When dredging for scallops, only those actively involved in fishing are entitled to a daily bag limit.
When the weather allows boats to get out there has been some hot fishing action under work-ups in the Hauraki Gulf between Waiheke Island and Coromandel.
One nice bag of snapper was also taken recently straylining at The Noises, and some fish have been coming from drift fishing in 30m. While a ledger rig is commonly used when drifting, another technique which works well is to use a short trace of just over a metre, with a teardrop sinker above the trace.
This type of sinker sits well on the bottom, and the trace lies on the seabed. But as with all drifting, keeping the baits on the bottom can be a problem. One answer is to fish with the reel in free-spool, thumbing the spool and letting line slip out to keep the sinker on the bottom.
When the line starts pulling out simply flick the reel into gear and start winding, and there should be a fish on the end.
Other areas to produce fish recently are the low foul between Anchorite Rock and Channel Island, with snapper to 4.5kg, blue cod, kingfish and trevally in the bag; and off Cape Colville where kingfish action has been hot.
In the Firth of Thames there have been some fish out in the middle, but the action which has really surprised locals is the continuing fishing in shallow water off Pipiroa, at the top of the firth near Thames.
This sort of shallow water snapper fishing is expected in summer when the fish move in close, but it has continued right through July in three-to-four metres of water. Then when floods tore through the Ohinemuri and other rivers like the Piako, the influx of fresh water would be expected to push the snapper out.
But this did not happen and they were still being caught last week, and while the snapper were not large they were nice pan-sized fish and were full of small crabs.
Fishing around the mussel farms has been inconsistent, straylining around the islands is producing some nice snapper which is ideal for kayakers.
In Bay of Plenty, tarakihi are moving into shallow water and gurnard can be found on the sand, but snapper fishing is patchy although long-lining with torpedoes from the beach in the evenings has been good.
Snapper fishers have been faring better in the Bay of Islands, with large baits like whole fresh mackerel rigged on 10/0 hooks to deter small pickers producing some good snapper close in to the rocks off Long Bay, and there are some good kingfish on the outer reefs in the bay.
Fresh water
Fly fishermen in Rotorua are looking forward to continuing runs of spawning trout on the beaches at Lakes Rotoiti and Tarawera. The three-year-old mature fish return to the beach where they were released as yearlings, and inclement weather is welcomed by the anglers who know that when the water is stirred up and rivulets run into the lake the trout will venture into the shallows.
Places such as The Pipe at Hinehopu and The Landing at Te Wairoa will be popular after more rain during the week.
There has been an improvement in the size and condition of trout running up the Tongariro River this winter and some excellent fishing has been reported. Continued rain has pulled some trout into the Tongariro Delta.
This is one spot which can fish well on a bright moon, as you are casting into deep water, but it is important to be right in the current at one of the mouths of the river.
Tip of the week
The conditions of scallops can be determined by the colour and size of the round roe. If it is thin and watery the scollies will make poor eating and should be returned to the water. Those in top condition can be eaten raw like oysters, but are usually pan fried quickly in hot butter.
• Bite times
Bite times are 4.20am and 4.40pm tomorrow and 5.05am and 5.30pm on Sunday. More fishing action can be found at GTTackle.co.nz
