b'Species Profile GurnardA flat calm Kaipara harbour which is a meccawest coast and then turn for big gurnard from autumn to winter. them straight away into fresh baits for snapper.Often the gurnard will hit them first.Tuna is another good bait but is harder to stay on the hook once it defrosts from the freezer.BAIT COTTONA good item to take, especially when surfcasting or using tuna that is more easily pulled off the hook from fish.Tie the bait securely to the hook using elastic bait cotton by wrapping several times.Gurnard have a distinctive tap-tap-tap bite that can be quite subtle, this can also help them remove the bait, so the cotton is very handy to keep in your tackle box.SINKERSWhen bait fishing in the boat you will need to have the bait hard on the bottom.In harbours FLASHER RIGSThe trusty old flasher rigs fished off boats the ute the two-hook/tassel has accounted for a lot of gurnard over the years.Black Magic even have one dedicated to the humble carrot.Simple to rig and use, just attach a sinker to the bottom and put a cut bait on each hook.BAITSGurnard love fresh, juicy baits like mullet, trevally,Gurnard use their first three rays of their pectoral fins as feelers to or kahawai.We catchdetect their prey on the bottom most of these fish on thelike crabs and baby flounder.48FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE'