A very thought provoking topic of which there is no easy answer. I believe you are on the right track with confidence, surfcasting has changed out of sight in the last thirty years. Reading the Angling papers and the God damned awful fishing shows on television, we are now expected to 'target' fish, we are lead to believe we need to catch the biggest, the longest, the heaviest and the best condition factor fish, and on the lightest possible breaking strain line. Pardon my colloquialism: Bollocks.

Fishing from the shore is an enjoyment first and foremost, the day we start to relax and not put ourselves under enormous pressure the results will pick up. Why? I haven't a clue but it works.

If I take home a Kahawhai I am a happy, but lately my returns have been far better. I am sick to death of those who moan about catching red cod and spiny backs, the idea is to catch fish and enjoy the day. Catching quality fish will happen but if they came along every time we hit the beach we would soon get disenchanted with the sport.

Learn to enjoy and accept the blank days and celebrate the good days. Once you can fully adopt such an attitude it's strange how catch rates will improve.

When I left Napier many years ago the surfcasting here could have been described as an absolute disaster area. On my return two years ago I have caught fish consistently and it's been a rare happening when I didn't return home without a fish for tea. My attitude change has come about with one simple change of mindset: I don't target fish or chase records, if when the fish is filleted it fits in the fry pan, Hangler is one happy man. Try it, you may well be surprised.

I do appreciate there are many on this site who will disagree, well they are entitled to their opinion as I am entitled to mine. However, there is one fundamental difference, I love the sport and I get a huge amount of satisfaction from what I achieve. I do bring home my fair share of the spoils and I love every minute of participating and the culinary joy that goes with it.

Sorry, I forgot to add, this is possibly the best topic to hit this site for a long time ... well done.