Fishing: The stronger the current, the better the fishing

Fishing for snapper is better in strong currents. Photo / Geoff Thomas

When it comes to catching just about any fish, current is the key. Talk to any experienced fisherman and he will agree. Whether the target is snapper, kingfish or marlin, the principles are the same; the stronger the current, the better the fishing.

Of course trout fishing is different - there is little current in lakes - but where streams and rivers flow into a lake, fish will be found hovering around the edges looking for tidbits washed in. And the currents in a river will determine where trout lie, so an understanding of the river dynamics is important for the trout angler.

In the oceans, game fish follow currents and can usually be found where water of differing temperatures collides. This is where bait fish congregate, and predators are never far away. Game fishermen look for sea birds, which follow surface activity, and for colour changes and tide rips which mark where different currents meet. Modern technology also makes hunting the open ocean much more accurate, with sea-surface temperature charts available online from satellite surveillance.

And on the sea bed, the current is also important - and easy to predict. A study of the tide tables will point to the biggest tides every month.

For example, this month, the biggest tide on the Waitemata Harbour is tomorrow when it peaks at 3.5 metres on the day of the new moon. Yesterday saw a 3.4-metre high, and that will be repeated from Monday to Thursday, promising good fishing, as we have a combination of strong currents and the four days after a new moon which many commercial fishermen identify as the some of the best days of the month for catching snapper.

The reason current is important is that it stimulates activity. It delivers fresh oxygen to fish, and carries food in many forms. Shellfish like mussels and pipis are filter feeders, sifting plankton from the water, and they will be taking advantage of the currents delivering their dinner. And predators like rays and snapper which prey on shellfish will be on the prowl. Strong current also moves sand, uncovering food like worms which live in the sea floor and are usually well protected. Small fish may have difficulty swimming in powerful currents, making them vulnerable.

The marine food chain starts with nutrients sinking to the sea bed. These may come from decaying life forms like squid which live only months and die in huge numbers, their bodies sinking.

Where currents strike obstacles like the edge of a reef or a rock wall, the nutrients are pushed upward by swirling currents, stimulating blooms of plankton which attract baitfish like pilchards and anchovies. These become prey for creatures such as kahawai, snapper, dolphins and whales.

So when planning a trip, the canny fisherman will study the tide tables and weather. It is important that current and wind are running together, for comfort and for the practical reason that lines will run out the back of the boat. If fishing a reef or rocky structure, the boat will be positioned where the current hits the rocks, not on the other side.

Of course these dynamics will change every six hours when the tide turns.

Strong currents pose problems such as getting a bait down to the bottom. Thick line and large baits have more resistance in the water, requiring heavier weights. Heavier weights then involve stronger line and more powerful rods, and this sort of tackle does not present baits well. The solution is to use ultra-thin line like braid lines, but even then fishing may be impossible at mid-tide, so start when the tide turns and fish until it becomes too difficult. Then move to open areas where the current dissipates, rather than inside a channel or harbour.

The extreme example of planning your fishing around tides is when dropping baits for hapuku in deep water. It can be impossible to hit a single rock 300m below except at slack tide.

Some mid-winter game fishing has seen small-boat anglers catching large bluefin tuna in the Bay of Plenty. There is an annual run of large bluefin up the east coast at this time of year, and fish up to 80kg are being caught by boats fishing out of Waihau Bay and Te Kaha. They are fishing in water from 400m to 1000m deep. These tuna are often accompanied by large albacore tuna which, like the bluefin, can tolerate cooler water than their cousins, the tropical yellowfin and skipjack tuna.

Freshwater
When jigging for trout in deep lakes, a variety of flies can be used. Three hooks are permitted, although some anglers like to use a jig with a single hook as the weight, with two flies above it. When trout are moving into spawning mode, flies with orange or red bodies work well. A good combination is a Red Setter and a Grey Ghost, covering both the bully and smelt imitations.

Tip of the week

Use only as much weight as needed to get to the bottom, but if currents are too strong, one option is to drift. Braid line and a sinker with a short trace with tough baits like fresh mullet or kahawai works well, and lures like jigs or soft baits can also be tried.

Bite times
11am and 11.30pm today and 12pm tomorrow. More fishing action can be found at GTTackle.co.nz.