1 week Ago By Grant Dixon
This is the time to target big snapper over the deeper reefs as the Waipu Cove-based crew aboard Horizon know only too well.Spring, with its snapper workup action, and autumn with the fish heading in the deeper water, are my favourite times to target our most iconic recreational species. The water is starting to cool rapidly and for those heading out wide for a gamefish, there is still action to be had.
Traditionally, the 80-100 metre line off Ocean Beach produces late-season billfish action. There are good signs this might be the case this autumn with plenty of bait present in the area. Livebaits generally fish better than lures in this situation.
This summer has been a spectacular one for those chasing the pelagics on both coasts. Marlin have been off the west coast in big numbers, with multiple hookups reported by many crews. We have enjoyed a tuna run down the eastern seaboard not seen for many years.
Yellowfin have been landed just a few minutes out from the Mangawhai bar. Anglers spotting workups first attributed the big splashes to feeding dolphin, but it was actually tuna crashing the party that were attracting their attention.Fishers targeting snapper have been surprised to hook into tuna with their ledger rigs, on jigs, and topwater lures when targeting other species.
Prudent crews have been carrying suitable tackle to take on the tuna should they present the opportunity. Trolling plastic or feather lures have not been the go-to lures this season; those towing deep diving bibbed and bibless minnows enjoyed greater success.With the cooling climate our iconic inshore species, snapper, have done the wild thing and are feeding up before heading out to the deeper water of the Hauraki Gulf.
Fortunately, they pass through our part of the world on the way.Lure fishers will often turn to bait and berley as we head into the colder months.As their metabolism slows, snapper (and other species) are less voracious in their feeding habits and sometimes this means offering them an incentive – chum and berley.
When planning a day out, think about the tides and the weather so you have, for the most part, the current and the wind in the same direction.Now is the time we start to see a few skipjack tuna appear in the area between the Hen and Chicks and the Mokohinaus. If you are still gamefishing, towing a couple of skipjack lures in the wake on bungee lines can be a good way to fill the bait freezer for those winter snapper straylining missions.
The fillets make great cut baits, and the frames can be put through the mincer to create your own berley. The heads, split down the middle, are great ‘big snapper’ baits.If kept whole, scraping the frames over the side after the fillets are removed is to snapper what the smell of a good steak cooking on the barbecue is to me – I just have to investigate it!Don’t winterise your boat and fishing tactics just yet, there are fun times ahead over the next month or so as autumn turns into winter.
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