Hunting & Fishing New Zealand, North Shore

IT'S GREAT FISHING OUT THERE - DAVE AND PETE LEAD BY EXAMPLE!
Store co-owners David Scott and Peter Francis love the outdoors, which is one of the main reasons why they bought this store together. They're pretty good at their outdoor pursuits, too. This was demonstrated while on a recent Hauraki Gulf fishing trip, with both of them catching old-fashioned 'double-figure plus' fish (over 10lb) after an exciting session spent casting soft-baits into the reefy shallows, with staff member Mark Kitteridge also contributing.

Even better, the guys say the work-ups are insane right now, especially in 40-55m depths, with dolphins, gannets and whales galore, accompanied by heaps of snapper (and reportedly kingfish) underneath, so although they let most of the shallows snapper go, especially the big ones, they caught enough for their food requirements in just 20 minutes amongst the work-up chaos on their way home!

Yep, shallow or deep, it's all on, and Saturday is looking very promising, so come in and see us for all your fishing needs, as we love our fishing, from the bosses downwards!

WE’VE GOT GREAT WEATHER AND AWESOME FISHING OPPORTUNITIES!

Sure, it’s a bit harder to get out of a warm bed right now, but these calm winter days offer some exciting fishing opportunities, from increasing numbers of gurnard on bait and lures, to snapper in the shallows and on micro-baiting tackle, through to kings under the gannets and monster bluefin tuna down off Waihau Bay. And, of course, the trout are in full swing down in the Rotorua and Taupo regions, too!

So let’s look deeper into some of these opportunities…

Gurnard: These guys are moving in, replacing many of the smaller snapper that have gone deeper. Although the west coast harbours are best known for gurnard, there are plenty off the East Coast Bays, too. Most fishers target them in 10-20 metres of water using berley pots set a metre off the bottom and 3/0-4/0 flasher-type rigs baited with slim strip baits of skipjack (‘bonito’) or mullet, hooked just once. However, small 3-4” soft-baits deployed while drifting on light tackle can be super-effective too, especially curly-tail types in brown (Pumpkinseed/New Penny), orange (Takasagi/Atomic Sunrise) or pink (Creaming Soda/Laguna Shrimp). Keep soft-bait jig-heads small - ideally no bigger than 2/0 and 1/2oz in weight.

Trevally and kahawai: The pannie snapper might have largely vacated the estuaries and harbours, but it’s still possible to have a lot of fun on trevally and kahawai in these areas, especially if berley is used. However, trevally have a small mouth and the kahawai tend to be of modest size (perfect for eating incidentally!), so keep gear light and baits small - just slim strip baits of mullet/skipjack or chunks of pilchard presented on 3/0 flasher rigs armed with recurve hooks.

BIG snapper in the shallows: This is the time to berley up big time and have a go for those big boys! The cooler water temperatures mean berley is critical, attracting the bigger snapper still remaining and getting them in the mood to eat; the good news is that the cooler water temperatures mean the frozen berley bombs last quite a bit longer. Whole mackerel baits often do the job on trophy snaps, but there are times where pilchard chunks prove more attractive, especially if the berley trail is being supplemented with occasional chunks, too. These added chunks can make a big difference to success at times, and this is true whether you fish from a boat or off the rocks. Or, of course, it's possible to have a go with soft-baits on ¼-1/2oz jig-heads. We find the tougher soft-baits such as Z-Man and Bait Ju**ie tend to withstand the reef-dwelling pickers such as wrasse, leatherjackets and squid much better, so the soft-baits remain looking like fish rather than apple cores, but there’s no denying Gulp products can get bites when nothing else does; with that in mind, those using the other tougher brands need to provide extra flavour interest by regularly adding Secret Sauce or Pro Cure greasy additives to them, or snapper can be quick to spit them out.

More modest sized snapper (and trevally and kahawai and gurnard!) on micro-baiting and micro jigging gear: When the fishing is tough, it often pays to go small. The cooler water temperatures slow the snapper metabolism, making them less hungry and more attracted to smaller baits and lures - which, in turn, means a wider range and size of other fish species are encountered. Try using light 7’6”-8’6” rods with 3-6kg capabilities, accompanied by 2500-size reels loaded with 8-10lb braid connected to 12lb fluoro leaders. When armed with 2.5-4” soft-baits on ⅛-1/4oz jig-heads, they are a lot of fun to use and super effective - and they can attract surprisingly big fish at times, too. Or tie a 14-28g jig on and either cast out and jiggle it back like a soft-bait, either on the bottom or mid-water, using small, jerky movements midwater or just off the bottom, depending on the type of sea floor. Deadly.

