A 180km run to Great Barrier Island
The Kingfisher Boats team from Mount Maunganui load up their Kingfisher 510 Powercat and point the bow at Great Barrier Island, chasing snapper and kingfish.
It is a proper offshore run, around 180km return across the Hauraki Gulf. Once you commit to that distance, the day feels different. You are in it for the long haul, and everything needs to work without fuss. The weather, the current, the boat, and the plan all matter.
For Sam, Brock, and Braden, the approach is simple but flexible. Live bait is gathered on the way out, with one kept ready for kingfish. Snapper remain the main focus, using soft baits and covering ground until fish are found.
The setup is current and practical. A Kingfisher 510 Powercat powered by a Honda BF135, with a Minn Kota Instinct Quest up front and Humminbird Apex and Xplore electronics handling navigation and fish finding. Nothing flashy, just a capable offshore fishing rig.
Early snapper action off Great Barrier
Once set up near the island, snapper turn up quickly.
The first fish is a solid eater, followed soon after by another. Not long later, two snapper came
aboard at the same time from the bow. A couple are released. A couple are kept. Decisions are made quickly based on size and what suits the table.
It is the sort of start that settles everyone down. You know you are in the right area, and there is no need to rush or force anything.
Plenty of kingfish, but no bites
Then the kingfish arrive.
Big packs cruise past. They show on the sounder and on the surface, and even get captured on the drone. Everything looks right. The fish just refuse to eat.
Lures are worked through them. Fish rise and fade away. Time disappears. Anyone who has chased kingfish will recognise the pattern. Some days they are aggressive. Other days they simply are not.
Rather than burning the entire session waiting for something to change, the call is made to move and try a different angle.
Shallow water snapper turn the day around
The shift into shallower water pays off almost immediately.
Soft baits cast along structure start producing quality snapper in close. Fish hit hard and head straight for weed and kelp. Drags stay light, pressure is managed carefully, and fish are worked free rather than forced.
One fight in particular turns messy for a moment, with the fish digging in before coming clear. It is not a monster, but it puts up a proper scrap. Several more good snapper follow the same pattern.
Some are kept. Others are released after a quick photo and a breather alongside the boat. At that point, the day is already a success, regardless of what the kingfish decide to do.
Strong current and stubborn kingfish
Later, the team returns to earlier ground for another look at the kingfish.
The current is pumping and the area is full of life. Bait is stacked up and the place feels alive. Still no bites. No frustration, no drama. The fish are simply not feeding.
Rather than forcing a finish, the decision is made to wrap things up and head home.
That honesty is part of what makes the trip relatable. Great Barrier can look perfect and still not give you what you want. Being able to change tactics and still come away with a solid session matters more than sticking stubbornly to the original plan.
Fishing from the Kingfisher 510 Powercat
The fishing is the focus, but the platform underneath it all plays a quiet role.
The Kingfisher 510 Powercat handles the long offshore run comfortably, sits steady while casting off the bow, and works easily in close around reef and weed. It does its job without demanding attention, which is exactly what you want on a trip like this.
Built in Tauranga, Kingfisher has spent years refining aluminium Powercats for New Zealand conditions. This trip shows the use case clearly. A trailerable cat capable of a serious run, then fishing hard where it counts.
Why Great Barrier trips are never predictable
Great Barrier Island is not a casual destination. Distance, current, and changing conditions all shape the day.
The plan was kingfish and big snapper. The kingfish showed up but would not bite. The snapper, especially in the shallows, saved the session.
That is Great Barrier fishing. You go prepared, you adapt, and you take what the day gives you. When it all comes together, even slightly differently than planned, it is always worth the run.
Follow the boys on their YouTube @KingfisherBoatsNZ
