[yellowfin]

I am planning to make myself a few ‘rigs’ for Snapper fishing (Planning several trips this summer). Was just after suggestions on what works well surf casting in the Sounds.

Also how much luck have you guys had for how much effort?

Is it best to fish the entire ‘day’ or just ‘change of light’ or maybe incoming tides?

Also any suggestion on which ‘part’ of the sounds is most worth visiting? Thinking of fishing in Squally cove.

When I was a kid we did a bit of fishing around the Kenepuru Sound. Thinking back about 15 years we averaged about 2 Snappers every 2nd trip from the shore. When I was a bit older we did quite a bit of Boat fishing and rarely caught any fish.

[yellowfin]

i would think sevengill might have a few tips being frm up around that area

[yellowfin]

Hi

Rigs to use would diffinately have to be in the running category whether it be with a ball sinker or pulley type rig with bos sinker although these can be expensive as the oysters take a toll on your gear. The fishing can be funny at times as i have caught snapper in the stinking hot mid day sun but the best time would be change of light and even aftewr dark can be good, my best fish so far has been taken on a rising morning tide. Best baits would be mullet, pilchards or with a bit more effort piper of which there are plenty of in the sounds they just take a bit of catching. Also the best times of the year for good sized snaps is either september or again in February. Hope this helps.

[yellowfin]

Quite surprise to hear ‘September’…. I always thought the snapper fishing really only gets good from December to March.

But if there is good fishing to have in September I might be heading down there shortly Would there be fish in the Keneperu sounds during September or would I be better off heading to ‘outer pelerous’ or the area around Okiwi bay?

[yellowfin]

One problem I’ve found in the sounds is a lack of areas to get down to the waters edge! Alot of people have batches and you would have to get their permission to surfcast off their beach, which is a pain!

However, I have found a few nice little spots while up there.

The first is along from Te Mahia Bay, keep driving until you get to Tara Bay Rd and go down that. It says (did when I was there last year) “4WD only” however you can get down there, I did in my 1999 VW Golf so you’ll be fine. It’s actually a sealed rd (a little steep) and at the bottom you just pull off to the side and park. Perhaps they say 4WD only to try keep people away? LOL. There’s a jetty there in the bay which was just built last summer so is relatively new. I asked a bach owner if it’s ok to fish there and if it was private or anything and he said that it’s open to the public so go ahead as it was built by the local council.

Prob I’d go there in the evening or when it’s getting dark as by day there may be a bit of activity on the water from locals. Incomming tide of course about 2 or so hours before high tide. The end of the jetty is one of these ones that floats up and down with the tide, it’s quite big so take a chair, sit back and relax! Take some warm clothes to.

Me and my mates went down there and we all got snapper runs but bad luck meant none of us got one in, I was soo close but my fish snagged on something just before I saw it and it got off. Very gutting! Another friend had something big on and when it got to the edge of the wharf we realised it was a small eagle ray, not snapper but still fun and put up a big fight!

We all used running rigs with two hooks with some squid or pilchards, I think a really good bait though is a slice of freshly caught spottie! about 1 to 1.5 m of line then a swivle, then above that a ball sinker running freely above it. When you cast it out beyond the end of the jettie it’s a bit awkward with the sinker and all above your hooks but just do the best you can. Use a bait runner real or loosen the drag then tighten it up if you get a run.

Second place which I haven’t fished at but had a look at and looks good is just round from Portage Bay called Take in Bay. There’s almost an island there but there is a narrow bridge of land connecting the mainland. Depending on the weather you could fish either side to get the best sheltering from the wind, that would be a nice surfcasting snapper spot.

Two maps below.

[yellowfin]

Second map showing “Take in Bay”

[yellowfin]

Once for the advice. Did a bit of fishing in Take in Bay at the gap when I was a kid with my parents. On one occassion we did get several powerful runs. Back then I mainly played on the beach, we found a stick insect there one night. I think we had rods out on both sides.

One place that I use to fish as a child is Boat Shed bay. There is a track which leads down to the beach. Although it is private. But you can also park on the side of the road and walk down through a grove of large mature trees (Pines and Gums I think). Caught a few fish there also.

We also did a bit of fishing around the Kenepuru Head. Quite a few DOC camp grounds in that area. Was quite unproductive if I remember quickly.

The above all happened maybe 10-15 years ago. Also my dad did very ‘basic’ rigs. I think he used a sinker on the end then did a couple of overhead knots to make loops where he attached two hooks. Although easy to do these knots do weaken the line by quite a bit.

[yellowfin]

I found the best time of the year to target snapper from the shore in the inner sounds was from January onwards.That was when they were starting to make an appearence in the real shallow parts of the mahau sound (havelock) and the inner reaches of the Queen Charlotte sound right upto the head (the Grove/Anakiwa area)

Same deal,shallow muddy bays that are rich in food and calm on the sh*ttiest of days.

On the Mahau side,Cullens pt and on the northern side of the Mahau,Shag pt and Kaiuma bay all produced quite alot of snapper earlier this year and no sh*t I saw a 12 pounder get taken out of 2 metres of water one night up them ways.

Fishing those parts does require timing though.Preferabally incoming through high tide maybe upto an hour or two after slack tide if its quite a high tide,3 metres is a big tide if I remember correctly.And high tide after dark also.I generally dont bother with these parts unless the high tides after 10pm.I mean being mid summer it doesnt get dark until half 9 and these

[yellowfin]

Hi

Yip September is a time when they are there but im talking mainly about the big moochers of 10 lbs plus and they do take alot of time and patience but they are there at that time, a friend targets this time of the year and then gives it in till february. But if your after a feed then the shoalies are there more from December onto March. As far as locations go if you were to stop and have a look at any nice looking bay up the kenepuru ud find that there is most like a cut track to the beach some where off the road sometimes they are well kept from the road to prvent every joeblow using them but my advice would be to spend half a day and ud be amazed what access ud find.

[yellowfin]

A spot I scoped out on a long drive out the sounds.Looked appealing with a small reefy type bit jutting out towards the mussel farm with in deep water and that farm wouldnt of been 30 metres offshore.It was definatly cod country and maybe snapper at right time of year.Remember to find nearest house and ask permission to cross if it looks to be private property.

[yellowfin]

I have never really heard of Snapper being caught in the inner Queen Charlotte (excluding stories from long ago). Do you think it is as productive as the keneperu?

Bigfish. Do you think it would be worthwhile trying for a big fellow in the kenepuru / Inner Pelorus during september?

[yellowfin]

Been thinking. During the summer when the weather is ‘bad’ the best option would be to find a nice sheltered food reach bay in the Sounds.

When the weather is fine head down to the east coast beaches and target sharks?

[yellowfin]

If i had the time i would give it a go myself so yea if u have the time and dedication to spend some hours waiting then i dont see why not, my best fish yet was taken

[yellowfin]

I cant really compare the two.Ive caught snapper in both.My biggest came from Karaka pt in the Queen charlotte about 1km drive north from Waikawa bay.Now thats not right in there and I havnt caught millions of snapper but I can say that the inner Queen Charlotte and Mahau have produced more snapper from the shore than the Kenepuru and pelorus for me.

The Kenepuru is an awesome sound especially if you are holidaying up there I once stumbled across a good school of trevally up there and got a few out of it and that just made my day considering id never caught or heard of trevally up them ways before and there was no snapper that day.The thing is there doesnt seem to be a helluva variety of fish up there outside of snapper season and even when it is prime time Ive

[yellowfin]

Sevengill

[Author]

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