There’s just the odd spiny over the course of the day, and they are not the only toothy to get in the way of the target species. The dodgy old barracouta are about in force, from right under the boat to the bottom, they can be a bit of a pain.

You have to use heavy gear if you don’t want to spend the day re-rigging. We are running 130lb trace so couta and sharks don’t keep you poor.

The heavy traces don’t seem to bother the snapper once they are biting at all.

On a positive note, couta are great bait, and rather than getting a few bites and hooking up to nothing, almost every time you will catch a fish.

The catch at present has consisted of snapper generally in the 3-4 lb territory, and the odd bigger model up to 15lb is always in there somewhere.

The gurnard, on the whole, have been very good size.  We landed one on the last trip that must have been 1.4 kg.

Still a few kahawai around so a good mixed bag in general.

Kingfish still showing up some days also. Weather this weekend is not great, so Monday to Tuesday would be my pick for a sickie ;-)

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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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