Workups are happily working away further out in the gulf, and just short of Gt Barrier with dolphins a few whales (some are venturing closer in) โ and closer to Auckland this time of year there can be what look like good workups of various sea birds type e.g. just north of Tiri channel โ yet underneath not the pot of gold. Lots of small snapper, and even a tentative biteโฆthereโre only so many snapper and the food chain isnโt interested in our dinner plans
Figure 1. A little heavy metal, Pocket Rocket microjig catching out another big red! Metal jigs, no skirts are working wellโฆ
unfortunately. So donโt necessarily expect filling the bin fast with big hungry reds just because a few birds are after some mackerel, smelt sized morsels, perhaps squid, or itโs just a very small bunch of bait โ not enough for the jungle drums to send the dinner invitation signal far and wide for a congregation to get a proper party, an after party underway and pumping. However there are usually good sized snapper lingering โ worth a microjig ๐
Tiddlers on the roof. Littleโuns of the snapper kind are amped up and into feasting mode. Avoiding catching these stunning little snapper of the future โ meansโฆdonโt add a strip of bait to your lure hooks โ youโll almost certainly attract the little fish to rush in and take a bite at the titbit. Since last weekโs water weirdness due to tsunami/wind/eruptions the inner areas have had bait rising on the tide changes, but very briefly, not sure whatโs going on but now we are passed the full moon, aquatic normality should return at least, even if the humans are still sorting themselves out.
Skirt free โ no kaburas, no inchiku, just metal jigs โ this will drastically reduce the undersize snapper caught (there is less than no point to catching them), even smaller metal jigs like Pocket Rockets โ 45gm โ and now right down to 7gms (just released). The Boss โ inshore use the lighter zinc alloy version, further out slow pitch the big lead bad boys for big snapper, thatโs what theyโre looking for, itโs your duty to comply?! You certainly donโt want to be adding scent/bait strips.
Pick a colour, any colour. Blue, black or striped, marlin that is. Big game โ the season kicked off in most places with a humdinger, good weather here โn there, and Facebook frenzy. Great sessions have been had, particularly off the BOI, Whangaroa, and eastern Coromandel โ marlin and some YFT! Southern BFT โ off westside N.I.? and triple marlin strikes out off BOP. Lots going on if you can get out there in amongst it all. Not sure where to go โ check out NZ Big Game Fishing FB page!
Looks like minimal offshore fishing next week with lots of colourful wind maps brightening computer screens around the country, certainly dampening the fishing fever when the winds are >35kts. No doubt after this next set of wild weather patterns thereโll be good reason to head out and play ball in the big league. The marlin are heading down along the north island, who knows how far south theyโll be this season, La Nina warm waters could well extend their range even further!
Tax and sharknados. Heavy taxes right now, everywhere โ sharks just wait at the dinner table where every day anglers come and help by presenting fish on a thread for them to eat, happy sharks, unhappy humans. What can you do? Assuming you are not anchored and put
Figure 2. Taxman!
ting a heap of burley in the water โ a sure-fired shark attractant, a couple of things you can do, turn your sounder off, use heavier gear for faster retrieval, fish the sharks themselves (if thatโs your cup-of-tea) and even revert to the tried and true shark โn tatties. Failing that, leave for somewhere else.
More unsettled weather with fleeting โLowโ based calm winds, i.e. quick to appear and disappear, so you need to be prepared. Stationary and spreading out big โHighsโ over the country โ not yet. Windy.com animation shows it well so you can time your fishing even better e.g. do a morning fish, then leave before the wind perks up and turns a great day in a battle-home.
Have great weekend, fishing, reading/talking/thinking about fishing, and fish for dinner!
Enjoy
Quick links for more information on featured fishing tackle:
Pocket Rocket (tungsten) now 7gm to 45gm
Trolling Squidwings (for tuna and marlin 200gms)
Slow Pitch jigs for snapper and kingfish: Deep-V , BOSS , Double Trouble
Slow Pitch rod: Kensei
