Fishing: Afternoon, evening best time to drop line in the water

Alex Mackintosh, of Mangawhai, caught this 76cm snapper off the Hen and Chicken Islands.

Late afternoon and evening are the best times to catch a fish in early August. The full moon a week ago made life hard for anglers and the cold weather makes it worse. But there are fish to be caught.

The Ahaaha Rocks are firing at times, but it is patchy; and the evening is the best time to have a bait in the water, along with plenty of berley.

Bait is outfishing lures at the moment, mainly because you have to set up a strong berley trail which means anchoring, and lures do not work well from a boat at anchor. Having said that the new small 20-gram micro jigs can be cast down-current worked back to the boat, and all fish love them. Current is essential for berley, and today's tide on the Hauraki Gulf is 3.1 metres which will bring reasonable flows.

Other areas to produce fish in the evening are off Beachlands and at the bottom end of Waiheke Island, Army Bay at Whangaparaoa, and the reefs and pinnacles around Kawau Island.

There are some crayfish at the bottom end and around the Ahaahas, and mussels for those who prefer the large wild shellfish.

As well as snapper, from small specimens during the day and better fish in the evening, there are some large kahawai and good numbers of trevally around. A generation ago trevally were regarded as good only for bait.

But trevally are now accepted for their value on the table.

When fillets are chilled and sliced thinly at an angle they are highly prized for sashimi. And a whole fish fresh from the smoker dripping juices makes fine finger food, or it can be served on crackers with cream cheese and sweet chilli sauce. The combinations are endless. There's nothing wrong with fresh trevally fillets poached in milk, or presented as fish and chips.

As an adversary on a rod and line, trevally is one of the most highly respected of all fish, as their slab sides are all muscle and they know how to use it in the current. If they grew as large as kingfish they would be unstoppable. Just talk to anyone who has been connected to a giant trevally close to a reef in the South Pacific islands. Those giants are predators, with teeth like a meat-eater; but the silver trevally which roam our waters are soft-mouthed and feed on plankton and krill, shrimps and small fish; but they will take a bait.

If trevally are the target then it is worth going to the trouble of wrapping half a mussel or a couple of tuatuas around a hook and securing it with bait elastic.

Chunks of pilchard will also attract their attention, and they are suckers for micro jigs. And if the fish is finally subdued and brought to the boat a long-handed net will ensure you get a chance to remove the hook and either slip it back over the side or rap it on the head and put it on ice.

Like john dory, trevally should never be lifted bodily out of the water on the line as the hook often pulls out.

Fresh waterYoungsters can learn how to catch a trout at the children's open fishing days at the Eastern Region Fish and Game Trout Hatchery, Paradise Valley Road, Ngongotaha.

The next open day is tomorrow, with more scheduled for September 13, October 4 and November 1.

Tuition is provided by members of the Rotorua Anglers' Association, and all tackle is provided by Kilwell. Youngsters aged 6 to 14 can try their luck at the special fishing pond, and a donation of $3 is needed for a licence.

Bookings are essential. Call the Fish and Game office on 07-3575501.

Bite timesBite times are 6.45am and 7.15pm today, and 7.40am and 8.05pm tomorrow.

More fishing action can be found on Rheem Outdoors with Geoff, 5pm today, TV3, and at GTTackle.co.nz.