I have fished Te Awanga twice in the last seven days, three hours over the high and three hours over the low. The sea was quite flat but the water was far from clean. The result being one small kahawai that wouldn't make a competition scales and one pipi. This cheeky sod attached itself to the hook as wasn't prepared to let go.

Every cast the bait was stripped within minutes, which would lead me to think crabs, yet there was no characteristic pull down of the rod tip.

Had I been fishing one rod I would accept my result without hesitation but I was fishing three rods and I would have expected a little more success even if I missed any takes.

When fishing a reasonable seabed (no foul ground) I am beginning to have doubts about the use of a pulley rig. With a running trace the fish (or crab) when taking the bait nearly always registers a direct pull from bait to the rod tip, even when using grip leads. I am beginning to wonder if we miss a few timid takes with a pulley rig because the fish is pulling against a lead firmly anchored to the sand.

Over foul ground and for larger fish the pulley rig comes into its own, but when fishing for nominal sized fish, such as gurnard, I can't help wander if the pulley rig with grip leads is making life difficult, especially with those timid takes.

Any one else had thoughts along these lines?