For the rock angler, casting floating baits of fresh mullet, jack mackerel, kahawai or pilchards will work. Berley will also increase the chances of success and a berley bag is easily employed and anchored with a rope around a sharp rock.
The land-based game fishermen who specialise in catching large kingfish also do well at this time of year, concentrating on the occasional large specimen. They use berley to attract bait fish like kahawai and mackerel, then deploy the live bait under a balloon which is cast out.
Choosing the location is important and, as with all fishing, local knowledge is invaluable. But if fishing a new area, a visit at low tide will reveal details of the underwater topography. The elements to look for are a channel and guts, weed beds and currents. A point protruding out from the shore will always hold more fish than a sheltered bay nearby.
The cold, unstable weather of mid-winter makes safety precautions even more important than in summer; with lifejackets, warm clothing and a hand-held VHF radio or cellphone in a waterproof cover standard equipment on a boat.
Rock fishermen should always watch the sea, for the best fishing is where white water and currents stir the water, but the occasional rogue wave can catch out an unwary person. Warm clothing and boots do not make for great buoyancy so a life jacket makes good sense. Some will even use a light rope to anchor themselves as an extra precaution. An awareness of the tide is also important, for the best time to fish for kingfish is at low tide but of course six hours later the water line will be 2-3m higher. The high tide mark is usually clearly delineated by dark weed on the rocks. An escape route if cut off should be identified in advance.
Fresh water
There has been some great fly fishing in the Hinemaiaia Stream, at Hatepe on Lake Taupo, where the spawning runs started in late April and really took off in the first three weeks of May. One angler reported catching 10 trout in top condition ranging from 1.6kg to 2kg and lost several much bigger ones over a few days days from the rip and in the stream up to the first main bend in the river.
The Tongariro River and the Tauranga-Taupo and Waitahanui Rivers are all fishing well this winter, and the rain this weekend will no doubt trigger more runs of trout from the lake. The fresh-run fish are always the best to catch, both in terms of their condition and their willingness to take a fly. While a tiny nymph representing a natural one cast upstream, often in conjunction with a small globug, is the preferred approach in low, clear water, the traditional downstream wet fly works well when the water is discoloured after rain. The red setter, rabbit and woolly bugger patterns are popular with a short trace for this style of fishing.
Tip of the Week
When casting soft baits among rocks and white water, the lure should be dropped as close to the edge as possible, then allowed to sink a little before retrieving with short jerks of the rod while winding in the slack line. As with bait fishing, keeping in touch with the lure is a critical part of the process. Fish will sometimes grab the lure while it is sinking so the line should be kept tight so a bite will be felt.
Baits can be allowed to sink slowly, but if left too long will snag among weed so should be moved slowly by lifting the rod and carefully taking up the slack with the reel. For the strike, steady pressure is better than a sudden heave on the rod.
Bite times
Bite times are 12.15pm today, and 12.50am and 1.20pm tomorrow. More fishing action can be found at GTTackle.co.nz.
