There has been some increased activity in the shallows out of Kawakawa Bay, and there are always some resident fish in these areas, just like at places like the Bean Rock reef, East Coast Bays and from Whangaparaoa to Kawau. The approach should be slow, and the anchor put down carefully to reduce noise which in shallow water will scare the snapper.
Plenty of berley is needed, and a cluster of pilchards on the hook to start helps attract fish. Soft baits can also be used from the anchored boat, casting out to the side and fishing the lure slowly as it swings across the current, just like trout fishing on a river.
The first kingfish are also turning up on the reef at Maria Island and the David Rocks, while the best conditioned scallops are coming from The Noises. Divers working the reefs at the bottom end of Waiheke Island are scoring some crayfish. John dory continue to surprise fishermen, and the Tamaki Strait is holding good numbers of johnnies.
In the Bay of Plenty the gurnard are still in close, but snapper are also starting to move in and soft-baiters are gearing up for some better weather conditions. Snapper can be found off the beaches in about 15 metres over the sand, which is easily reached with long-lines set with torpedoes from the beach.
Gurnard are also still predominating on the Kaipara Harbour but some catches of snapper have surprised those who are expecting to catch only gurnard while fishing inside the harbour.
There are snapper, gurnard and trevally in the Manukau Harbour, and scallops are in pretty good condition. A technique worth trying is to use the fringe from scallops as bait, targeting trevally while fishing over the scallop beds.
These feisty silver fish are occasionally hooked while fishing for snapper or gurnard, but they prefer shellfish to cut baits and can be targeted. A trevally of the same size as a small snapper will fight twice as hard, and as they have soft mouths a landing net should be used to bring them on to the boat. If lifted on the line the fish may drop off the hook.
A generation ago trevally were used only for bait, they are now respected for their valuable table qualities. When presented as sashimi or marinated in lime juice and coconut milk with chopped red onions and capsicum trevally is right up there with kahawai and kingfish, ahead of snapper, and are also fine when poached in milk as a fillet or simply lightly pan fried. As elsewhere off the coast, there are some excellent snapper out at 60 metres.
Off the Northland coast good results have come from finding structure or schools of fish on the sounder, and dropping ledger rigs.
Snapper in the Bay of Islands are reported to have moved out from the shallows into deeper water, and male fish are schooling before spawning. But the best results are coming from casting whole pilchards or mackerel into reefs and white water around the islands. Soft baits also work well in this situation, and it is a question of working slowly right around the island, moving after each cast.
Fresh water
The runs of mature trout in the Lake Taupo spawning tributaries this winter have been impressive, with fish in top condition and running up to 3kg. It is late in the spawning season and the rivers will be holding both fresh-run trout in top condition, and poor-conditioned fish which have spawned and are making their way back to the lake.
Recent low rainfall has meant that in streams the trout run through quickly and the lucky angler who strikes a fresh run will do well.
On the Tongariro River the stable, low conditions result in an explosion of invertebrate insect life, and if there are no major floods to flush out the river the summer should see some great dry fly action as the predominantly caddis nymphs hatch.
Anglers do need to take care when wading as the low water stimulates growth of algae and weed, making rocks slippery, but this also provides shelter for the caddis nymphs.
Tip of the week
When targeting trevally use small hooks and soft baits like a chunk of pilchard, or mussel or tuatua tied on to the hook with bait elastic. They can be line shy, so a hook tied directly to the main line will have more success than one with a heavy trace. Floating or lightly weighted baits will also be more attractive to the fish. Berley can also be used to bring them within range.
• Bite times
Bite times are 10.05am and 10.30pm tomorrow and 10.50am and 11.15pm on Sunday. More fishing action can be found at GTTackle.co.nz
