Hauraki Gulf

fishing report

April 1, 2021

Supplied by

Note: If map is showing it is created by LINZ / New Zealand Hydrographic Authority and made available by Creative Commons 3.0. Maps should not be used for navigation

Easter long weekend – a few days to play whether a stay-cation or heading away? Here’s an idea – Easter fishing, an excellent pastime to be included in the weekend’s leisure activities! It’s just after the full moon, there’s a good full tidal movement stirring the saltwater food chain up, it’s prime time of year with all sorts of piscatorial species out there, marlin, mahi, tuna – and closer in those thumping red snapper, kahawai and many more. This long weekend should definitely include some good fishing opportunities. Fish don’t have daylight saving changes so they won’t notice a thing this weekend as our NZ clocks are adjusted.

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Softbaiting land-based is becoming more and more popular, and rightly so as evidenced by good catches in many locales during the recent strong winds, most boat-borne anglers being denied their fishing fix out further due to the gnarly sea state.

Now is a perfect time of year for landbased softbaiting with snapper and many other fish looking to feed right along the coastline shallows whether over sand or foul ground. Prospecting along with a little softbait outfit, a favourite SB or two on a light jighead in the morning of later afternoon, nice.

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The current murkiness of the water will mean a bright, luminous, easily see able and feel-able lure (vibration from the lure or an added Catch “Tuning Blade”) can help, letting fish find your lure in near zero viz. Small darting baitfish style jerks, then rests to let the fish discover and pounce on your unsuspecting lure is a good approach. BTW there’re some all new softbaits (colours sizes shape and components) coming soon – Catch Livies “Black Label”!

Autumn is a time for feasting by many species, fish of most types now know that colder times are imminent, insulation being key to survival over winter so the need to feed is on.

Whether you use smaller offerings like a microjig to imitate say an anchovy, or larger main-course style lures like the mighty Squidwings is up to you, and the fish. Vary your offerings – you never know what will take fishes fancy, best to be make a few different offerings.

Wind directions swing right around the compass over the next several days, so go with the flow and there’ll be some excellent areas to get some good fishing in, with completely new areas to explore and enjoy each day. An eye on kingfish from shore or close to it is a great idea too right now, whether stick baiting, live-baiting, jigs or mid water retrieved softbaits.

Enjoying your catch is easy - perhaps at a bach somewhere with a simple approach of a cheap ‘n cheerful smoker, a few manuka chips and amazing smoked fish among family and friends – sound delicious? Simple, inexpensive and all sorts of fish come out tops from kahawai to mackerel, snapper, kingfish and more. Very Easter holidays.

In short there’ll be lots of food for fish to choose from with strong currents, make your offering the chosen one, make it seen, and heard, with an easy action - ready for that strike!

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Enjoy Autumn fishing!

Espresso.

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

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