Oh what a year, 2022!

We've seen epic sights even David Attenborough would be proud of.  

Multiple whales of several species, including a rare baby Humpback, feeding on big bait balls in the local gulf, with more cruising around up the coast to the Hen and Chicks. These majestic mammals makes for idyllic life experiences and fantastic fishing to boot.

The big game season was a cracker and this next season is already underway with short-billed spearfish, albacore, yellow fin tuna, mahimahi, striped and blue marlin all being caught this past week in the North Island!

No wonder - sea temps are still well up above normal and not just surface temperatures, down to 200m it’s 2 degrees warmer and has been for the past 2 years.

This year looks like similar temperatures will prevail so expect the changes seen over the last couple of years of fishing to continue wherever around the country you are, or are wetting a line.

Snapper fishing this Spring has been turning up a lot of very good-sized fish, some have been in below average condition but with breeding the next topic on the agenda for them you can expect a general slow-down in overall bite, but inshore areas are perking up big time, good tidings.

The inner harbour shallower areas are slowly but surely filling up with snapper, great news for soft baiters and micro jiggers getting in amongst some exciting snapper action, including those wonderfully cheeky spots like under the Auckland harbour bridge (watch out for those bungy jumpers), the boat-busy Tamaki strait, and more inner areas providing surprisingly good snapper fishing.

An effective goto technique in these areas is dragging a softbait or microjig along with the odd lift behind your ski/kayak/boat.

A surprisingly successful method to catch snapper over the next month or so.  

That giveaway ‘smoke’ trail of mud, a flailing barely alive softbait just gradually moving along presents easy pickings for snapper with their noses down grubbing around for morsels like little aquatic kunekune pigs in the mud.

You can fish a long way out the back of the drift like this. Smaller 5inch softbaits and micros up to about 20gms are ideal. Don’t forget – the better your menu selection, the more fish will strike whether they’re after a big meal or just a little after dinner mint 😉, they’ll soon let you know.

Further out into the open gulf it’s business as usual – simply superb days when the bite is on, the ‘rest’ periods are stretching out a bit now, but wow some epic snapper and kingfish battles are to be had whether simply out drifting the 35-45m depths (birds overhead or not) or targeting some of the reefs around southern Flat Rock, Tiri tiri, Happy Jacks and eastern Waiheke.

So did you did you reach a goal or two in your fishing this year?

A personal best perhaps or simply enjoying fishing for good food for the family like the excellent kingfish, gurnard, dory, kahawai and mackerel.

Whether you’ve already added a tick or not - what’s on your fishing list now? In terms of tackle – will it be some self-Santa or pot luck under the pine tree. What adventures are in your sights…land based off the mighty 90mile amongst crashing surf and salt spray ready for whole snapper over a BBQ, or deep drops into the lightless abyss for truly the outstanding taste of bluenose, bass, puka, swordfish, maybe a troll around for albacore YFT, mahi and marlin, how about freshwater fishin’ fly time or a little jig, or how about more MMA with almost hand to hand battling big kings whether topwater or jigging - every which way is all good. Inexpensive thrills no matter what the experience or age level with catching kahawai too - what magic memories have you yet to make?

Coaching seminars on softbaiting and slow pitch were a massive hit, various in-person and online presentations were almost overwhelming this year – the knowledge sharing, the crazy-good buzz on the night, the learning and individual application, genuine information put to immediate use judging by the pictures received after each venue!

And isn’t that what it’s about, getting more out of lure fishing by catching better fish.

Thank you for the amazing and positive receptions around the country with hundreds-thousands of people learning, sharing and progressing their bait free fishing – thank you so much, truly gratifying.

There’s more coaching planned next year with several already in the pipeline, and why not let me know if you’re keen to host one so we can make it happen in a format tailored specifically to you.

Some of the passionate people and places around the country supporting our habit in a good way: Smart Marine, Trev Terry Marine, Smart Marine, Wanganui Marine Services, Waikato Sport Fishing Club, North Shore Kayak club, Fish City Albany and Hamilton, the continued and much appreciated support from real deals like Manukau Yaks, Yakazulu Kayak, the always enjoyable NZ Fishing World online, the Hutchwilco Boat Show, and many more.

Stuck for Christmas ideas: here’s the Catch CATALOGUE to help you out with ideas.

Have a fun and safe time over the holidays, fish ‘em when you can, and if you see me out ‘n about whether on the water or not, do give me a wave and say g’day.

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Cheers, have a very Merry Christmas.

Espresso.

www.catchfishing.pro

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This report is supplied by Grant 'Espresso' Bittle from Catch and Wave Dancer Charters.

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For Wave Dancer Charters: Visit www.wavedancer.co.nz

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