b'Anchored at the shallow (under 3m) spot near the mangroves and Brian hooks up.Editor Matt Hewetson hasalways high and upon seeing calmover autumn and into early winter to be conditions, the skipper guns it for theoutstanding.This has been helped by the been enjoying outstandinghorizon as that idea is forgotten and thealarming lack of rainfall in Northland, as shallow water fishing inthoughts switch to catching big quarrythe salt water from big tides pushes well which are waiting out beyond in the deep. up into the mangroves and rivers such as Godzones largest harbourYou need to think more like a fish,the Northern Wairoa which runs south of T he common phraseand what do they mostly think about? Dargaville and Ruawai into the Kaipara.during autumn.Food, and plenty of it and easy access toSnapper, kingfish and even gurnard are it.Harbours or estuaries where riversventuring up into the shallows (under fish your feet isbring food are surprisingly rich with3m) to feed up on baby mussels, crabs, often used by manylarge predators.These shallow areassprats, and other crustaceans such as anglers but not oftenprovide anglers with an easy opportunity,mantis shrimp that live in this healthy eco-employed. Gettingsometimes mare minutes from the boatsystem.They seem to know they have a the boat packed upramp and in under 5m of water. short window in late summer through to and arriving earlyThe Kaipara Harbour is one such placeearly winter before the heavy rain period at the boat ramp,that offers miles of shallow water spotsarrives and flushes them out of the upper expectations areto explore and we have found the fishingharbour reaches. /FISHINGINGODZONE59'