How to fish with soft baits

Get a full run down on the basics of soft bait and soft plastic fishing, including the techniques explained to help you go out and be successful with this style. Learn about sink rates and staying in touch during the decent plus more with pro angler Rob Fort.

Here's a complete step-by-step guide to using micro jigs. Learn the techniques to be successful at catching fish with four methods explained in detail including easy to follow instructional diagrams.

The Japanese invented micro jigs, and have also developed some specific techniques for fishing them. These little lures are deadly in NZ waters, particularly on snapper. Check out this great technique instruction, it's in Japanese but has full subtitles.

Join Adan Clancy from Fishy Business and Ben Pokaia for top tips for jigging and top water fishing for Bay Of Plenty Kingfish.

It was chaos! the pack of Kingfish erupted on the surface splaying froth and panicking baitfish in every direction. Words can’t even describe the sight as I grabbed my topwater gear and belted a quick cast into the riot. Fish were flying all over the surface and after a couple of winds ‘booom’! As line peeled off the wailing Stella all I could do was watch and hang on. With 15kgs of drag locked on it was one of those moments where the sheer excitement was overriding the pain of every muscle screaming to hold fast. After a tough, twenty-minute tug-o-war the fish finally turned, and I was able to coax him up. Kingfish are brutal on any gear, but on the longer topwater rods they have a leverage advantage and as an angler, you get to feel every bit of the fight even more than on normal jigging gear. When the fish appeared it was as much a relief as anything, and I knew this was around a 30kg PB straight away. Such a magnificent fish deserved to go back to get even bigger, so after a few snaps he was back over the side leaving me with that exhausted and elated feeling. Did that really happen?

Watch now: Grant 'Espresso' Bittle and Catch pro angler Edward Uhai Lee share some expert knowledge with hints, tips and technique advice to help you with your artificial bait game. Recorded live at the 2019 Hutchwilco Boat Show. Enjoy.

In June, Fisheries New Zealand and the Department of Conservation announced decisions on a revised Hector’s and Māui dolphins Threat Management Plan. Hector’s and Māui dolphins are among the world’s rarest dolphins. They face a range of human-induced threats, including fishing, seismic surveying and the disease toxoplasmosis. As a result of these decisions, on 1 October 2020, new fisheries measures took effect restricting commercial and recreational set-net and commercial trawl fishing off the west coast of the North Island, and commercial and recreational set-net fishing off the north, south and east coasts of the South Island. In addition, drift netting will be prohibited in all New Zealand waters.

Here is the best sabiki rig tutorial video we have seen. Excellent tips for rigging, storage and use of the sabiki rig to maximise your opportunity to catch livies. Even if you are well experienced in using sabikis, there's a tip or two in here you may have missed.

Check out the deluxe groper rigs full how-to video from Mark Cotton.

Freshwater anglers are eagerly anticipating the start of the new trout and salmon fishing season, which begins on October 1. Early reports indicate there is some excellent fishing to be had this coming season. Licences are available now and the photo on the licence was the winner of the 2020 Fish & Game Fishing Licence Photo competition. Take your camera with you when you go fishing because the competition will begin again in January 2021 with more spectacular prizes to be had. "Getting your licence signals that winter is over, spring is here, and Christmas is coming, which means your favourite little stream, lake or river will be open soon for fishing," Fish & Game New Zealand Chief Executive Martin Taylor says. With more Kiwis holidaying at home this year the time is right to have a go at fishing when you are camping, tramping or just visiting your local lake, river or stream. "Kiwis are exploring New Zealand like never before. Every river you cross is a fishing opportunity. "New Zealand is one of the world's great fishing countries. Our lakes, rivers, and backcountry streams all offer fantastic opportunities to fish for brown and rainbow trout. In the South Island, you can also fish for salmon in many places. "You are never far from the action."

The boys find themselves in the right place at the right time. Gannets diving have given away a pack of hunting kingfish

Suzuki powered and fully loaded. Here's the latest on the Lateral Line boat build