Gannet work-ups: These are still occurring at times, and the fishing can be spectacular. For kingfish jiggers though, it is the best opportunity to tangle with 8-15kg fish in good numbers; 200-300g jigs in pink or pink-blue colours are very consistent, but green-yellow, blue-yellow or brown-lumo have their moments, too.

Squid fishing: The squid are getting bigger all the time, and now 2.5” Yamash*ta jigs are replacing the smaller 2’s, and even 3” models are not a silly option, as they cast further, covering more area. We use more natural colours during the day and when the water is clear at night, but high-vis options can be better when the water is murky or when fishing at night. Better results are often attained if a UV torch is used to activate these jigs’ UV capabilities, but don’t expect to see any difference in them yourself, as humans cannot detect UV, only fish can! Places such as Murrays Bay Wharf, under the Auckland Harbour Bridge, Devonport Wharf, Takapuna Boat Ramp and along Ti Rakau Drive are some of the better known spots, but anywhere with some w**d and rocks are potentially suitable.

BLUEFIN TUNA! We’ve all been waiting for these fantastic fish to return, and now it’s happening, with the first reports coming in of some decent fish caught at night on jigs. If you want to do the same, or maybe troll lures during the day, come in and see us for the right gear and advice.

Finally, the trout are in full cry right now, charging up the Taupo and Rotorua rivers and streams to spawn - and guess what, we can sort out all those requirements, too!

Proposed intertidal zone restrictions: Auckland and Coromandel

HAVE YOUR SAY ON A COMMONSENSE APPROACH TO AUCKLAND'S AND COROMANDEL'S INTERTIDAL ZONE PROTECTION BY 5PM TOMORROW!

There's no doubt about it, our huge areas of rocky foreshore are no longer an environments bristling with life, instead looking scarily empty. That's why we need to look after them and hopefully help them return to a healthy state. Our friends at LegaSea has this to say on the subject:

"After decades of inaction, officials are finally reacting to public pressure to do something meaningful to protect the intertidal zone from total depletion. We hope it's not too late.
The intertidal zone is where the whelks, catseyes, limpets and crabs cling. They cling hard to the rocks because they want to stay there when the tide comes in or goes out. Sadly, our fishing regulations haven't kept pace with the way that people are now harvesting these critters, so for years people have been using wire brushes, spades and knives to pluck all life from the rocks, then finishing it off with piano wire to make sure nothing is left behind.
LegaSea supports a review of the rules that apply to shellfish gathering, leaving the intertidal zone alone and maintaining reasonable public access to species that are capable of sustaining themselves.
..
Auckland's intertidal ecosystems in and around rockpools are in measurable decline. Long-term monitoring by the Auckland Council has reported falling populations of cats eyes, limpets, chitons and periwinkles across the Hauraki Gulf, driven by a combination of harvest pressure, sedimentation, and marine heatwaves.
Fisheries New Zealand is consulting on major new restrictions on recreational shellfish and invertebrate gathering along the Auckland (east and west) and Coromandel coastlines. Our fisheries management team is drafting a joint submission for the New Zealand Sport Fishing Council, NZ Underwater and the NZ Angling & Casting Association.
The Auckland and Coromandel coastline is not a one-size-fits-all. The east coast, west coast, and Coromandel each face different levels of pressure, different ecological profiles, and different access characteristics, and our submission recommendations reflect that.
We are supporting a partial intertidal closure, but with important modifications. A blanket ban is not the solution. The closure needs to target rocky shore species actually under pressure: cats eyes, whelks and periwinkles. Species like rock lobster, pāua, scallops and squid are already managed under dedicated frameworks or there is no sustainability concern.

Our key asks:
* Daily bag limits based on evidence. We are supporting reduced recreational daily bag limits for p**i, tuatua, mussels and kina, plus new limits for paddle crabs, octopus, sea cucumbers, shrimps and squid - species that currently have no limit at all.

* A review period. A closure with no end date is just a locked gate. We are pushing for a formal review of the measures within five years, once Fisheries NZ's new monitoring programme is completed and the results are published. If the programme is extended, this will be completed in 2-3 years.

