What lies below is key to catching fish

Former All Black Steve Devine with a nice kingfish caught on live bait. Photo / Geoff Thomas

Fishing is a funny business, and while we all seek the perfect bait or the ultimate lure that will attract the quarry in huge numbers, the fact remains that where we put our bait or lure is paramount.

Trout fishermen will always ask a successful angler "what fly were you using?", in the solid belief that switching flies will unlock the mystery. But what sort of line the guru was using and where the cast was directed are of equal importance.

It is the same when hunting snapper or kingfish or marlin. The dynamics are constantly moving. Currents change with the tides, depth and bottom contour. The ability to interpret the signals on the screen of your electronics is more useful than having a list of spots, because fish are always moving.

We should be thinking about what lies beneath the surface. Any change in a flat sea bed should attract attention immediately. It may be a contour line which shows up on a chart, or a rock or a small patch of rubble. For these will attract fish.

The fish we seek so passionately are simple creatures, motivated by two factors - food and security.

So most fish will hide at night when the great predators are hunting, stirring as the first light penetrates the dark gloom. The long fronds of bull kelp waving in the current give shelter for all kinds of life.

Currents bring food to fish, and storms will dislodge crabs and shellfish attracting hungry opportunists such as snapper. Murky water is also more attractive to fish than clear water where they are easily seen.

These are the variables that anglers look for, as they influence fish behaviour at sea, while winds can push food on to a shoreline on a lake.

So what is the answer when heading out tomorrow?

On the salt, it is to work around the tides.

The strong currents of a week ago are gone, and the 28m area off Park Point on Waiheke Island is holding a lot of snapper at the moment.

Charter skippers know that the tide starts flowing into the Sargents Channel before it does in the Motuihe Channel. As the tide runs into a congested channel it flows faster out the other side. So when looking for more current it is better to move further into the channel, and the reverse applies when less current is wanted (on the king tides).

The plan this weekend would be to start fishing on the up-current side of one of the channels, moving down with the current as it picks up, to ensure a good flow.

Other spots which are holding fish in good numbers are on the reef at Flat Rock, and, if you are targeting kingfish, the reefs at Crusoe Rock, the Noises and Pakatoa reef.

The key is live bait - small kahawai are the easiest to find although live piper are snapped up by both kings and snapper - and to start fishing at dead low tide.

Freshwater
The big trout continue to come from Lake Rotoiti where the hot weather has caused the fish to congregate at around 30m, although the depth varies during the day.

The emergence of hatching cicadas is giving back country stream fishing a boost.

Bite times
Bite times are 10.20am and 10.45pm tomorrow, and 11.10am and 11.35pm on Sunday.

Tip of the week
Try light line, like 6-kilo braid, small baits like chunks of pilchard and small sinkers. Fish lost through light tackle will be more than compensated for by the increased hook-up rate.

• More action can be found tonight on Rheem Outdoors with Geoff, 5.30pm TV3.