I prefer to fish in harbours using 
a running rig with a swivel tied to 
the mainline, with a short 40-50lb 
leader and Black Magic KLT 7/0 
hook tied to the end with the 3 or 
4oz sinker sitting above the swivel.
This allows a good fish to pick up 
the bait and move off more easily 
with the bait without noticing the 
weight of the sinker, as fish can 
wise up if you use a dropper or 
ledger rig where the sinker is fixed.
At our chosen spot, we position 
the boat in a deeper hole beside 
or between shallow sandbanks, 
which is a natural channel for fish 
to move through, then deploy 
the Lowrance Recon trolling 
motor to hold us in place.
A berley bag is sometimes also used 
to help draw in fish but often if using 
fresh bloody/oily baits like kahawai 
or mullet, this is enough to bring the 
fish close to our position.  The strong 
current helps carry the scent from 
the bait a along way in the Kaipara.
Hooked up on a big fish on the 
Kaipara, the writer lets the fish 
power off in the strong current.
The Recon trolling motor 
keeps the writer on the mark 
quietly when bait fishing.
Feature
52  FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE

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