In a word: Kingfish+

Kingfish have announced their presence loud and clear in the Gulf and its surrounds, anglers lucky enough to be out there right now are grinning like orca. Whether you’ve been specifically hunting kingfish or simply chasing snapper and been ambushed by a green torpedo, the kings are on.

Spot X for kings? Near or Far? Yes. That all depends entirely on where you launch from. The inner Waitematā has been holding anchovy schools — fleeting, here-one-day-gone-the-next stuff — but enough to draw in packs of hungry kingfish.

For those fishing off the North Shore bays, Rangitoto and the Whangaparaoa peninsula lately, the annual anchovy influx is delivering proper thrills. Kayaks, tinnies, land-based — all chasing the terns, the bait, the kahawai… and then the unmistakable swirl of a kingfish blowing up the surface. That moment when the bait panics and the water erupts — it never gets old.

Huge congrats to Bram (pictured), and son Oslo's patient expertise to land this stunner kingfish off the Auckland North Shore bays on softbait.

And how good is it to see legal sized kingfish right on our doorstep? Whether you’re a seasoned angler or a young gun, hooking a kingfish within sight of walkers, runners, dogs, and the morning commute is the kind of memory that sticks for life.

Some catches are planned. Many are not. And honestly — who cares.

Imagine being just 10 years old, softbait trolling behind the boat, when a marauding kingfish decides your lure is the perfect snack. That was Bram and his son Oslo and crew — pure, fizzing chaos and a team approach required. Light tackle screaming, just 20lb leader, line peeling like Usain Bolt out of the blocks, then gaining, then losing, then gaining again, 20 minutes of nervous bliss. That’s the stuff that imprints itself forever. Well done team Oslo and Dad (pictured)!

Further out (from Auckland city), the kings are just as fired up. Mid-gulf bait schools — pilchards especially — have been captivating kingfish. Push out to Colville, Great Barrier, the pins around Gt Barrier, and you’ll find more of the same: autumn kings feeding hard, giving anglers all the thrills and spills they can handle.

And how about Jaxson Stuart with this fine kingfish specimen, caught further out over a Spot X

pin, well done indeed!

@JaxsonStuart - taming another big green machine!

As mentioned in the last report, the cooler-water feeding mode was due to kick in any day… and it did just that. Within days: disco. pilchard-based workups, whales and dolphins east/NE of Flat Rock, the whole food chain lit up. A sight for sore eyes after the sluggish snapper of late summer.

Right now might genuinely be the most productive time of year to fish.

Pretty much no matter what your preferred style of fishing is.

Baitfish around the edges = kingfish + kahawai + snapper waking up.

Mid-ground = snapper on the chew, not every drop a winner, but plenty to take home.

Kahawai everywhere = light-tackle heaven.

Try something new: SWF, microjigs, slow pitch, topwater, bibbed divers — opportunities are everywhere.

Skipjack are out in the deep channels like Colville — wildly fun and criminally ignored by most Aucklanders. And they’re not ignored by striped marlin. Yes, marlin nosing into the outer Gulf. Imagine hooking a marlin in sight of Auckland, now that’s icing on the cake.

Easter weekend adventure option, land-based kahawai loving inshore anchovies!

A Moment From This Morning

While finishing this report earlier, something caught my eye — a few terns working just off my local beach. That was all the invitation I needed. I grabbed a rod and went down for what turned into a wonderful hour of land‑based nirvana. Kahawai were herding anchovies right into the shallows, rods bending, baitfish airborne, pure autumn magic.

And as often happens, a moment like that pulls you straight back to where it all began. I remembered my very first kahawai — caught on my mother's split cane/bamboo rod somewhere on the Kaipara 50 years ago, Dad guiding me all the way as a kid, today was his birthday.

What magic family/friend fishing memories are you about to make?

So yes — April is the month where anything can happen. Mackerel to marlin and everything in between. Take all the gear so you can adapt to whatever Mother Nature throws at you.

Or go in with a plan:

• A burley session

• Lures for kings

• Or a mixed bag of everything

Most importantly: turn the phone off. Escape the noise. Let the fishing experience reset your head. These are the days you’ll remember when winter rolls in and you’re staring out the window wishing you’d gone fishing more.

Carpe diem.

I’ll be out teaching a very limited number of anglers who want to get the most from their lure fishing — bait-free, aboard their own boats. Time is tight, but the fishing is too good not to share.

Cheers

Espresso