Well GaryFirstly wanted to see if the attach photo function worked as I have only recently found this forum and can't work out why one has to email catch pics etc to the admin for them to post in the photo section. When it is quite easy to put them direct to the forum.
The pic is off the Westport Breakwater (North Side).
I am getting back into surfcasting after a break of quite a few years. Plenty of places down here to fish. Not a lot of beach or rock fishers. Most just go off the tiphead. Target species are gurnard, red cod, snapper, rig (Lemons) barracuda, grey boy, elephant and of course kahawai.
Snapper not normally caught this far south until late summer. Beachs are shallow shelving and suit low tide fishing in the guts and holes. Gentle Annie is the exception, about a half hour drive drive from Westport. Rock fishing is from Cape Foulwind/ Tauranga Bay/Charleston area.
I have recently purchased a kite fishing rig to tow my surf casting gear out so I can fish the beaches at high tide. A 200 metre cast is beyond my skills.
It is so long since I fished seriously and it is time to get back to it. Heck I still use a Mitchel 499 fixed spool. Have three and a Penn Long Beach 66 revolving.
The tackle availible today amazes me and does I must admit confuse me a little. All my line is shot, through very old age. So my first buy is some Ultima Red Ice. And then maybe some Powerpro braided, and hopefully finances allowing a new reel and rod. And then I hope some fish.
Used to fish at Kawhia, Raglan, Waihi, Coromandel but that was as I said years ago.
Sure gonna be fun getting back into it.
Cheers Hardy Trev.
(Ya gotta be hardy down here on the Coast)