Fish 'N Dips Fishing Charters

What a way to experience kingfishing for the first time! A memory to remember, a true first kingfish experience like no other.
Our good mate Jon was determined to help Jay x JDS from Come fishing with JDS and his mates make a dream come true and finally get amongst the kingfish out here in the Hauraki Gulf and the boys were not ready for what they were about to experience.
From the moment the Auckland city skyline dropped away behind us, the radar lit up and we could see thousands of birds working a large area. We raced over to get amongst the action, and the water all around us had erupted with acre of kingfish smashing bait up on the surface, and the sounder lit up with solid sign from top to bottom.
None of us were ready for what happened next. First jig down, first drop, and boom it was all on! Jay was on. His mates were on. And none of them were prepared for the kind of fight that followed. Reels were screaming, lines crossing, some yahooing and me shouting just pure adrenaline. Fish after fish came over the side for about 2 hours of mayhem, and the biggest of the day tipped the scales at 20kg.
Once the arms have had enough of kingfish punishment, we dropped down and filled the bin with great condition snapper for the table too.
A day this Fish 'N Dips Charters crew won't forget in a hurry, and a great taste of just how fun kingfish fishing in the Gulf can be.
An incredible time of year to be out on the Hauraki Gulf, and with spring just around the corner, it's only about to get better.
Book your trip and Watch this space. 👀

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The Hauraki Gulf is absolutely FIRING right now.
Some days you get lucky and you get the full show
Massive workups scattered right across the Gulf, birds diving everywhere while whales pushing through the middle of massive schools of pilchards, and dolphins feeding aggressively around the edges. It's a sight that makes the Hauraki Gulf one of the most famous fishing grounds in the country, and for the team onboard it was on full display.
Underneath all that carnage, fish in abundant numbers, the snapper and trevally were feeding throughout the water column, and we found solid packs of big kingfish for anyone keen to put the heavier gear to work.
We had a great bunch of guys onboard getting their first real taste of Hauraki Gulf fishing today, and there's no better introduction than a day like this: non-stop workups, quality snapper, and kingfish in the mix. This is exactly what people mean when they talk about the Gulf being world-class.
If you want in on a Hauraki Gulf fishing charter while the fishing's this good, now's the time to get in touch, and we'll get you out amongst it.

Do cold, crisp mornings bring the Dory?
​We’ve had some awesome mixed groups out lately, and the Hauraki Gulf has been delivering big time!
​Cold, crisp winter mornings have been turning into absolute chaos on the water. We've been finding massive early morning workups, with hard fighting winter snapper smashing lures all the way up the water column, keeping the reels screaming and the excitement levels high for all our group and corporate trips.
​One cool thing we've noticed lately: we’re pulling up a good handful of prime John Dory on almost every single trip! These colder, slower water temperatures always seem to bring them hard on the bite, making a very welcome addition to the mixed bag.
​Who else in the Gulf has noticed the John Dory firing up over the last few weeks?

Stewart Island crew meets the Hauraki Gulf!
​we had an absolutely awesome family onboard. Mom, Dad, and four epic kids up from the deep south. The Hauraki did not disappoint and was alive out there, putting on the famous show that the Gulf is known for, with whales, dolphins, and as many gannets as the eye could see diving hard.
​But the real story was the kids' enthusiasm. After putting some beautiful, big snapper and trevally in the bin, the rods were truly folded and lines were peeling fast. The kids found themselves hooked up to powerful kingfish on the light gear.
​For young fishos to keep their composure, manage the light gear, and successfully land proper kingies was outstanding to watch and an amazing achievement. Pure class on the rod!
​Stoked is an understatement. What absolute legends!

What an epic day out on the water!
We had a few whales popping up right beside the boat while we were on the drift. It just never gets old, absolutely unreal to see them so close!
The bite was ON early from the get-go. We found a big workup as the sun was still rising and we managed to bag our quota of snapper before smoko time! But the real highlight was that everyone on board hooked and landed their very first Kingfish straight after it! Super fun day, textbook easy fishing with an awesome, excited crew on board.
Don't miss out on the action!

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The Hauraki Gulf has been absolutely putting on a show lately!
​The last few trips have been pure chaos in the best way possible. Massive workups everywhere you look, whales, heaps of dolphins, and gannets raining down. It's fast-paced, high-energy fishing with an amazing backdrop, and the quality of the fish out wide is as good as it gets.
​We’ve been landing an awesome average size of fat winter snapper with some trophies, some hard-fighting trevally, and a few tasty John Dory in the mix to add to the tables. If you love the visual side of the sport, seeing the birds drop into the water at high speed and the water boil with dolphins rounding bait like this is as good as it gets.

WHAT A GREAT WEATHER DAY!
​Honestly, if you didn't look at the calendar, you’d swear it was the middle of spring out there!
​The Hauraki Gulf is absolutely alive right now. We’re talking massive, chaotic workups stretching as far as the eye can see. Hundreds of gannets raining down like heat-seeking missiles, whales breaching right alongside the boat, and common dolphins putting on an absolute show. You know it’s a good day when you don't even know whether to look through the camera lens or drop a jig!
​And the fishing? 🔥
​The snapper are as fat as can be and hard on the chew among schools of hungry kingfish. They were smashing jigs way up from the bottom—at times less than 10m under the boat. Drop down, get hammered, and hold on tight!
​Huge shoutout to the Aussie crew who joined us today. Good banter, bent rods, and bins full of fat table fish.
​If you’ve been thinking about getting out on the gulf, stop thinking and just go. The action is red hot right now.
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Huge thanks to Nick for a great chat, and to the team at 16 TUN for hosting us!