Very informative post, Rex. However, may I ask who is the person with an axe to grind and what exactly is his (or her) beef? May I also ask what that has that got to do with splendid numbers of Kingfish within thirty metres of the shore.

I have no answer why the fish numbers on the beach are so low but the same words were being used twelve months ago, and those who were using a torpedo (or similar) were catching well. My own Kahawhai results on a rod, whilst not brilliant, were acceptable. From a personal standpoint, when I had a torpedo ( I don't now) I only ran my hooks 500 to 700 metres off the beach and I never blanked.

May I offer one suggestion that has not been covered on either this site or in the media. Numbers of bait fish are nowhere near what I would term as normal for this time of year. It is usually common place for my sinker to hit the water and the fish scatter every which way ... this year that is not happening.

Would you offer an answer that if there are no fish in shore, why are the trawlers supposedly fishing so close. The fact must be if there is nothing there for surfcasters then how are the commercials making a living? I am sure you will agree the two facts are at a complete odds with each other.