Fishing: Large bait good now

On the north-western side of Tiritiri Matangi Island is Bollons Rock. The reef shown on the chart is less than 150 metres southeast of the rock, the top of which is about a metre above the high water mark. Surrounded by weed, it drops to 11.5 metres on the south-west side.

Ideal conditions for here are a southerly wind with an outgoing tide at dusk. Anchor 100m south-west off the reef and set up a strong, even berley trail supplemented with ground bait to tempt the moochers out of the foul.

Use a 10kg rig with a 7/0 hook tied straight onto the line and pilchard or squid as bait. Cast back toward the reef so that the bait land just short of the foul, and stay in touch with your bait.

Deploying a large bait at this time of year is worth the effort, as 9kg plus snapper have been caught here.

Source: Bruce Duncan's Fish the Hauraki Gulf.