b'HARBOUR FISHINGThe writer and Graeme Paterson wait patiently for the tide to turn and the berley to kick in.Trevally frequent harbours andto keep the noise right down to a prospecting sand banks withminimum, so you dont spook wary fish softbaits will produce fish. in the shallows.When the current starts to really rip out then you will need to up your sinkers to get to the bottom and dont bother to try and strayline just a bait, as it will just get nailed by kahawai near the surface.Gurnard and snapper will be hard on the bottom trying to keep a low position away from the current.SOFTBAITING SAND BANKSWhen the tide turns and the water starts to move back into the harbour and back over the sand banks, this is when we like to mix things up and switch to softbaiting.It will often surprise us how shallow the water is when fish start Often the smaller fish are in attendancefishing in winter usually produces a goodmoving back up onto the sand banks first and then as the current picks up andmix of gurnard, kahawai, and snapper forthat were exposed at low tide, often the berley works you will get the betterthe bin.You will pick up the odd trevallyin barely a metre of water.The murky fish arriving in force.The Kaipara andon bait also and if youre lucky a kingfish. water of the Kaipara helps hide the fish Manukau offer top gurnard fishing inIf you are berleying up in shallowand they must feel safe as they get on winter, with big fish often over 50cm andwater, a good idea is to ditch the chaintop of the banks to feed on crabs, baby they are welcomed for the table.Baiton your anchor and just use a ropemussels and mantis shrimp.48FISHING IN GODZONE JULY/AUGUST 2022'