Fantastic fish buffets are lining up along the coasts, with abundant baitfish drawing near the shorelines, making it a perfect time for all types of fishing, from watercraft to land-based, all up and down the coasts. The stars have aligned for potentially epic fishing and memorable adventures, just in time for a long weekend.

The influx of baitfish is great news for anglers targeting snapper and kingfish. Imagine a long weekend filled with fishing for anchovies, blue mackerel (even right into the Waitemata), yellow-tailed mackerel, snapper, kingfish, kahawai, and possibly even some tuna from the outer gulf. Now is the time to head out with friends and family for a diverse and delectable catch.

Last Saturday, the inner and outer Hauraki Gulf burst into life, coinciding with beautiful weather. There's no reason not to expect more of the same over the next few days. Early last Saturday, the fishing scene exploded once the tide began to come in, with whales, dolphins, and gannets creating a feeding frenzy. The food chain was in full swing from under the Auckland Harbour Bridge to the Rangitoto channel and beyond, with baitfish and snapper thriving in waters from 30m to 50m deep, providing both visual spectacle and bent rods.

The coming days will continue to have good tidal currents, though slightly less intense than last week. With favorable moon phases and incoming daytime tides, these are promising signs for great fishing opportunities. However, do check the wind conditions for Saturday and perhaps plan your trips for the other days.

For those preferring land-based fishing, the long holiday weekend promises fun for all ages. And if you’re keen to learn more about effective fishing techniques, The Fishing School has started its first class, but there’s still a chance to join the remaining four sessions. Next Saturday, you can watch soft bait and jig action in a water tank in the classroom, learning exactly how to optimise their movement and effectiveness—no more guesswork, just direct knowledge of how fish respond to different lures.

The second class of The Fishing School is this coming Saturday, 15th February, from 1-2 pm at Farnley's Yamaha. Reserve your seat to deepen your fishing skills and maximise your catches.

There’s no better time to enjoy the water, whether you’re out fishing or learning new skills at The Fishing School. See you out there or in the classroom!

Cheers,

Captain Espresso