Prime snapper time in the Hauraki Gulf is now, as we leave spring behind and enter early summer in the lead-up to the Christmas season, offering a unique and exciting blend of fishing. The warmer air and water temperatures have certainly kicked the fishing season into higher gear, and currently out in the magic zone of 48-54m depths, it's time to rejoice over the abundance of species being caught. Snapper, kingfish, and kahawai are in good condition generally, and on the right day, they are particularly plentiful.

The drift approach is nice and steady for putting snapper in the bin, with both kaburas and the more aggressive inchiku lures doing well as the first choice of tackle to send down. The current moon phase should also be playing its part in the improved catch rate lately.

Snapper Time

Snapper size has been bigger the further out ventured, with impressive catches. There are great-looking surface signs of dolphins and gannets hanging around the eastern edge of the cable zone, east of Flat Rock—not feeding all the time, but if either are in the area, fish the sea floor anyway. There are baitfish on the menu, and snapper hard on the sea floor await below, which should show up well on your sounder. Soft baits are proving to be highly effective—try the smaller sizes first, and if you can get your drift nice and slow with drogues or the engine in reverse now and then, the lighter-weighted soft baits are what the snapper are waiting for, to waft down into their preferred strike range of just a few metres or less off the floor.

The recent surge in water temperature has also encouraged snapper to migrate towards the shallower inshore waters, so there have been some encouraging catches of snapper from land-based anglers and kayakers as well. Certainly, the corner has been turned from the lethargy of winter snapper; they've got the message that spring is here, and it's time to feed in order to breed. If you do head out further in the gulf, it’s worthwhile to drift fish the ‘aquatic highways through the gates’, i.e. where snapper come in from deeper water along fairly established paths—the Colville Channel as it turns into the gulf around and down off the Moehau Range. Similarly, in through the Craddock Channel side, south of the area between Little Barrier and Horn Rock, also where thumping workups have been.

Kingfish on the Prowl

Kingfish are showing themselves around the offshore pinnacles and submerged wrecks. Live baiting with jack mackerel is providing great results for those keen on this method, and jigging enthusiasts are also having success with high-speed jigs and smooth technique. If you can get out to Great Barrier, now is the time to target those kings—topwater as well—they’re ready and waiting. The key is to find the bait schools using both birds and sounder signs, as kingfish are constantly on the hunt for a meal as their breeding kicks into gear.

Kahawai Schooling‍

Kahawai schools are looking good, providing exciting surface action for those looking to cast little poppers or trolling lures as you enjoy your day out. These aggressive feeders are a joy to catch and offer great sport for both novice and experienced anglers, as well as several mouthwatering ways to eat. Keep an eye out for diving birds, even if spread over a wide area rather than a concentrated workup, as they are a good sign that kahawai are probably nearby chasing the bait. You can see kahawai chasing down pilchards at the surface, even when there are no birds or dolphins—just lots of fish! And, as always, where there are kahawai, there are often kingfish.

Upcoming Events and Highlights at Fishing Coach Pro
As always, www.fishingcoachpro.com is committed to bringing you the best resources and events to improve your fishing experience. Here are some of the exciting updates and upcoming highlights you won't want to miss:

Fishing Classes and Tutorials

1. One-on-One Coaching on Land: 1-2 hours of coaching in person to master your techniques, learn where to find fish (shown on charts), and prepare your gear perfectly for where you fish.
2. On-Board Coaching on Your Boat: Captain Espresso comes out for the day to show/teach you techniques, methods, lure/jig/soft bait setups, and tackle in use on your boat, where you fish.
3. Fishing Coaching on Captain Espresso's Boat: Come out with Captain Espresso on his personal boat (a 6.1m Surtees). 1-3 people can join for a day's fishing coaching on the water, focusing on techniques, tackle suited to target fish, improving your setups, reading fish finder signs, micro-jigging, mechanical jigging, and soft baiting. The focus is on learning "how to" rather than simply going fishing, although catching fish can happen. Coming soon!
4. 5 Essential Fishing School Classes: February 2nd to March 29th next year—a limited series held at Farnley's Yamaha North Shore Auckland. Every second Saturday, 1-2 pm, covering in-depth information and topics for bait-free fishing, for novice to experienced anglers. Captain Espresso and other experts in their field, like Simon Batey from Garmin, will be sharing their exceptional knowledge. Best put your name down now, you and your fishing friends, before classes are full—email fishingcoachpro@gmail.com.

Cheers,

Espresso!