🎣 How to Catch Kahawai on Soft Baits (Beginner Guide)

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 Kahawai are one of New Zealand’s most underrated sport fish.

They hit hard, fight dirty, and smash soft baits with zero hesitation — perfect for beginners and experienced anglers alike.

If you want fast action and a high‑energy fight, kahawai are the fish to target.

This guide shows you exactly how to catch them on soft baits from shore, boat, or kayak.

1. Why Kahawai Love Soft Baits

Kahawai are aggressive predators. They chase baitfish, hunt in packs, and attack anything that moves fast.

Soft baits work so well because they:

  • look like small baitfish

  • move naturally

  • can be worked quickly

  • trigger reaction strikes

If snapper are the “thinkers,” kahawai are the “hit first, ask later” fish.

2. Best Soft Bait Sizes for Kahawai

Kahawai aren’t picky, but these sizes work best:

  • 3–4 inch jerk shads

  • 4 inch paddle tails

They match the size of anchovies, sprats, and juvenile baitfish — kahawai’s favourite food.

3. Best Soft Bait Colours for Kahawai

Kahawai love high‑visibility colours.

Top picks:

  • White Glow

  • Pink Shine

  • Chartreuse

  • Anchovy

  • Blue Silver

If the water is clear, go natural. If it’s dirty or low‑light, go bright.

4. Best Jighead Weights

Kahawai often feed mid‑water or near the surface, so you don’t need heavy jigheads.

Use:

  • 1/4 oz for shallow water

  • 3/8 oz for deeper water or fast current

A lighter jighead lets the soft bait swim more naturally — perfect for kahawai.

5. How to Work the Soft Bait

Kahawai love movement. Here are the two retrieves that work best:

Fast Retrieve

  • cast far

  • wind quickly

  • add small twitches

  • keep the lure moving

This imitates a fleeing baitfish — kahawai can’t resist it.

Lift‑and‑Drop

  • cast out

  • let it sink 2–3 seconds

  • lift the rod tip

  • let it fall again

Kahawai often smash it on the drop.

6. Where to Find Kahawai

Kahawai show up everywhere in NZ, but the best spots are:

  • river mouths

  • surf beaches

  • harbour channels

  • workups

  • bait schools

  • current lines

If you see birds diving, kahawai are usually underneath.

7. Best Time to Target Kahawai

Kahawai feed aggressively during:

  • early morning

  • late afternoon

  • incoming tide

  • when baitfish are present

They’re also one of the few fish that bite well in rougher conditions.

8. Gear Setup for Kahawai

You don’t need heavy gear.

Use:

  • 7–8 ft soft‑bait rod

  • 2500–3000 size reel

  • 10–15 lb braid

  • 12–20 lb leader

Kahawai fight hard, but they’re not gear‑destroyers like kingfish.

Final Thoughts

Kahawai are one of the most exciting fish to catch on soft baits. They hit fast, fight hard, and are perfect for building confidence as a soft‑bait angler.

If you’re new to soft‑bait fishing, kahawai are the perfect species to practice on — and they’re available almost everywhere in New Zealand.

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