b'HARBOUR FISHING G odzone has an exceptionally long coastline of 15,000 kilometres compared to the size of the country, which makes it the 9th longest in the world.Bordering the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean this coastline includes bays, deep coves, intricate harbours, long sounds, and steep fiords in the south.Harbours abound throughout Godzone and offer anglers year-round fishing but over winter some fish better for species like gurnard and trevally which move into the shallows, especially on the west side with the largest harbours the Kaipara and Manukau. As I fish the Kaipara harbour the most, I will look at what works well for us here, but the tactics can be used on any harbour.FOGGY STARTIt was late autumn when we launched Moving down river intothe Stabi 509 at Ruawais boat ramp on the Kaipara and thick fogthe Northern Wairoa River with no wind.surrounded the boat. We could see thick fog further down the harbour and as we motored down the river, we were soon surrounded by it.This is where you really need to trust your GPS to avoid the hazardous shallow sand banks, but as these can move often, it is best to slow right down as you make your way to your spot.The fog comes in on those still autumn and winter days and you know that when it clears it will be a stunning day and sure enough, the fog soon lifted around us, and the Kaipara was flat calm.BERLEY CHANNELSWhen the tide goes out fish such as gurnard, snapper and trevally that have been feeding up on top of the sand banks and often in only 1-2m of water, move back off the banks and into the deeper channels.So, on an outgoing tide, you want to pick a channel between sand banks or where the bottom has a small drop-off from even just 1-3m and anchor up to use berley to bring the fish to you.Salmon, mussel, or tuna berley all work fine and amongst it drop ledger rigs for gurnard fished hard on the bottom and a running rig with ball sinker on another 10kg combo with your bait of choice.Mullet, fresh kahawai, tuna, or Minutes later and the eerie fogsquid are our go to baits when fishing in disappeared revealing a stunning day. the harbour.46FISHING IN GODZONE JULY/AUGUST 2022'