b'SPEARFISHING important to note that snapper are very aware of their surroundings especially in winter, which is why I start my approach from far back, this way there is no chance of a splash or noise, scaring the snapper away. As I approached the ledge, I stopped finning and dragged myself along the bottom. This is a crucial moment in the snapper hunt and one you want to get right. Ensure your gun is tucked in close and you are almost one with the seafloor. There is nothing quite like the anticipation of peering over the ledge in the hope of a big snapper sitting there munching on your kina. And as I drifted towards the edge there it was, the unmistakable shape of a large snapper head down eating kina. Totally unaware of my presence, I noted that it was not a trophy fish which I would rather let swim away. I quietly maneuvered my gun into position before pulling the trigger, stoning the 12lb fish with a shot to the brain, known in fishing terms as iki jiime. With a good eating sized snapper in the bin, a couple of crays and some paua it was time to hit the deep reefs for a couple of pink maomao before heading home. Stopping off on my 25m patch of foul I jumped in and made three dives Shooting a quick moving koheru gives ataking two pinkies and a large koheru spearo good practice on smaller targets. before calling it a day with a healthy-looking bin. Winter diving can be tough Sinking down into the kelp I slowly and quietly madebut with patience, perseverance, and a bit of planning you can still score good my way towards the ledge ensuring that I did notfish by working around the weather, and bang my gun against the rocks, no bubbles escaped fromwith the shortest day of the year behind us summer is just around the corner my snorkel and my fin kicks were slow and stealthy. anyway.FIGZWith a couple of paua in my bag, I headed further up the coast to somePink maomao are found bouldery ground to search for crayfish.over deeper reefs and are a In winter crayfish are often in berrywelcome table fish.(carrying eggs) or soft, having just shed their shells, so it is important to be careful when grabbing them. This area however was full of legal crayfish, so I grabbed a couple and began the swim back to my berley, but not before taking a tasty porae resting up on a weed line. Retracing my kicks back along the coast and back out to the point I found my ledge. Breathing up, I started my approach. Sinking down into the kelp I slowly and quietly made my way towards the ledge ensuring that I did not bang my gun against the rocks, no bubbles escaped from my snorkel and my fin kicks were slow and stealthy. It is 44FISHING IN GODZONE SEP/OCT 2021'