Anyone got plans to go out over easter weekend? I've only got Friday arvo/night free, need some advice to make of my one day off. Any thoughts will be much appreciated
Re: Easter weekend
Posted by fringsy on 31/3/2015, 9:59 pm, in reply to "Easter weekend "
Hi Anton. Go north if you can, Mohaka, Waihua, or further. Has served me well of late while HB has been dead. I also have one day spare to fish, sunday tho. Will be doing a few k's and bombing the beach with bait. Mohaka then Waihua then not sure. Good luck.
Two short sessions in two days. Small snapper, small trevally, two nice tope and three very nice Kahawai.
Conditions were perfect and the rods were on the go all the time. The local beaches have fished very well over the last two weeks but if you are only interested in large snapper, then go north.
I have several video clips of fish being landed and all at local venues. It may seem dead to you, Fringsy, but it was all go for my wife and I. The only draw back: fish for dinner three nights running ... I am very pleased to say.
Re: Easter weekend
Posted by sportsnut on 31/3/2015, 10:24 pm, in reply to "Re: Easter weekend "
good to hear there are still some small snapper around
What do you call a good tope Hangler, good size over ten kgs, good looking, good to eat, good fun to catch or just good to catch one?The snapper don't know where the car park is! Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.
Gary, with no disrespect I will not answer your question directly. My reasoning is simple: we seem to have a totally different understanding and enjoyment of surfcasting.
I am pleased with every fish I land, the size, make or quality is of no concern, what is important is I have achieved what I set out to do ... catch fish. I have a strong interest in cooking and there are few foods better than fresh fish.
Many species that members of this board decry as rubbish fish (especially Hawkes' Bay anglers) are in fact excellent eating. However, only if the angler cares to take a little time and trouble over the catch, this especially so at the time the fish is landed. A recent thread showed a picture of a prime red cod, one member asked how far would he have to travel not to catch one? This is a classic comment, one of many that concern spiney backs, tope and other non prime species.
Red cod are a commercial proposition and they retail in local supermarkets. That particular fish in the picture would make a meal to feed a family, if treated properly people would find it difficult to tell the difference between red and blue cod.
The next time you catch a decent red cod, spend one minute on the beach and remove the fillets. Now drop these into a bucket of sea water and in a short while the meat will be firm because salt water marinades the meat. It loses all the sloppy meat texture you find when this job is left until you get home.
The tope I mentioned were gutted, trunked and skinned on the beach, then washed in sea water. The only job left for me when at home was was remove the cartilage backbone, then cut into acceptable sized pieces for cooking. We had the tope for our dinner last night, fish as it should be, truly tasty and very moreish.
I have watched anglers put their catch in a polythene bag (the best way to ruin any fresh fish) then wait until they are home before preparing the catch for the table. On lesser known species there is no better way of spoiling the fish and this before the catch has left the shore where it was landed.
So how do I define good? My answer would probably run along the lines of fish that is given the respect it deserves, from YEM's up to, and including, rays ... and all others in between.
We hit the beach again yesterday afternoon and once again returned home with a meal (three fish) to keep my wife and I very happy. Good fish, good weather, good enjoyment and a good meal ... and that is what surfcasting is all about.
Hangler you have the wrong idea. I love tope and travel to catch them. I get frustrated by the tiddlers 55g to 1 kg that come in when the big snapper show up but I have respect for bigger ones. I just wondered what size you were catching as the biggest of the year usually turn up a bit later than this.The snapper don't know where the car park is! Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.
Hangler. Nice tip on the Red Cod treatment. I have eaten the fillets in white bread sandwiches straight from the shore to the BBQ and with a bit of salt and pepper only They were very nice
Hey Gary. Last Pania Field weekend mid march I caught 5 tope all around 30 cm at Gill Road on Sunday. Mark R told me he caught 3 around Haumoana as well so they're everywhere by the sounds of it. Thats the size Ive heard of. Typical at this time of the year. Chucked them all back of course as they werent the desired species for me.
Fringsy caught this one at the Porangahau mouth on his long line a few years back.The snapper don't know where the car park is! Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.
on 30/3/2015, 9:29 pm
It may seem dead to you, Fringsy, but it was all go for my wife and I. The only draw back: fish for dinner three nights running ... I am very pleased to say.
