Fishing methods for the Hauraki Gulf area. Find out which methods are more proving more successful than others when it comes to catching fish right now.
Skipjack missiles of Five kilograms plus are now right in to the 30metre area of the Hauraki Gulf. In true skippy style, these fish have been tricky at times to catch. To get to them to bite can take trial and error of a few different approaches. This weeks winning fishing method was a micro-jig on very light leader on the drop or very slow-pitch. Other methods like cast and retrieve of soft-baits, or trolling etc have ended up in emphatic โjust say noโ attitude. No doubt this will change, who knows when?! Fun fish that’s for sure.
If youโre out in the Hauraki Gulf the following fishing methods have been surprisingly effective when things are on the go-slow in general.ย And what youโll catch is any one of a variety of fish. Slow jig a lure, for example, the all rounder Catch Fishing Squidwings. Focus in the 30 -50metre zone. If there are no strikes within a couple of minutes, put the rod into Rod Holderโs capable hands with the lure one wind off the bottom. Relax for 10 and have a cuppa while you drift and enjoy the view. If you havenโt already hooked up then start your engine and gently accelerate to about Six knots. Now youโre covering many bases, jigging, trolling mid and top water, with a squid.
As mentioned, most skipjack were taken this week for a few days on 25gm micro jigs (along with some solid snapper and the odd kingfish too). Not much trolled, not cast, not soft hard or in between, micros on the drop and thatโs it. Mindbogglingly frustrating to be watching the tuna down in the crystal clear blue water, darting around. So many yeah-nahs on strikeโฆbut once on, WOW! Five kilograms of nitrous oxide explosion. Skipjack can make snapper of the same size quite lethargic in comparison. The little tunas blistering outright speed is intense fun on the right gear. If you happen to be out within easy eye sight of Little Barrier, this would be an excellent place to use this technique. There’s good snapper out there on the bottom, kingfish midwater and skipjack mid to topwater.
Kingfish โ well more and more people are enjoying the various ways to catch them. The mid-gulf bait schools highlighted by surface birds endlessly squawking. The bait-school and accompanying kingfish are nearby somewhere. Have a mechanical jig to raise the kingfish up (and catch one), and throw out a lure for that surface eruption on strike. Top water bliss, get into it!
For this time of year workups to the eastern side of the cable zone out from the Noises have held some snapper. Not heart stoppers but fairly productive. While further out good patches of snapper can simply be found on the drift over open areas. Not massive fish or quantity, but pretty good nonetheless.
The mussel farms in the Firth of Thames have been consistent producers of snapper recently.
In close is providing the icing on the cake for those with a bit of cheek after snapper. Crazy spots, itโs very much about habitat. Not much is required either since many snapper are now milling around inshore looking to feed before they head back out into deeper water for winter. For instance, the Gulf Harbour environs. Usually high speed traffic coming and going in all directions, near but mostly far after snapper. Yet some good snapper up to 16lbs have been caught this week just along the Peninsula reefs in a just a few metres of water. No doubt this can be repeated in similar areas all around the Waitemata at the moment.
Mackerel galore are all around the open plains between Rangitoto and Whangaparaoa Peninsula. Most days there are two feedings when kahawai, mackerel and smaller baitfish meet. Fun fishing times!
Sharks? In a word yes. Lots of bronzies, makos and more. A dozen big two metre plus sharks were quite happily feeding around the boat this week, smacking the hull in loud booms as they chased their fleeing lunch. Captivating action to say the least. This time of year is subject to high tax rates, you canโt argue so just enjoy the spectacle of the terminators.
Autumn fishing means great air temperatures for us humans, and great sea temperatures for many fish species too. Perfect fishing weather. Enjoy.
Espresso.
