Summer magic

Summer fishing is what most of us dream about through the rest of the year: warm, balmy days, calm seas and fish on the bite.

February and March are generally New Zealand’s warmest months with some of the most settled weather. Of course in an El Niño year, nothing is ever quite normal, but even so, we can expect some good fishing and boating weather.

Sea-surface temperatures around New Zealand usually peak in February. Water temperature greatly influences the relative abundance and mix of fish species around our shores and also the way they behave.

During summer New Zealand gets an influx of “gamefish”’ species: various marlins and tunas, spearfish, mahimahi and sometimes more exotic visitors like wahoo as well.

For most of these pelagic speedsters New Zealand is at the extreme edge of their seasonal range. Following the warm water currents, they’re usually restricted to more northerly waters and remain only as long as the sea stays warm, except for a few tuna species which can tolerate colder waters and may be present during winter as well.

While late summer and autumn is game fishing time, most of us have neither the inclination nor the patience to chase billfish and tuna. Fortunately, fishing for more mundane species can be pretty good at this time of year too. Harbours and estuaries, bays and inlets tend to be full of fish of every kind while deep reefs further offshore fish well too.

Warm water speeds up the metabolism of cold-blooded

animals like fish so they are obliged to eat more food to meet their energy requirements. That means they feed more often and for longer periods, which is good news for anglers.

BEAT THE CROWDS

Classic summer fishing is often an early morning or evening affair. Light levels are lower early and late in the day, so fish tend to be less wary. You can often find fish in shallow water, especially early in the morning before boat traffic and other disturbance chases them into deeper water.

It’s a bit harder to find a quiet spot to yourself these days, but not impossible, even close to busy cities. Putting a bit of distance between yourself and other fishers can often pay dividends, though there are times when fish are so concentrated, to catch them you will need to fish in close company with other anglers.

Snapper is the most popular target species in the north and available pretty much everywhere during summer as they take advantage of every conceivable feeding opportunity. With spawning largely behind them, snapper are hungry, which makes them easy to catch.

In summer you can catch snapper close inshore off sandy beaches and rocky coastlines, as well as inside harbours and estuaries. They will enter very shallow water but usually move deeper as the sun gets higher in the sky. Snapper can also be taken in much deeper water, usually over deep reefs, as well as out over the sand.

METHOD

FLATBREAD 1. Stir yeast and caster sugar into warm water. Leave to activate yeast for

approximately 5-10 minutes or until frothy. 2. Make a well in the flour and salt, add yeast mixture. 3. Mix and knead with well-floured hands until a smooth elastic dough is

formed (3-4 mins). 4. Let rise in a warm place in a covered oiled bowl until at least doubled in size.