Many people stow away their boat over winter, however proper care and inspection is essential to ensure springtime does't become an expensive repair exercise.

Rock fishing newbie Paul Walker charts a treasure trove of nooks and crannies heading up the East Coast from Auckland

There is no greater participant sport in the world than fishing but what is it that draws so many millions of people into it? At entry level, it’s easy and affordable to get into in both fresh and saltwater fishing.

Here in Auckland we are blessed with the Hauraki Gulf, giving us a huge area of reasonably protected water to play in. But for those looking for a bit of adventure there is a group of islands out beyond this protective ring and, like the Greek sirens of old, the Mokohinau Islands beckon. The fishing here can be exceptional, with a mix of deep pinnacles and reefs along with a lot of shallow foul ground and deep weedy gutters.

Many anglers neglect the mangrove creeks and channels of our mighty natural harbours in favour of heading out wide but, as Paul Walker explains, there’s a world of possibilities to explore. Estuary and small harbour fishing appeals to many anglers yet it is not a form of the sport that is all that common.

The equinox wind can be a royal pain in the posterior and cause unwanted disruption to fishing plans, but there are still places to cast a line when Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate. Spring fishing is often longed for in the Hauraki Gulf after a long, cold and usually wet winter.

Our coastal seas are teeming with sharks but very few fishers see them as a sport fish. Paul Walker looks at our most common species and how we can target them.

The less explored north-eastern side of Great Barrier Island, has a wild side that will both feed and inspire the most adventurous angler. While Great Barrier might be one of the ‘great’ places to fish in the Hauraki Gulf, one place that tends to be forgotten is the Barrier’s northeast coast or, as the locals call it - the wild side.

Many people stow away their boat over winter, however proper care and inspection is essential to ensure springtime doesn’t become an expensive repair exercise.