* Address all ecosystem effects. Harvest restrictions alone won't fix the problem. Sedimentation, stormwater and marine heatwaves are all driving decline. Cheltenham Beach has been closed to shellfish harvest since 1993, a stark reminder that harvest restrictions alone cannot undo damage driven by land-based pollution and degraded water quality. We are asking officials to work with local councils on land-based stressors alongside any fishing restrictions.

The vast majority of fishers are doing the right thing; compliance in Auckland was 93% in 2025. Any response must be proportionate to that reality. Recreational fishers ought to retain reasonable access to gather species that are not at risk. A well-designed closure will protect what needs protecting without completely locking responsible people out.

We encourage you to read Fisheries NZ's proposals here and have your say by 5 pm this Friday, June 12.

Email your submission to [email protected]

N.B. There is a template for your letter if needed by on the LegaSea website ...

WORTHY NZ BAIT MASTERS 2026 WINNER!

Super keen Far North fisho Teghan Errington really earned his Average Length Snapper prize. Launching out of Rangiputa and fishing by himself in unpleasant conditions, he overnighted in his little FC430 tinny, using a blue camp-stretcher to sleep on.

In the process he caught four nice kingfish on kahawai live baits, keeping just one; to fit it in his bin he cut the head off and gutted it, but when weighed later it still came in at 17kg!

The next day was dedicated to snapper, and this was when he caught the winning fish, with $1000 worth of tackle from our store being part of the big prize!

HAURAKI GULF FISHING REPORT

The weather patterns might be a bit of a rollercoaster at the moment, but the fishing can often make up for all the frustration, especially as there is so much variety on offer.
Perhaps the most exciting aspect is the greater frequency of massive pilchard work-ups, with blizzards of gannets often accompanied by dolphins and a whale or three. As you might expect, there are usually snapper of all sizes underneath, along with some good kingfish between eight and 15 kilos. And, to add interest, there can also be some nice trevally at times and even the odd gurnard - both welcome bonuses. Most of this activity can be found in the area between Anchorite and Coromandel in 40-55m, but around Little Barrier can be good, too.
It’s hapuku, bass and bluenose time as well, encouraging some of the more seaworthy vessels to head wider to the deeper foul out from Great Barrier and the Mokes. However, although the ‘puka have moved in shallower, you’ll still need to start in around 100 metres, then head deeper if necessary; bluenose can be in 400-500m and are often well off the bottom. Broadbill swordfish tend to be found in the same sort of areas and now is the time to target these amazing fish using deep-drop techniques - but be ready for what could be a very tough battle with these beasts!
As for those fishers who prefer to fish a little closer, although many of the snapper have moved out of the estuary and harbour shallows now, the reefy shallows are still proving productive. Both bait fishing and soft-baiting are doing the damage, especially in 2-15m depths; some of the snapper encountered are VERY big!
This is good news for the shore-based guys, with many of the East Coast Bays rock fishers reporting good numbers of snapper (and big kahawai), although most are in the 25-40cm range; these pan-sized snapper are especially susceptible to pilchard chunks at this time of year!
Otherwise, try a bit of squid fishing. Squid have just a one-year life cycle, and although there is some overlapping involved, the majority have now reached a size that makes them worth targeting, with Yamash*ta jigs in size 2.5” taking over the smaller 2” models, enabling better casting to cover the area more effectively. Try the more natural colours during the daylight and/or when the water is clear, with the brighter colours taking over when the water’s murkier. There’s a good reason why there are so many different colours in the range though - you never know what might appeal on the night (or day!). Avoid areas affected by fresh water after significant rainfall, as squid are very sensitive to this and will not be around.
The gurnard have arrived. Although this is to be expected in the Manukau and Kaipara Harbours right now, it is also possible to target them off the East Coast Bays in 10-15 metres of water. They are partial to small cut baits of skipjack tuna or pilchard chunks, but twitching small soft-baits along the bottom can be even more effective at times.
Finally, the odd bluefin tuna encounter has already been reported out of Gisborne, so it won’t be long before these hard-fighting and delicious fish are available off Waihau Bay and Bay of Plenty once more, so get ready now!

We have the staff members and the gear to sort out whatever you need, or offer good advice, so come in and see us!

PICS (left to right) Good friend of the store, David Akeroyd, with a nice hapuku caught in the outer Hauraki Gulf; staff member Mark Kitteridge with a decent catch-and-release snapper around 7kg pulled from the shallows on a soft-bait.