Fishing – Better days ahead

For those who were lucky enough to get 10 days off over Easter and Anzac Day, I trust you enjoyed the break. Unfortunately, the weather did not play the game this time. Fishing was definitely not the sport of the week. However, there were some reports of good success on longlines. There were also reports from boaties of good catches of snapper, caught around Omaha Bay close in. Micro jigs worked very slowly seem to be enticing the bite more so than other jigs. It might be worth trying a few of these if your sliders are not proving successful. Kaiwhai have been spotted in good numbers further south, nearer to Tiri, but were also hard to hook. The good news is that as autumn kicks in, the fish will soon go into feeding mode to fatten themselves up for the coming winter months. With the past week’s cold fronts, things are definitely cooling down, so the snapper could get into aggressive bite mode any day now.

Back to safety at sea. I was approached this past week by a customer who wanted a lifejacket for a child. After looking at a lifejacket in store, they left stating that they could get a lifejacket a lot cheaper elsewhere. They left a brochure behind and, on taking a closer look at the advert, I noticed that the cheaper item was in fact a buoyancy aid but advertised as a lifejacket. The key difference is that a lifejacket has total support around the neck. While unconscious, the product will keep your face out of the water. A buoyancy aid has no neck support. Buoyancy aids are used in watersports such as kayaking and water skiing where you require freedom of movement around the arms and neck. First choice should always be to purchase a proper lifejacket for children. The same principle applies to inflatable lifejackets. If the inflatable lifejacket auto inflates, then it is considered a lifejacket because it will inflate even if the person is unconscious. An inflatable lifejacket that must be manually inflated or pulled is not a lifejacket, but a buoyancy aid – you cannot pull the cord if you are unconscious. Once again, there is a price difference. If you are unsure about your lifejackets or buoyancy aids, please come in and ask. Advice is free. Tight Lines!

Anthony Roberts, Tackle & Outdoors
tecnisportnz@gmail.com