Fish, Boat, Dive

Fishing in July means the days are shorter, the weather is changeable, and the school snapper have moved out of the Bay of Islands. You can still get get food for the family from the water but you need to change up your game a little.

Keep an eye on the weather. Through the winter we mainly get north-west through to south-west winds. Both can get very gusty at times so always check the weather forecast before you head out. At this time of year we seem to get three or four days of nice weather, and then the low comes in and we get three days of wet and windy. We always hope it's not over the weekends!

When heading out for a fish in winter I find having a good burley trail is essential. You can do this in different ways; shop-bought burley bombs work a treat, or use the bodies of the last lot of fish you caught and hang them in an onion sack on the side of the Boat. It may be just me but I haven't had any success using snapper bodies to catch snapper.

With some nice snapper to be caught in the shallows, try some kayak fishing or over the next few months head to your favourite rock on the coast to cast a line. I've had a few of the local fishos coming into the shop with stories of good fish being landed off the rocks at the Waitangi Golf Course. Another great spot to try is at the Rocky Beach at Tapeka Point. Flat Rock is a favourite spot for locals too.

Kayak fishing has some great advantages at this time of year. You can cruise the coast nice and shallow but remember big snapper got big by being very shy fish. Make a lot of noise and they won't come anywhere near your bait.

My favourite rig at this time of year is a strayline rig. I use nice big strip baits, whole pilchards, or baby squid. No sinker or a very small one. You want to present the most natural bait that you can. I prefer circle hooks, as they tend to hook in the side of the mouth which makes it much easier to release the fish.

Mussels are still plentiful and in good condition through the winter months. Kina are normally at best traditionally in months that pohutukawa are flowering. Through the winter the rows get very skinny. The Pacific Oysters are in season now. If you don't fancy getting covered in mud collecting them we have some great Oyster farms in The Bay of Islands that sell direct to the public.

The Russell Birdman

Paihia Dive will be entering a team this year. I have been nominated to jump and still haven't seen my outfit. We will also be providing the safety divers again so at least I know a friendly face will be waiting for me when I hit the water!