With the weather over the last month being so changeable, it's just been a matter of getting out on the water, even if it's only for a few hours.
This winter is shaping up to be similar to last year. By now, traditionally, snapper would be on the move out into deeper water or right up in the shallows, where there are kelp-strewn rocks and foul. Never before have I seen the anchovies in close at this time of the year, and where there are schools of kahawai, snapper are close by.
You don’t need to go far to catch snapper, right up in the local estuaries, the shallow water around Rangitoto, particularly on the northern side, not only will you find snapper and kahawai, but also kingfish smashing the bait fish. When the tides are small or the moon phase is bad, the fishing in deeper water slows right down. This is the time when I head right up into areas of shallow rock and kelp and fish with a floater – that is, simply no sinkers, just a hook tied to the end of the line.
Fresh bait is the key, whereas the pilchards and squid get chewed up quickly. Fresh-cut Jack Macs, being tougher, take a bit more aggressive chewing, hence the hook-up rate is way higher. Ideally, you want to chop up a few pillies and cast them in all directions as far from the boat as possible. This not only gives the snapper something to snack on, but it also helps to bring more fish close to the boat, and they become competitive and more aggressive on the bite.
The Tiri channel just out from the wharf where the bottom shelves up has fished well on the incoming tide, on the slack water move into the area of rocks close by and toss big fresh baits towards the edge of the kelp.
Right along the northern side of both Rangitoto and Motutapu, look for signs of birds working close to shore. Gardner’s Gap [ spot 12 area 3] has really been producing some good snapper in the 35-42 cm range.
Rakino on the northern side is very rugged and an ideal area to target when the wind and tide are right over the winter. Will loose a bit of tackle in the rocks and kelp but its well worth it as I have caught snapper up and over the 20ld mark.
The Noises Ahaahas you will find when the current is running the snapper are holding on the edge of the drop offs but again when the tide slackens off move in and stray line around the rocks and reefs.
If you can only manage to get out for a few hours on the southern side of Rangitoto out and slightly to the south of Fax Point there are very small patches of low foul, this area may not show many fish on the sounder but a bit of burly and ground bait plus some patience on the incoming tide always produces a few nice pannies.
Fishing out of Omaha has been interesting with plenty of snapper in the 36-56 cm range on one day, yet nothing showing on the sounder the next, it’s just a matter of hunting them down. Right along the length of the beach out in 12-14 meters, you will see the snapper are well spread out, grazing on shellfish, in this depth of water and with little current. I don’t use sinkers, just casting out slightly up current and letting the baits float down naturally. It pays dividends dropping a flasher rig for fresh bait, jack macs, and best of all, slimy mackerel are perfect bait. As they tend to hang on even though you may be getting a lot of small nibbles don’t strike as the is just they way they are feeding, wait to either the baits is gone or strike once the line straightens out as virtually every snapper I have caught has been on fresh bait that has been well chewed.
Just last week, talking to a number of people, marlin have been sighted in close and I mean in close, such as just outside of the surf line in Omaha bay, off Gannet rock and in less than 20 meters out of Whitianga.
There you are, team. Don’t put the boat away yet, as the snapper are still close by and in prime condition.
