Jaypeegee, on the last video I made I was trying out a new line ... well new to me. This is top quality Suffix (I think). This line is unbelievably thin, in fact I would put it not much thicker than braid. On the video I mentioned I was so impressed with this line, especially on a brand new Akios reel, I intended to have one rod with nylon and one with braid to get a true comparison.

Your thoughts on the importance of bait presentation are a mirror image of my own. Far too many cram the bait on the hook making it damn near impossible for the point to penetrate. Even on long shank hooks I always take my pliers, or similar, and tweak the hook point so it is offset. This means if a fish has his mouth closed around the bait, you can almost guaranty a hook up.

I have had people laugh at such an idea, I simply suggest they try to pull an offset hook between two fingers and not get hooked, they soon discover exactly what I mean.

I would hate to think how many pre-tied rigs I carry: pulleys, flowing traces and flapper rigs. You will not find one trace over 50cms long, many are only 35cms.

Bling is a matter of personal taste, yes I carry several beads with me but these are used primarily for knot protection rather than to attract fish. I also carry several pieces of luminous tube, about 2cms long, these slide over the knot and prevent a hard bead from hitting the knot. I will quickly add I sometimes do use beads to attract fish but I lean toward pearl colour, these are especially handy if Kahawhai are on the prowl. The flash of silver can encourage a strike on the retrieve.

Presentation is without doubt the way to consistently catch fish. It doesn't matter what variety of fish because the idea is not to blank. I would much rather consistently be successful from the beach than aim at one particular specie of which if lucky, I may catch two a year.