All I’ve ever done is fish.
Two years ago, I left the states, seeking a future in New Zealand for my family. Now, we have found our place.
Why is it our place?
The people.
The Dawnbreakers Fishing Club is a shining example of wonderful people.
I have never been in a place where people are so quick to help and so happy share yarns.
Being a know-nothing rookie, a body of water as vast as Tasman Bay is overwhelming. Coming from a life of fishing spots the size of a ute and fishing softbaits at .5 meters a second, it is a big change to fish a flat and “deep” bay. The saving grace in my timid efforts is that Tasman Bay is by far the greatest fishery I have ever seen. The snapper of the bay are one of the many reasons I moved here.
I have basically dedicated the last decade of my life to fishing 4-6” softbaits. I thought that I would fish my dream New Zealand fishery the way I wanted, and this year I finally had a boat.
I found I had been extremely lucky in previous efforts in 2024 off a jet-ski with softbaits and jigs… unfortunately 2025 proved to me that it was literally all luck. I spent a half dozen trips in September enjoying less than ideal weather, figuring out what changes needed to be made on the boat and catching exactly zero snapper. Plenty of gurnard, kahawai, ‘coudas and spiny dogs kept me reeling in fish but come 1 November, I still hadn’t felt the bulldog fight that a big snapper deals out, nor had I used berley.
Early November found everybody catching fish and me still casting swim-baits 500x a trip. I broke. A berley pot and a trip to Aquafresh and I was ready to fish how everyone had been telling me for two years.
I set out to my favorite spot, where I had spent 30 hours not catching snapper in September / October dropped anchor, berley and bait. Wouldn’t you know it, the fishing was amazing!! The Kahawai, spiny dogs, ‘coudas and red cod were in abundance. Catching fish is catching fish so I was happy to have the experience. Then it was prime time…slack tide at 10am and my berley gone. I dropped my trusty non fish catching jig in between my two ‘couda rods and WHACK!!!
The fight between a 1m ‘couda and a decent snapper isn’t all that different for me…7’ rod, 2500 reel and 20# trace…I’ve fought ‘coudas for 10min in the past. But you can’t compare with the fight from a BIG snapper. Diving over the rail to give line and weaving into and out of my other lines, I got my proverbial absolutely handed to me…this was why I moved here. After a lengthy battle the respectable snapper does what they should, surrenders at the surface. 23 pounds and in perfect nick. I Got lucky again.
None of this would be possible without the help, encouragement and camaraderie of the Dawnbreakers. I plan on being here for another 40 years, give or take, and I plan to get to know more and more of you by name, see you on the water, help each other, laugh and be content.
Cheers to you all.
