lethal this approach is, running into 
non-stop action on solid barrels. 
When the fish are holding deep in 
powerful Bay of Plenty currents, 
you need heavy-duty gear that cuts 
through water drag to stay vertical 
under the boat. The standout 
producers this winter were the 300g 
Black Magic Candy Stick slim knife jigs 
for an aggressive vertical retrieve, and 
the Black Magic Flipper Jig for slow-
pitch tactics. In fact, a slow-pitch drop 
with the Flipper Jig accounted for 
the biggest fish of their campaign—a 
genuine trophy tuna tipping the 
scales right around the 110kg mark.
Rigging for these freight trains 
required zero compromises. The 
Aquarius crew ran their jigs on heavy-
duty 300lb Black Magic Tough Trace 
to handle the brutal, unrelenting 
pressure. Spooling up with the new 
50lb Black Magic 13x Hyperglide 
braid was a total gamechanger. The 
braid’s perfectly round profile kept the 
line dead-straight in the current, while 
the 1-metre colour strike indicators 
meant anglers could drop precisely 
to the depth Josh called out on the 
sounder. Instead of a frantic high-
speed kingfish retrieve, the trick was a 
slower, deliberate mechanical jigging 
action with long, lazy pauses—with 
most of the monster hits coming right 
on the drop as the jig fluttered down.
With the boat now tied up at the 
Whakatāne wharf, the boxes washed 
out, and the tackle reeled in, Josh 
and the crew have officially closed 
the chapter on an epic winter. The 
rods might be packed away for 
now, but the memories of a 49-fish 
tournament haul and unforgettable 
deep-sea battles will keep the 
local fishos talking until the barrels 
return to the Bay next winter.
 /FISHINGINGODZONE  19
BOOK YOUR NEXT TRIP AT:  
www.aquariuschartersnz.com 
or message them on Instagram  
@aquarius_charters_nz

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