Understanding tides the best way to land a good catch

A snapper caught near Little Barrier Island. Photo / Supplied.

Tides are the key to successful saltwater fishing, and they are determined by the moon. Both the position of the moon and its phase influence tidal movement, and experienced anglers know which tides will work best for their plans on the water.

For six months the biggest tides will fall on the full moon and the smallest tides of the month on the new moon, and it is reversed for the other half of the year.

For example, this month the largest tides of the month were, on Auckland's east coast, 3.5m high tides on the four days immediately after the new moon on July 12. Those were the days to go fishing as there were strong currents and they are about the best days to be out fishing according to the lunar calendar, often referred to as the Maori fishing calendar.

This weekend we are coming off a full moon on Monday and fishing should improve as the moon wanes.

An understanding of the tides is just one aspect. Different tides work for different situations.

For example, when fishing the channels around Rangitoto and Motuihe Islands we like big tides and strong currents, starting at low tide and fishing the incoming tide.

But on west coast harbours like the Manukau and Kaipara the small tides are the best to fish, simply because it is too hard getting a bait to the bottom in the fierce currents generated by peak tides.

When targeting hapuka slack tide is the favoured time to drift over a deep rock or pinnacle, again for the practical reason that a bait and heavy weight can be dropped efficiently without a current to pull them away from the target. In this situation accuracy is vital for success.

Irrespective of tides and moon, fishing at present is rarely easy. When the weather allows boats to travel out wide, there are more fish to be found, which is normal for mid-winter fishing.

Places around Auckland like Cape Colville, Anchorite Rock and other deep reefs come into their own but fine weather is a major factor.

Closer to the city there are still "kahawai birds", or fairy terns, working schools of kahawai off Motuihe and Waiheke Islands. Drifting with small lures like natural-coloured plastics in orange and brown and small sizes will pick up both kahawai and the occasional snapper.

The horse mussel bed in Whangaparaoa Bay is holding fish, and drifting with baits and lures is a good option.

The Manukau Harbour has been fishing better on the airport side than down in the Waiuku Channel, and one party of anglers were surprised when they struck excellent snapper fishing last week, including fish up to several kilos.

Casting soft baits or large, floating baits into the wash around the edge of rocky islands like the Moko Hinaus, Little Barrier and Great Barrier is producing some good snapper.

There are hapuka and tarakihi in deep water and the hapuka are expected to move into shallower depths over the next two months as they spawn.

Tarakihi also move closer during winter and can be found in 50m off Pakiri Beach, along with the barracouta which turn up in winter and can be a nuisance.

In Northland waters, snapper to 5kg and tarakihi are being hooked anywhere between 80m and 120m off Tutukaka, while off the Bay of Islands, snapper to 5kg and hapuka to 20kg are following schools of jack mackerel out on the 100m-plus mark.

The pilchard schools have moved into Bream Bay, which is late in the winter season. Their movement is determined by water temperatures, which have been warmer than usual with skipjack tuna still evident until recently. Now temperatures have dropped the vast shoals of pilchards are moving closer to shore, and kingfish and snapper will follow.

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