Thread: Kaipara gurnard-any tips?

Hey guys I'm pretty keen on getting in to some kaipara gurnard. Just bought a tinny and want to take the boy over, imagine I will launch at Shelley beach. No sounder on the boat but have navionics so any spots people want to share I'd happily try otherwise pointers would be great thanks.
Cheers

@Allgood territory.

Sorry, no advice other than life jackets on everyone at all times. The strength of the tidal flow in the Kaipara takes no prisoners!

I've had good success off the concrete dolphin just north of Shelley Beach on the turn of the tide.

Been fishing on the Kaipara since I was 7 yrs old.......but for the last 20+years have been fishing over the bar..( Working on a charter boat)
From memory, launch at Shelley beach, head down the Harbour and look for the concrete marker opposite Alan Gibbs property about 6k down the channel towards the heads.. . If you go at low tide, you should be able to see the channels/guts running out from the east. That used to be the 'go to' place for both gurnard and snapper.

If launching at the Hoteo, head down the channel keeping to the left of the channel markers until you reach the island. The channel then turns northward and curves gradually to the west. Anywhere between the island and the 2 headlands as you travel west from the island can be good, esp for snapper at this time of the year. Pays to navigate the Hoteo on a low tide for the first trip so you can see the banks and take it slow.
Go to the Mangakura boat club facebook page and join up, they are a good bunch and will give you advice.
Be careful of the ramp though, at low tide there is a 6 foot drop off. Easterly winds are preferable if using the Hoteo as on a westerly it can get choppy when the wind opposes the tide.

Dont anchor in the middle of the channel though as it causes problems for the charter boat cos in places it is only 5-10 metres wide between the ramp and the island.

I have a small depth sounder in my shed somewhere that I dont use........its yours if you want it and I can find it and it still works....You can run it off a 12v burglar alarm battery from memory.

How big is your Tinny?

No idea about that area but salted baits work great on the local gurnard in the BOP

Keep a close eye on the weather and swell. Get into trouble on the kaipara and your fuked if you dont know it. Ive seen gurnard caught off the shelly beach wharf

never ceases to amaze me the good old carrot spends its days hovering the bottom but is damn good eating

All I can say is don't go out from Port Albert, that's my local haunt and no matter how many times I drag a bait off the bottom we only ever seem to get snapper & kahawai. Bloody orange things are like ghosts for us around here

Originally Posted by georgetrew

All I can say is don't go out from Port Albert, that's my local haunt and no matter how many times I drag a bait off the bottom we only ever seem to get snapper & kahawai. Bloody orange things are like ghosts for us around here

That'll be a great sport fish for the boy, especially on light gear

Also just snapper from Port Albert. And some of them have been in very poor condition

I don't fish that harbor, one thing I do know about gurnard is that using a flasher rig, as you do, and often getting a double strike, if one is a tiddler, take the keeper off, rebait and put it back down with the littlin still on. You'll be back on in moments. Must draw their attention to the bait.
Obviously if the little fella gets a bit tired after a couple of drops let him go.

Get yourself some old window sash weights for sinkers, as mentioned earlier the currents are insane.

Look at the old NZ Fising News . There was an article about John Moran a guru fisher on the Manukau with his specialised gurnard rig. Contact the mag. They may find it for you.

https://www.nzfishingworld.co.nz/pos...e-gurnard-guru