Somewhere along the line we lost track that we are talking about the New Zealand Surf Casting Nationals.
Where is the line drawn?
Soon as we leave the surf to fish off rocks? Using boats to get to sheltered areas when the surf is up?
Without taking it too literally surely surfcasting is casting into the surf.
The beauty of this discussion which shouldnt end because the meeting has, is that we are getting a lot of ideas out there.
Forget about cheats, they are only cheats to themselves and most will be easily exposed. Name and shame and chuck them out of the NZACA I reckon.
During the 1990s I did a lot of guiding of Japanese rock fishers. We accessed most places by boat or helicopter they didnt want to walk)and got to fish a lot of untouched water around Cape Karikari, Henderson Bay, North Cape and Maria area and also down Lottin point part of the country.The fishing was rediculously easy compared to most easily accessed spots nearby. Fresh bait and berley would get the fish eating out of your hand. WE caught (and lost)huge kingfish regularly, we kept few under 20kgs and the biggest ones went back to Japan whole. We caught kahawai up to 23 lb (kermadecs) and snapper on poppers was a great party trick in the evenings, trevally to 10kgs were caught. Its not like that any more in all but the hardest spots to reach.Chad and Roger Mulvay proved that with their epic fishing at the northern Nationals a few years ago.
My point is that rock fishing and surfcasting are two different things.
Surfcasting has some anomolies too. Take that famous Hawkes Bay Beach Whakaki. It matters not how far you travel on your quad in either direction from the carpark access. Chances are that most of the big snapper will come from the access point.Have a look at the photo of my wife Sue with a big snapper in the latest Fishing News. That was caught in front of the truck at the access. 23lb! Didnt need a boat for that one.

Anyway I just think that there could be a lot more discussion and sharing of ideas before we get this right.

Love to hear yours.