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Memories that havenโt been made, thatโs what awaits us all and to some degree we can even choose our future fishing memories, it is time.
Time for either some inshore fishing, maybe not Downtown Auckland quite yet though. But certainly many of the shallower waters around the gulf have started to heat up. Both in terms of water temp and snapper numbers.
Kingfish have been right up against hard against the rocks hounding the fleeing baitfish. A handful of gannets hovering right on a shoreline are relatively easy to spot and a real giveaway to potential top water heaven. These have been spotted along the eastern shoreline of southern Kawau earlier this week. Even western Rangitoto, where this weeks Where’s The Fish is filmed. It’s thrilling stuff.
Out wider towards Coromandel there has been some down time. Perhaps due to the cooler water there at the moment. However this should bring about some radical change shortly in terms of fish feeding. Nor-west of the Moehau range out towards Anchorite is on the near future fishing radar.
Avoid the No Fishing Zone and associated fines etc (it contains the international fibre optic cables we all rely on). North of Tiritiri to Flat Rock and further has provided great action fishing for the workup minded. While the direction of the workups seems to be eastward, I suspect the general Flat Rock area to continue to provide good fishing for a while. The nature of the workups especially just north of Flat Rock has meant good attendance from kingfish. There’s some sizeable specimens in great condition too taking both top water lures and especially fast-retrieved jigs.
Enjoy!
Espresso.
Catch Fishing / Wave Dancer / Extreme Boats / Honda Marine New Zealand / Furuno New Zealand / Savwinch Drum Winches / Isuzu Utes New Zealand Ltd
As Grant Bittle points out, the weatherโs been far from conducive for the usual Hauraki Gulf drift-fish techniques. That said, it is the perfect time of year for experimenting closer to shore with smaller kaburas and micro-jigs.
Snapper Hot Spots.
Daytime air temperatures are soaring with sea temperatures dutifully following suit. That’s good news for our fishinโ missions! Snapper are getting into breeding mode with sea surface temperatures (SSTs) showing some solid 18c water areas. There areas are holding good fish in both numbers and average size.
With the real reason for being in the neighbourhood not to feed but to breed. This means there will be significant time spent seemingly ignoring your temptations to take a bite. Thatโs O.K., because when the feeding is on, it is really on! The rest of the time when the fish are โjust saying noโ, use a healthy supply of burley if you are anchored and a little patience to bring the fish within casting distance of your bait. Smaller softbait and jigs are the go. Or if drift fishing simply use the stealth-bomber – the genuine Kabura. This lure is now well known for its success rate in the tough times.
ย Northern Waiheke and upper Firth of Thames has been good, mainly workup based but the even better news is that snapper are moving in and around so many islands right now, Eastern edges of Kawau, North side of Whangaparoa Peninsula, edges of Noises/Ahaaโs, Happy Jacks โ so if there some likely looking reefy/rocky areas near where you like to fish, this is the perfect time to try a micro jig, or soft bait as you drift pass, use the smallest weight you can. Kayaks, small boats, jet-skiโs and landbased, โrun what ya brungโ the fishing is good, you just need to be out there to catch them.
ย Enjoy the lead up to Christmas!
ย Espresso.
Catch Fishing – Fish Like a Pro
