Autumn Light Tackle Softbaiting | Chasing the Anchovy Runs

As the leaves start to fall and the air crisps up, autumn announces itself with more than just golden hues and cooler mornings. For anglers, this season brings one of the most exciting phenomena in coastal waters—the arrival of anchovy schools. These silvery baitfish draw in a frenzy of predators, offering the perfect setup for light tackle snapper softbaiting. With the right Daiwa gear and some on-the-water knowledge, autumn can deliver some of the most rewarding snapper sessions of the year.

WHY AUTUMN IS PRIME TIME FOR LIGHT TACKLE SOFTBAITING

Autumn is often overlooked in favour of the glamour of summer or the challenges of winter, but it holds its own magic for light tackle enthusiasts. As baitfish like anchovies flood into bays, harbours, and inshore reefs, predatory species such as snapper, kahawai, trevally, and kingfish follow closely behind. The dropping water temperatures signal a shift in feeding behaviour - fish become more aggressive, competing over smaller prey.

This sets the stage for softbaiting with finesse. Light tackle techniques not only match the size of the bait but offer a thrilling fight and a stealthy approach. For anglers who love the connection between gear, technique, and nature, autumn is a symphony of opportunity.

TARGETING ANCHOVY SCHOOLS - FIND THE BAIT, FIND THE FISH

Anchovy schools can be easily identified by their silvery flashes beneath the surface, birds working overhead, or the classic surface commotion of fish busting up from below. Often, the best days are when the sea is calm and the bait is pinned against a drop-off, reef, or current line.

Early mornings and tide changes tend to be the most productive times. Use your sounder to spot dense bait balls and look for larger arches—predators hanging below. Staying just on the edge of the school and casting into or near it allows your softbait to mimic a stray or wounded anchovy, which is often too irresistible for a feeding snapper to pass up.

In autumn, the key is mobility and observation. If you're not seeing action within 15–20 minutes, move. The anchovy schools (and the fish chasing them) are dynamic, and you need to be just as adaptable.

LIGHT TACKLE SOFTBAIT GEAR - THE DAIWA ADVANTAGE

To make the most of autumn softbaiting, your gear needs to strike a balance between finesse and fight. Daiwa’s range of rods and reels offers a perfect platform for light tackle adventures.

ROD - DAIWA INFEET OR PHANTOM X SERIES

Fishing with light tackle rods makes for a ton of fun. They are still able to handle larger fish but make it possible to deliver light lures a long distance, have much more sensitivity to feel light bites, and soft nature of taper and action means you have optimum tippet protection when hooked up. The Infeet and Phantom Xrod ranges are both excellent options with plenty of lengths and action types to suit multiple light tackle preferences.

REEL - FROM EXCELER TO EXIST

The beauty of light tackle softbaiting is that’s it’s price accessible for great gear. You can start with a reel like the Exceler 2000LT that looks great and still boasts a smooth low start up inertia drag system. Or, you can go to the other end of the scale with the top end Exist LT which has the best of the best technology available and will be an absolute pleasure to fish on any occasion.

LINE & LEADER

Spool up with J-Braid Expedition in 6-10lbfor a silky-smooth cast and solid strength. Top it off with Daiwa J-Thread Fluorocarbon Leader in 10-12lb, depending on your target species. Fluoro offers abrasion resistance and low visibility, which is critical in the clear waters of autumn.

SOFTBAITS & JIGHEADS

Stick with baitfish profiles like minnows in natural silver, white, or anchovy patterns. Match them to Daiwa Bait Junkie 3.2" Minnow, 3” Wave Minnow, or 2.5” Grub styles. For jigheads, 1/6oz to 1/4oz heads with a strong hook give a natural sink rate and a reliable hook-up.

LIGHT TACKLE TACTICS - PRECISION OVER POWER

With the right Daiwa gear, you're ready to put some technique behind your casts. Light tackle softbaiting isn't about brute strength—it's about finesse and reading the situation.

CAST BEYOND THE SCHOOL

Aim to land your softbait just beyond or beside the bait school. Let it sink naturally for a few seconds before giving it short, erratic twitches. This mimics a disoriented anchovy—a prime target. Often, the strike comes on the drop, so stay connected and ready.

STAY IN CONTACT

Use your index finger to keep tension on the braid between lifts of the rod tip. This improves bite detection, especially on subtle takes or when the fish grabs the bait and runs sideways.

CHANGE DEPTHS AND SPEEDS

Don’t be afraid to experiment. If fish are ignoring your presentation mid-water, let the softbait sink to the bottom and slow-roll it back. Alternatively, burn it just under the surface if you’re seeing topwater activity. Autumn fish are opportunistic, and variation often triggers bites.

USE THE WIND AND CURRENT

Drifting along current lines or edges of reefs allows you to cover more ground. Use your electric motor or drift chute to control speed. Cast ahead of the drift for maximum time in the strike zone.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Autumn is a window of opportunity for softbait anglers, where nature does much of the work. All you need is the right setup, an eye on the bait, and the skill to present your softbait like a vulnerable anchovy. The rewards? Explosive strikes, reel-screaming runs, and that unmatched satisfaction of light tackle success.

So grab your gear, hit the water, and let autumn show you just how good light tackle softbaiting can be.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Justin Corric aka GetHooktNZ is a man of many talents, one of them being talking about fishing and the best way to get results. He's also Daiwa's upper North Island territory manager and knows his way around smoking a rib or two.