Cool weather keeps snapper on move

Mandy Kupenga hooked this nice snapper in about 35 metres in the Hauraki Gulf. Photo / Geoff Thomas

Depth of water and the tide influencing chances of the big catch

The best snapper fishing in the Hauraki Gulf is still out in 30 to 40 metres of water, and the hour after the turn of the tide at high tide seems to be producing the most action.

Unseasonal cold temperatures and strong winds have made fishing difficult in the past month, but that will change.

Water temperatures are still hovering around 16C, and as a result snapper are not holding in any one area but are moving around, looking for the 18C water where they will start spawning. The answer for fishermen is to keep moving until you find the fish.

There must be good numbers of snapper in the area from Motuora Island to Whangaparaoa Peninsula, as commercial long-line boats are working that area at the moment.

The westerly winds have made fishing on the west side, from Tiritiri Matangi Island to Kawau Island, better than the area from Waiheke Island to Coromandel Peninsula. But when conditions change, it will be worth looking out in the middle of the gulf as this is the prime time of year for the work-ups with gannets and dolphins herding schools of bait fish.

Bream Bay is also "full of fish" say local commercial fishermen, who are having trouble avoiding the large schools of snapper.

In the Firth of Thames, windy conditions have made life hard for keen anglers. But the advent of mussel farms has helped, and has changed the nature of fishing in the firth. For example kingfish now hang around all winter, when in the past they would have moved out to deep water offshore after June.

Even in strong winds some shelter can be found around the farms, enabling people to fish in marginal conditions. And the average size of snapper this spring is better than in the past, according to Thames fisherman Doug Edwards.

"It has been a hard spring, but the fishing around the farms has picked up in the past three weeks," he said. "The fish are generally bigger, with 40-45cm snapper common."

At a local firemen's competition last Saturday in Thames, a 6.7kg won the prize for the heaviest snapper.

Straylining with floating baits cast away from the boat in shallow water can be exciting, and rewarding. Berley is a must, and light tackle will bring more bites than heavy line.

On the other side of the firth, anglers going out from Kaiaua can find good fishing as soon as the depth reaches 20m.

Cold water has also affected Bay of Plenty fishing, but veteran charter skipper Rick Pollock says kingfish are showing well at White Island.

On the Manukau Harbour gurnard are still running well, and the scallops are in good nick. The key to fishing the Manukau is to go out on the small tides when currents and floating weed will not pose such a challenge.

The reverse applies on the opposite side, where strong currents produce the best fishing on the gulf.

Fresh water

This is a good time of year to wade the shallows of lakes such as Lake Rotoaira near Turangi, and Lakes Rotorua and Rerewhakaaitu.

The dragonfly and damselfly nymphs are hatching, so casting a nymph imitation or a small Hamills Killer around the edges of weed beds can produce some lively action.

Bite times
Bite times are 12.20am and 12.45pm tomorrow and 1.15am and 1.40pm on Sunday.

Tip of the week
Flasher rigs with fluorescent green flashers on the hooks work well around the mussel farms. But don't drop the anchor near the farms because it can become stuck on the underwater cables which anchor the lines of mussels. If fishing close, it is better to tie up using a small grapnel thrown over one of the mooring lines.