Reading the threads that arrive on site, it's very interesting to try and analyse the differences between those who go casting and those who go fishing.

More years ago than I care to remember I was indoctrinated into light fishing, three ounce lead maximum. Fishing the Napier coastline there are occasions when I need to up this by an ounce as they are surf beaches, and it's a rare happening to find really flat water.

Casting, especially tournament casting is a sport all on its own, this because what can be achieved in distance just casting a bare lead can not be replicated with a trace, swivels and a reasonable sized bait (or baits) attached. So do those distances really have any input on what can be achieved rod in hand with fish in mind?

I would love to go lighter with my rods but I fear the local average conditions would make such a choice very difficult, so in reality there would be little gain. Therefore you can imagine my surprise when I recently discovered a top tournament caster relaying what to him was a sorrowful story.

He reported it had taken him ten years to perfect the pendulum cast to a stage where he regularly figured on the winner's rostrum. He was using gear usually associated with long casting, a fourteen foot rod with a multiplier reel. I should explain the guy actually owns a respected tackle shop. He went on to report he now has anglers new to fishing and distance casting buying a fifteen foot rod, using a fixed spool reel (shallow long spool) loaded with four kilo fireline braid, and with little or no effort, were dropping a lead five metres behind his best cast. I think his expression was he was pi**ed off!

This information interested me because the world of surfcasting is an ever evolving sport, and in particular I love light gear. There is something very special and rewarding when using a rod with a satisfying curve and a fish that will pull line, the humble kahawai is simply brilliant for such sport. Many of the rods I see being used can handle fish such as this with ease and at speed, but rarely does the angler seem to have the joy of the guy with lighter tackle, fish are winched in.

The proof of the pudding, or so the saying goes. I have just purchased a light fifteen foot rod, slight alteration required for the wooden spud, loaded it with the reel as described and the spool is full to the brim with four kilo fireline plus obligatory leader. I will not be hitting really long distances because I still find most fish hold up behind the breakers in disturbed water. However, one day out of sheer curiosity I will try for distance, although I readily accept age will be against me. On the positive side, when that kahawai comes to visit I will have a fight on my hands, and surely that is what surfcasting is really all about.