Clarke Gayford: Fishing the Pacific

After bonefish on Aitutaki.

Clarke Gayford says fish lovers should treat themselves to winter fishing in the tropics.

I think we enjoy summers in New Zealand more than other parts of the world, because our winters make us feel that we've earnt it. The ying to its yang, particularly when a wet spring drags out its arrival. The beauty of these modern times though is that when the cold sets in, it has never been easier to sneak away into the Pacific Isles — aka The Blue Continent — for some summer tonic.

The focus of these holidays has previously been cocktails, sunburn and hair-braids but, increasingly, Kiwis are seeking out other activities. Having filmed half of all episodes of Fish of the Day in the Pacific may I present the joy of a tropical fishing adventure.

From Rarotonga to the Solomons; Fiji, Aitutaki, Niue, Vanuatu, Samoa and more, there's a bounty of fishing potential on our geographical doorstep. Here it's possible to chase huge fish with exotic names and even bigger reputations. From giant trevally to wahoo and Spanish mackerel or walu. There are mahi mahi, coral trout, jobfish, long nose emperor, amberjack, rainbow runners, dog-tooth tuna, bonefish and sailfish. Just some of a long list of species that you've probably never heard of that might pop up on any given day.

What to expect?

Well for a start it's easier than you think and even with no fishing experience you can get stuck in. Every place we've been has had excellent fishing charters keen to take out whoever wants to have a go. Skippers in the islands own the fish you catch, with the haul given to villages or sold to local restaurants. This means they aren't there to muck around, they want to catch fish just as much as you do. Catching fish is an essential way to keep people fed.

As for technique, most fishing involves trolling out lures around favourite haunts and using specially set FADS (fish aggregation devices). The target is mostly large roaming pelagics. This means that while you'll catch less than a snapper foray in a local harbour, what you do catch will be much bigger, faster, stronger and Instagramable. It also means the skipper and deckhand will do all the work setting lures etc, meaning all you have to do is hang on and wind them in.

Why is it so good?

I once had the collective group of Pacific Islands described to me as the Blue Continent, and now I can't think of it as anything else. Most countries here are just small pimply tips of long-extinct volcanoes, jutting up violently from the sea floor deep below in a vast expanse of azure blue. The advantage of this is that the islands act as an ocean oasis attracting life from all around. As soon as you leave a harbour you are straight into very deep water, which means fishing can happen almost from the moment you leave a wharf.

The tropics are full of life and nearly all fish here have teeth. I love thinking about the odd juxtaposition of people having a relaxing chilled out tropical holiday above, while below its absolute bloody warfare with some of the most aggressive fish life on earth, all having a go at each other. This is good for fishers, as angry fish bite lures.

So where is best to go?

For me picking a favourite Island is like picking between your children (secretly you have one, you just don't want to admit it publicly.)

Each location has pros and pros. At some the fishing is better at certain times of the year so a bit of research will go a long way to knowing what works best, however typically winter is a great season.

Anything else?

Most charters can be booked for full- or half-day trips. They usually start super early, so its perfect if you are travelling with non-fishers as you can sneak off for a morning and be back before bacon.

The boats are usually small, modern and well set up. I've only ever felt unsafe on one, but the guy was smoking while transferring fuel at sea with open cracks in the hull, so there was that.

Most operators are online although often just on Facebook with no website. It's easy to find reviews of people's experiences.

Some, but not all, provide lunch.

Take plenty of sunscreen.

As the saying goes a bad day's fishing is better than a good day's mahi. So even if no fish turn up, there's always plenty to see and do as you take in the land you have left behind from a whole new perspective.

As Game of Thrones has been trying to tell you, winter is coming. So plan that sliver of summer escape now.

• Clarke Gayford hosts Fish of the Day, returning to Three this year.