Great weather for ducks as the saying goes, however not so great for fishing the past several days with heavy rain and much moisture in the air, 50kts/90kph
wind speeds are more the norm than the exception. Fishing offshore pushed pause and the inshore areas have been challenging to say the least with lots of murky, silty waters and turbulence to continue the suspension of sand, seaweed and muddy run-off. Once the murk clears thoughโฆ!!
Most of the country is experiencing the current feisty attitude of Mother Nature and her various fast-changing moods, although out off the rugged eastern Bay of Plenty coast there may be an early opportunity for the mighty Southern Bluefin tuna. This area is not a place to be taken lightly for a dayโs outing, it can be one of the most inhospitable and dangerous sea states around. If the stars & planets do align though it can also be one of the most productive
Aaron Sargent and Flyn Jack with ‘Puka from the depths on the Giant Squidwings.
and exciting fishing zones to be in โ those Bluefin tuna canโt be far away, and the bottom fishing for huge โPuka is legendary. Of course battling with almost unstoppable kingfish is โcommonโ. With the likely prospect of truly big fish real preparation is an absolute must, not just the boat and safety gear, but the tackle you choose to use as well, generally speaking light tackle is not the go! Successful charter operator Captain Aaron Sargent at Coastal Fishing Charters sure knows his stuff with results that are simply outstanding and speak for themselves, using the rod/reel combos aboard like the Catch JGX5000 on ProSeries Acidwrap 400 are the goto, serious tackle for landing seriously big fish with the Giant Squidwings being a consistent big fish catcher. BTW thereโs a new Catch gimbal just out (which has both a pinned and non-pinned attachment!), perfect for this sort of fishing when hook-ups are usually brutal. Equipment made for the task is absolutely essential, thereโs no room for a moments error or your fish of a lifetime simply laughs and leaves you wondering what happened in the blink of a fish-eye. Landing these gigantic fish will be imprinted on your memory forever, there is nothing like it.
Back in the Hauraki Gulf the fishing out further has been very rewarding at times, mainly out in 50m+. Drifting over the โsquigglesโ is providing good consistent pannie snapper for the table, out past Little Barrier thereโs been more workup action with snapper, kingfish and of course the odd shark ensuring your tax payments are right up to date. Worthwhile to head out to the western side of the Barriers recently.
In and around the islands of southern Kawau there are some good snapper holding, you may have to move around a little, some good snapper sign just says no, others are on the chew, usually only several hundred metres away, so have a nudge around and you should get onto the feeding snapper.
With a couple of days to re-leader, re-spool, re-gasโฆ it sure pays to stay on top of your state of readiness to go fishing, the weather fronts are flying across the Tasman so the โperfect calmsโ can arrive a day or two early โ youโll need to be ready well beforehand to make the most of them, as half-days only might be the go, but the fishing should be very good, those water temps are hanging in there! Just like The Last Boy Scout โ be prepared.
Espresso
