Winter briefs – Spring is just a month awayย with all that it promises for the upswing in fishing conditions and snapper numbers, but right it’s best to go
small to catch the big one, whether you are land-based, or water-based. Catching those hibernating big reds often requires a gentler more tidbit tempting approach rather than offering a full 3 course dinner in one go. Easy eat items are generally accepted, so in terms of lures – microjigs , and even using smaller kaburas with nice light wafting skirts โ those tantalisingly tempting tentacles with the all-important hidden hooks or soft tentative bites. Right now is also when lighter leader really does come into its own โ it can make the difference between getting a lot of attention and โno fish here!?โ Many anglers’ fish with 30lb leader, I suggest 20lb is plenty for the majority of the Hauraki Gulf year-round, 10lb and 15lb are even better in winter. Similarly lighter gear helps provide the right approach, better feel and more hookups with fish having those oh-so-gentle mouthing takes. Perhaps itโd be an interesting time to try new some new softbaits like eels โ grubbing along in the mud slowly? Softly-softly catchy fishy. Weekend weather is looking much better than the usual of late. If you are headed to one of the various mussel farms โ thatโd be a great place to be, just quietly lurking on the outside โ casting a little Pocket Rocket microjig and drawing the fish out – hook up and enjoy the battles, micros work so well like this. Gulf fishing further out โ the wide open world of workups, enjoy! Deeper water should be good, if itโs not happening when youโre there, just drift with your smaller lures on and near the sea floor, you may not even see any sounder sign. Tungsten micros are the go out here โ easy money as they sink fast in deep water like the Pocket Rockets, the 45gm version is outstanding even with a bit of a quick drift on. A few flicks once the jig has reached the bottom and puffed up some mud, but donโt forget the slow retrieval up 10 winds (approx. 10metres) out in 50m.
Or perhaps heading out well offshore chasing the huge southern bluefin tuna is more your bag baby? And with a striped marlin just caught out off the Aldermanโs this week โ who knows what you could hook up! Only one way to find out, check the latest weather on a few different sites, and make your plan.
Lure fishing and coaching seminars are in full swing, itโs the perfect time of year to learn new and improved ways to enjoy fishing and catching fish. Last weekโs seminar was at The Maraetai Beach Boat Club, a packed club with lots of like minded people sharing fishing information, new release of softbaits, different rigging options and techniques too.
Thereโre more coaching seminars coming so stay in touch, the next one is at Hunting and Fishing in Gisborne, be there if you have half a chance.
Enjoy your last few weeks of winter fishing.
Cheers
