I have become increasingly delighted with the way surfcasting is producing on the Napier beaches. I am not writing about Bayview, although that venue is fishing well also.

Today I decided to have a couple of hours on Napier seafront, the forecast was for rain and I hoped I could beat it ... and so it proved to be. At 12:30 I set the rods up but before I made a cast I first ambled along the beach to chat with a torpedo-man. He was in the process of packing up and was filleting the catch. He had quite a haul of small tope in the 2kg mark and I was surprised, and delighted, to be given one to bring home. He told me he had a snapper about 3kg on Sunday so it's nice to know they are still around.

I settled into my chair and watched the rods and it wasn't long before something showed interest in the anchovy. At 2:30 the sky darkened alarmingly and I beat a hasty retreat, a wise move with what happened shortly after.

My fortunes were unusual: one very large yellow eyed mullet, two very nice Kahawhai, and then, surprisingly, the largest spotty I have ever caught from the beach. What on earth this was doing in open water I have no idea. It was carefully unhooked and returned to go about its business.

Isn't it nice to know that if you can find a spare couple of hours, you can head for a beach right on the doorstep (so to speak) and bring home a fish for tea. Nothing flash, no trophy fish, no rod benders or scale strainers, just a fish or two we can enjoy for an evening meal.

There maybe those who enjoy surfcasting, but this is simply 'Going Fishing', and enjoying every single moment, but isn't that what it's all about?