Hauraki Gulf

fishing report

November 17, 2023

Supplied by

Grant Bittle

Catch Fishing

Note: If map is showing it is created by LINZ / New Zealand Hydrographic Authority and made available by Creative Commons 3.0. Maps should not be used for navigation

The Hauraki Gulf is experiencing an exciting spring fishing season with abundant workups, whale sightings near the Mercury Islands, and promising catches of snapper and kingfish, especially around Flat Rock and the top of the Firth.

Workups are abundant in the Hauraki Gulf this spring, with exciting sightings of whales near the Mercury Islands and thrilling fishing closer to Flat Rock. The top of the Firth is also proving to be a prime spot for chasing workups, offering good catches of snapper and kingfish. When assessing snapper, look for the muscle area behind the head/shoulder/gill on the upper back; thinner, milky fleshed snapper with less muscle might be best released.

The inner areas between Whangaparaoa Peninsula and Rangitoto have been quiet recently, but this is expected to change imminently. We appreciate your continued support for Catch, a 100% NZ-owned business, and its range of products and educational seminars. We're committed to providing the latest fishing information, techniques, and top-quality gear for a fantastic summer of fishing.

Heavy leader for softbaits?

Busted off…again! What can you do? Perhaps simply a hangover of previous below-average advice (poor line, leader, drag, technique and more), or following ‘traditions’ that not longer apply, ‘fishy facts’, ‘Fakebook facts’? Lighter leader is a well known option for catching fish, but why not use HEAVY LEADER, like 300lb for a softbait? What! Sacrilege surely. Don’t get stuck in a rut, adapt to your territory and fish target. (See video on Catch Fishing Facebook and Instagram).

Evolution of Softbaiting - past, present and future. Improved rigging techniques, the latest softbait options, using SBs in new places, new and better methods of presentation, deep water SB, more effective rigs, straylining your softbaits, so many options. There’s a seminar at 12noon this Saturday in Wellington at KPMarine’s Open Day covering all this, one not to miss.

The Bait-free fishing competition pre-seminar hosted by Longshore Marine Whitianga a t the Mercury Bay Game fishing club last week was absolutely fabulous! And check out the cracker snapper caught by Mitch Anderson and Longshore Marine on the Catch 7” Livie Softbaits - such a superb lead-up to the lure-only comp.