Soft Bait Fishing New Zealand
Softly, softly
Historically, New Zealand snapper fishing involved mostly natural bait, heavy sinkers and monofilament lines. Drop the anchor and drop the bait. Then came softbaits, jerkshads, swimming mullet and minnow — all terms that, a few years ago, were the reserve of American bass anglers. But the advent of braid (dynema) line has given the angler the ability to get a small jighead (lead-weighted hook) to the sea bed with, for example, a 5 inch softbait, a method that perfectly suits our conditions.
The soft bait looks like a fish, swims like a fish and has scented attractants that encourage fish to keep biting. Snapper, once thought to be scavengers, we now know are predatory — striking and actually pursuing softbaits, which is one of the reasons why soft baits are so effective. Anglers using this method report catching larger fish and in places they had never caught fish previously.
Here’s how:
Most soft bait fishing is done on the drift.
Cast to where the boat is drifting (generally over structure or rises that hold fish, over the Waitemata worm beds early season or in work-ups of baitfish with snapper feeding underneath).
Find the sea bed with the lure, keep the slack out of the line and give the lure a slight twitch as you slowly retrieve the line as the boat drifts towards the lure.
Fish often take on the drop so an overhead reel, although not widely used, is better suited for this style of fishing.
Most use a small spinning reel with a capacity of 150m of braid, usually top shot with braid and with a monofilament backing; a 7 foot rod that’s not to stiff but with some lift in the butt section; for leader about 1.5 to 2 meters of fluorocarbon trace of 15-20lb breaking strain (fluorocarbon has good abrasion resistance and low visibility).
Go FISH has the widest and most technical range of softbait tackle in New Zealand, and we are always happy with tuition in tackle and techniques www.gofish.co.nz
About the Author
Greg Hill, owner of Go fish tackle kicking against the flood of low-quality unreliable fishing tackle on the market, sources here and overseas to hand-pick a range of the best fishing tackle available. Everything is exceptionally well-priced, with absolutely no compromise in quality – guaranteed. “I’ve built the kind of shop that I want to visit,” he says. “Somewhere where you don’t have to trawl through a load of junk to find the good stuff. A place to just swing by and see what’s new.”
Greg has been in the wholesale and retail sports trade since the 70s. He was founder and owner of one of the first specialist tackle stores in the country, in Whakatane, New Zealand’s premiere tackle store 80s and 90s. He developed the original ‘duck egg’ trolling lure, among other products now widely used. He was also the original importer of Calstar rods. He knows what he’s on about. “I’m just into fishing — everything from game fishing to sitting on the wharf with my daughter catching sprats.” He still holds a 6kg NZ Skipjack record and includes many days fishing at the Ranfurly, and Three kings, and sitting in a 12″ tinny at Browns Bay as favourite fishing moments.
|
|
SUF PERF BRAID GN 300YD 100LB SUFFIX PER BRAID GREEN 300 YD 100 LB… |
|
|
SUFIX PERFORM BRAID 25LB GRN SUFIX PERFORM BRAID 25LB GRN… |
|
|
Symetre 2500 FJ Spinning Reel $82.49 Loaded with premium features, the smooth operating, high-grade Shimano Symetre 2500 FJ spinning fishing reel is still nicely affordable. Perfect for both freshwater and saltwater angling adventures, it features Shimano’s innovative, line twist reducing Propulsion Line Management System as well as the Fluidrive II system for a more efficient and powerful retrieval with less effort. It also offers a… |
|
|
Sea Hunter 1000M SPECTRA Super Braid (1093 yds) (50LB GREEN) $45.95 Sea Hunter Brand Spectra Braid is guaranteed to be thin and super strong. Satisfaction is guaranteed or your money back…. |
|
|
Sea Hunter 300M SPECTRA Super Braid (328 yds) (30LB, Green) $19.95 Sea Hunter Brand SPECTRA Braid is guaranteed to be thin and super strong. Satisfaction is guaranteed or your money back…. |
|
|
Guide to Saltwater Fishing Knots for Gear & Fly Fishing: Knots for Super Braid, Dacron, Braid and Monofilament Lines $2.21 Saltwater fish have razor-sharp, bone-crushing teeth that can shred a leader, tippet, or knot in no time. Between their teeth and the enormous strength and speed of these fish, the use of well-constructed knots is a must. In this book, Notley shares 47 knots sure to keep fish on your line, including: 15 knots for joining lines; 9 for attaching lines to flies and 5 for loops; 8 loop knots; 10 super… |
|
|
Rod Harrison’s Braid & Gelspun Superlines $15.61 Anyone who has ever asked…What are superlines? will find the answer in this book as Rod Harrison explains why and how superlines have revolutionized fishing as we know it. This book clearly details braiding techniques, how they affect performance and why you might want to avoid or buy a specific product. Other chapters include rigs and how to fight a large variety fish. The angler is offered nec… |
|
|
Geoff Wilson’s Guide to Rigging Braid, Dacron & Gelspun Lines $9.17 … |
|
|
Gerber Large Braided Fishing Line Scissors $10.50 … |
|
|
Power Pro Microfilament Line $240.99 PowerPro is the Premier Micro Braid fishing line available. It has a pateneted body enhancing process that enables the angler to utilize standard knots, reduces line tangle, does not damage guides, casts farther, aborbs less water, does not dig itself into your reel, is equally suitable for either spinning or casting applications, almost complete lack of stretch provides extreme sensitivity… |
|
|
Momoi’s Diamond Braid Braided Fishing Line – Brown – 15 lb. – Terminal $36.99 Improved strength 3% stretch Bonded color-fastness Decreased twist and longer life Perfect roundness Momoi&8217;s Diamond Braid’s improved strength, 3% stretch, and bonded color-fastness ensures decreased twist and longer life. Perfect roundness keeps line from knifing through spools. Improved strength 3% stretch Bonded color-fastness Decreased twist and longer life Perfect roundness Momoiamp;8217;s Diamond Braid’s improved strength, 3% stretch, and bonded color-fastness ensures decreased twist and longer life. Perfect roundnes |
|
|
***FAST TRACK***Zebco Omniflex Braid, 20 lb $7.96 Zebco Omniflex Braid: Premium quality line at an affordable price Easy to use All purpose fishing line 20 lb test weight .011″ diameter 8 lb monofilament equivalent |
|
|
Abu Garcia Orra S Spinning Reel $69.96 Abu Garcia Orra S Spinning Reel: 6 stainless steel HPCR bearings plus 1 roller bearing provide increased corrosion protection 1-piece gear box design allows for more precise gear alignment for smoother operation Machined aluminum braid ready spool allows braid to be tied directly to the spool without any slip Hybrid Carbon Matrix drag system provides smooth, consistent drag pressure across the entire drag range Slow oscillation provides even line lay with all types of line X-Craftic alloy frame for increased corrosion resistance Duragear brass gear for extended gear life Everlast bail system for improved durability Stainless steel main shaft and components for improved corrosion resistance |
