Start your engines! Fishing freedoms finally, and with finer forecasts expect some great fishing, from mackerel to marlin, snapper and kingfish to gurnard – so what’s on your Fishmas wish list?
Figure 1 Striped marlin and 200gm Squidwings
Sea temps are as high as mid summer already in several places, the wild west coast is hot enough for early big gamers as far down as Raglan to already head out for a prospective look and learn. A big blue marlin of 187kgs has been caught up north (east) with several striped marlin and YFT recorded as well that side. The waiting is over, time to fuel up and get the game face on.
Workups in the Hauraki Gulf took a little bit of a siesta – but expect that to change with a flurry. The full moon’s influence this coming Sunday (19th) is in full force, so expect frantic feeding at times but also sudden down-times, all-on or all-off kind of stuff. It’s easy to catch fish in the thick of it, but when it quietens down – just drop down to a Beady Eye Kabura or microjig, and keep them within 3 or 4 slow winds off the sea floor for snapper, simple and extremely effective, they have outstanding reputations for good reason. The inner areas are looking much better for snapper, some better sizes being caught around western Rangitoto and in the downtown/container ship area – the perfect softbait scene. Try grubbing them along the bottom and be ready for the take and strike!Sea temps are as high as mid summer already in several places, the wild west coast is hot enough for early big gamers as far down as Raglan to already head out for a prospective look and learn. A big blue marlin of 187kgs has been caught up north (east) with several striped marlin and YFT recorded as well that side. The waiting is over, time to fuel up and get the game face on.
Gurnard are happily hanging around the wide open ‘worm beds’ of the inner
Figure 2 Gurnard on Pocket Rocket microjig
gulf areas, so places like the North Shore Bays are primed for some good gurnard sessions right now. The Lil’ Squidwings is definitely worth a cast around, gurnard seem to love pouncing on these funky little lures – which can be gently slow-pitched, or cast with a slow retrieve on/near the sea floor, ideal for a carrot or two. Fun times!
Have great week leading up to Christmas, it looks like some better weather and good fishing ahead, especially once the waters clear a bit more inshore following the rains, best we make the most of it.
Enjoy!
