Water temps are down as low as 12 degrees, so that has a real impact on the metabolism rates of the fish, and it can take a lot of patience, a good berly trail, or just some good luck to get a decent catch in the bin.

Having said that, the puka fishing is not too bad out wide, and targeting the deeper water in general is turning up some very nice snapper, trevs, teri’s and the odd good kingy.

If you’re in the right place at the right time, the odd winter moocher snaps can be picked up.  We got a pretty nice fish around fifteen pound off Makara right on turn of the tide the other day, even though the going was mostly slow otherwise.

Surf casting is still a good option when the wind drops and the water is reasonably clear, with most of the popular species still on the cards, although nothing like the young guys I talked to recently who managed a bluefin tuna off the rocks on a popper up at Lottin Point.  What an amazing experience that must have been.

Land based squid fishing is still productive in the harbour, with jigs working well under the lights or around quiet areas where there is a lot of weed and not too much current.

Hunter’s Bank and Fisherman’s Rock are turning up a few good warehou, which are an awesome winter catch, as well as some big winter teris’ and trevs.  It’s a good time of the year to be targeting the 60 – 100 metre zone, when the weather allows there’s all sorts of action that you can find lurking around the foul.

It’s not too far away from spring now, and as the days slowly get a bit longer so does the inclination to get out and give it a crack.

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Cheers

Pete

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