Bait fishing is popular using squid. Baits are usually cast well out using a heavy sinker with a bait attached on a running rig. This allows the fish to pick up a bait and move off before noticing that it is attached to anything. The snapper school in the spring and early summer months and good catches can be expected. The school fish averaging around a kilo invade the beaches looking for food from October on with the biggest numbers available in most areas through the early part of December.
Bigger fish can show up at any time through out the year.
During the winter months some great surfcasting for trevally can be experienced in northern waters. These winter trevally averaging around three kilos can weigh in up to 10 kilos and are great sport in the heavy surf of winter. Shellfish baits are best for them. The main target of such anglers is the southern yellowtail or kingfish. These are fished for using livebaits of kahawai or mackerel.