect time to be out getting in amongst the action. In terms of the gulf, further out past 45m is good for more consistent snapper, but there a many well legal snapper to be caught simply on the drift using well presented lures. The only thing the fish sees is your lure, so how important in your fishing line-up are they? No. 1. It pays huge dividends using professional designed, refined fishing tackle, you’ll often only have one shot at that fish – make it hit home.

See you at the boat show.

Espresso.

 

A rare ‘Pink Moon’ has been lighting up our night skies, and making waves with the corresponding huge tidal movements. The moon isn’t actually coloured pink but it is one of the two biggest and brightest moons of the year (closest to the earth), and good fishing action has been pretty in pink!

From marlin within a day trip of Auckland out by Gt Barrier and the Mokohinau area, to workups in the gulf providing temporary thrills, late April and Early May is traditionally a top shelf time to be fishing even with the extra ‘brrr’ in the air we experience. Current air and water temperatures are good indicators to layer-up and hunt some solid fish, whatever your preferred target species.

Marlin in May? Go get ‘em! off Oceans, Mokes/Hen and Chicks/Gt Barrier, 100m deep is plenty, trailer boat stuff or bigger, sworn to some secrecy but there’s been some pretty hot action, just sayin’. Usually right around now there’s a hot bite, just prior to these big bills heading out off shore, out of reach or recreational anglers. Time to finish the season with a bang? A screaming reel or two? Gotta be in to win. And of course there are sizeable Yellowfin Tuna around, some big beauties being landed just off North Cape this week, full moon influence helping with the big tuna at least.

Snapper – they’re really loving the aggressive inchiku action out further in the gulf. Highly ‘evasive’ lures like BossSquid and the original goto BetaBug are hard to beat at the moment, such consistent performers with charter boats relying on them they are that good. Beautifully conditioned prime snapper of that stunning 40-45cm size are out in 50m. Spread out around small fast workups so you can play chase, or not. Superbly conditioned fat fish are on the bite. In closer around the Noises, Rakino and Rangitoto – good snapper fishing, in and around the anchovy schools in the area, good shallow water fishing.

Do Kingfish dislike pink moons? Or it’s that time when they calm down and are more challenging to get particularly in the inner gulf areas, or just random nature – but they have noticeable by their absence of bite of late.

COMING UP…

The Hutchwilco Boat Show at Auckland Showgrounds May 13-16. Yes it’s on after it’s sabbatical in 2020, now it’s back in full swing. So much to see and do and enjoy, more details of NEW product releases from Catch coming very soon!

‘Hunt With Me’ is a program on Maori TV 9:30pm Tuesday nights, showing a diversity of hunting and gathering across land and sea, great fishing right here in New Zealand. Available on demand too.

MagicFm Sunday Café at 08:30 – catch up on fishing live with Mel and Espresso with your Sunday morning cuppa.

The next chapter of fishing diary hasn’t been written – time for you to make some new entries.

Enjoy.

Espresso.