b'Editorial Digital Issue #63 - 2025The editor is rugged up forFISHING IN GODZONE winter fishing which is stillIssue #63a great time to fish.COVER PHOTO A solid kingfish caught off the bricks live baiting.Photo: Scott CushmanEDITOR AT LARGE Mathew HewetsonWRITERS & CONTRIBUTORS Scott Cushman, Graeme Paterson, LegaSea, Craig MurrayDESIGN Blockstart www.blockstart.co.nzPUBLISHER Marlin Marketing Limited Mathew Hewetson 022 355 0588 mathew@marlinmarketing.co.nzJ uly means it is the middle of winterput up good fights in the shallow waterFishing In Godzone is subject here in Godzone, and it may beand they were all in top condition, fat,to copyright in its entirety.wet, cold, and harder to get out onand great looking colours.After fishingThe contents may not be the water, but it is still a fun timeand back home the fat slicks on thereproduced in any form, in whole or in part, without the written to catch good fish.In June, with ablades when filleted meant they tastedpermission of the publishers. All good-looking forecast, I planned a trip togreat after being pan fried.Winter iscopy, photos or other material forwarded to the magazine head wide from Mangawhai and out tomy favourite time to eat snapper. will be assumed intended the famous Mokes.The islands will soonThere are plenty of fair-weather days infor publication unless clearly become a no-take fish reserve, and Iwintertime, and the day before I wrotelabelled not for publication.Opinions expressed from such hadnt fished there in years so wanted tothis piece in late June, I drove past thecontent are not necessarily take the opportunity to go one last time. Mount in Tauranga and the sea wasthose of the publisher.Unfortunately, the changeable winterflat calm with no swell.It was one ofISSN 23821655weather meant the light winds werethose days with no wind, you neededfishingingodzone.co.nzgoing up to over 20 knots and it meantto just drop tools and get out there. /fishingingodzonewe changed our plans to stay localThe fishing can be outstanding in and fish the Kaipara harbour in morewinter, the kingfish tend to be bigger, sheltered waters.The trip to thethe hapuka can be found shallower spot is only 20 minutes from the boatand with the bluefin tuna run now ramp and in less than 5m of water thestarting to fire, the game fishing snapper fishing was slow and steadyanglers can even get excited.but really fired on the outgoing tide. If you have a small boat or kayak, It was overcast with the odd showerthe popular spots and boat ramps and gust of wind, but it was comfortableare now less crowded, so if you get in the boat with plenty of quality outdoorsome time off work it can pay to take clothing worn and of course a Thermosadvantage of that weather break.for hot coffee to help keep warm. Just remember to be safe when out We were straylining using ball sinkerson the water in winter, be prepared, in the strong current with frozen tuna,check the weather forecast often squid and fresh kahawai and caught overand take and wear your life jackets.a dozen snapper that were all over 40cmMathew Hewetson Editor at largeand the biggest around 52cm.These fish 6FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE'