Anywhere up or down the coast from 20-60 meters has been delivering the goods.

Usually the 50 – 60 metre is the go-to zone, and 20 metres is not a depth that I would usually target at this time of the year.

However, weather conditions recently have forced us in a bit and we’ve been pleasantly surprised at the results.

In 40 meters we’ve produced some excellent results and fast fishing, so give this a crack first and then if no good chug on out to the 60.

There’s been no real juvenile fish coming on board, so we haven’t had to sort out the small ones.

Everything in the snapper department has been very solid fish coming over the side, with fish up to 18lb on a daily basis.

Thankfully, there’s very little in the way of spiney dogs which can be a plague at this time of the year.

Gurnard are still showing up in the mix, and in reasonable numbers.

Kahawai are patchy and some are on the skinny side though.

Barracouta are a steady turnup some days, and present an opportunity to grab a couple of slabs of bait that seems to be firing red hot currently.

In our area, you can’t go past barracouta, fresh or frozen, if you’re targeting snapper.  

We have been free flow freezing couta strips and using them to great effect, probably accounting for around 80% of our snapper catch.

Outlook for the weekend is not looking great, but we’re coming into a warmer time of year and the days are only going to get longer and better.

Tight lines and be careful out there.

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Cheers

Rob

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Rob Fitzgerald is owner and skipper of Venturer Fishing Charters, operating out of Kawhia.

Venturer fishing charters

Check Venturer Fishing Charters Kawhia out on Facebook or online - www.venturerfishingcharterskawhia.co.nz

For tackle, tips and charter options contact Rob Fitzgerald.

Ph 07 8711717 or 0272544589 or email robjac@xtra.co.nz

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