KEY POINTS:
No doubt about it, it's pretty darn tough out there at the moment.
Snapper fishing in the Gulf can best be described as 'patchy'.
Translation - if you happen to be sitting above a patch of fish it's pretty damn good. If not, it's tough going. Time to either crank open the lid on the chilly bin and settle in, or set the anchor boy about his work and try another spot.
Local charter operators report fairly good fishing, which they expect to get a lot better in the coming weeks and months. But it's fair to say we weekend warriors have been having a tough time of it.
My trip out last Saturday is probably typical of the experience many are having at the moment. After cruising confidently out of Half Moon Bay, past the 30 or 40 boats that didn't seem to be catching much in the Rakino Channel, and on past the Ahas to Secret Spot X (which last time out delivered one at 5 1/2kg and three around the 1 1/2kg mark in 30 minutes), we were somewhat surprised to haul in a grand total of two 35cm snapper over about two hours.
Even more surprising, Secret Spot X wasn't so secret any more, with half a dozen boats joining us within 10 minutes of the anchor dropping.
After checking carefully for the presence of bananas/women on board (negative on both counts), we decided to move to Secret Spot Y.
There's no point telling you where it is - it yielded not a bite, nor did a short sortie to the foul around D'Urville Rock.
It wasn't until we switched to winter tactics and got in close off Waiheke and berleyed back to a reef in 15 metres of water that we really enjoyed any decent action. Even then, only another couple of pan-sized fish found their way into the bin, with the day really being saved by a personal-best trevally of about 3 1/2kg that had to be coaxed off the reef after slamming a bait and tearing around like David Tua at a cake stall.
"Patchy is the way to describe it," says Lance Paniora of Smokin Reels charters. "If you have a damn good look around the show you will get on to them but patchy is definitely the word of the moment."
The run of cold sou'westers before Christmas has taken its toll on the fishing, he says.
"It will pick up but you've just got to be patient or look around. If you do the long, hard yards you'll catch fish."
Paniora took a half-day charter out on Thursday for a return of 17 fish up to the 2.2kg mark for three anglers, but he had to try four spots.
"The places we normally fish this time of year haven't really sparked up yet. You might stop on an absolutely great piece of sign on the sounder but only get two or three fish out of it. Then you can go back [to the same spot] in the evening and absolutely slaughter them.
"We have had some good sessions but it just hasn't been consistent."
The good news is the best months are ahead and the better fishing in close should continue for some time.
"What is happening now is very similar to what was happening last year and we were still fishing the Rangitoto Channel in May. February, March and April will be the premium fishing time."
Eugen de Bruyn, who operates Sea Genie, reports good fishing out from North Shore.
"We've been fishing up along the East Coast Bays and there are plenty of school snapper up there, through to the four-pound stuff. There are loads of them," says de Bruyn, who suggests anglers try anywhere from North Head up to Takapuna, on the edge of the channel.
"The fish are right in the harbour," he says.
"The water has warmed up nicely. It can be a little bit quiet in the middle of the day but it is pretty good in the morning and afternoon.
"It has been cold and the fish have been pretty picky but they are coming on now. It is a bit off and on but they are right in the harbour.
"It's quite surprising how close they are."
The hole off Torpedo Bay inside North Head can be quite a good spot at this time of year, says de Bruyn.
