It’s a game of numbers of late… wind knottage, gps marks, lure weight, bite times, fishing date, line weight… But when you add them all together to increase fish strike rate, that’s the end result we all want!

Humongous swarms of gannets are working their hardest in conditions like those of late. Terns can be blasted backwards, the tumult and struggle is very real in Spring’s high speed winds. Hidden just below the surface chop from human eyes anyway is a similar scene. Frenetically paced action of swirling bait-balls being attacked from every direction. Gannets and a myriad of other seabirds above and alongside, kahawai, kingfish, snapper, dolphins, sharks… You name it, they are in for all money. Many workups make hard yards, a bit like an NRL final or a forward pack against the All Blacks – a relentless uphill assault against the odds. Out in the gulf a howling head wind, smashing waves and expertly sidestepping prey, from Gulf Harbour to North Shore bays mid-week has been amazing to witness. Yes during the thumping 40kt+ winds with both the inner harbour areas and the gulf whisked into a Pavlova topping. Swathes of gannets erupting ready to hurl themselves headlong into the fray below. Reminiscent of the newly formed bee swarms landside at this time of year, new beginnings abound all around. Mother ducks herding their string of ducklings precariously across parks, and busy roads, the quest for new life and change is full speed ahead at this time of year, and some changes really rattle the cages.

Workup Fishing Tip: 

When next fishing a workup near you – if you’re trying to target bigger snapper say, remember to take the time to change your lure. Go as big as you dare in terms of jigs and action, or better still have one already rigged in the rod holder. It’s often too easy to get carried away with the prolific fish catching nature of the Freestyle Kabura, but if you are getting hit on the drop or immediately the Kabura hits the sea floor, take the Kabura OFF, save it for the quiet times which is when it is specifically designed for. Go big when the snapper are aggressively feeding such as a workup. Bigger, heavier, try a scary big jig, with even more action like a luminous 200gm Inchiku lure, or 200gm mechanical jig normally used for speed jigging kingfish. Use it slow pitch style over the bottom 5 metres of water depth aiming for a big aggressive snapper with an attitude to match.

Workups consistently both sides of the Whangaparaoa peninsula, with more snapper content the northern side up towards southern Kawau. Southside lots of those beautiful smaller kahawai, stunning looking, great to eat, easy to release. Not to mention an outstanding livebait for kingfish, all the way across to the North Shore shoreline, and over to western Rakino.

Seminars:

Fishing Seminars have been an amazing and enthralling success, so many people and sharing so much good information, highly encouraging stuff. The recent ‘Lure Secrets’ seminars around both the South and North Island have all been great nights, with hands-on how to’s, fish myth busting, critical sounder signs, and most importantly overcoming the fear of the unknown, typically… “I don’t where to start, I’m not sure how, do these things really catch fish, but I’ve always used bait, it’s how I was taught to fish, it’s the only way I know”…and so on and so on. Change can be good, very good.

Nowadays one of the primary functions of a rod when you are fishing with jigs, lures and softbaits is to work the lure so that it imitates (and more) what your target fish is looking and listening/feeling for. The better your lure design, the better your choice of lure for the scenario, and the better your rod is suit to the lures you are using = massive increase in fish strike rate. Massive. So come along to a seminar and see for yourself the differences, and use a matched set for yourself while watching the actual motion of the lure in a Catch jig tank, see what you are actually doing and what the fish see, it’s often not what you think! It is now easier to become an instant Pro at catching fish, a few simple guidelines, some great tackle to suit exactly where YOU fish – just add water!

What lies ahead?

Big tidal current hits so when wind is against tide it’ll be a bit choppier than might be expected, however the New Moon starts off the new week, and with the fishing we have been having lately, expect big things.

Dare I say the word Christmas, what?! Yes it’s true like a dive bombing gannet into a huddling pilchard baitball off the end of Whangaparaoa peninsula – it is coming ready or not. So what’s your summer of fishing going to bring you, your family, or maybe a mate who could do with dome help – if you know what I mean, we all have a mate who could do with a help fishing-wise. 😊

See you out there, hooked up!

Cheers

Espresso.

 

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