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Water was average but not great, approx 4m vis........could see the kahawai just below the surface feeding, see the bl##dy shags and other birds having a go at the smelly bait on the way down..........they didnt touch the SB though.

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At Waitawa Regional Park with Telecaster this morning, on the water by around 6.30am and I had good fishing mostly on pilchard and anchovy bait for several hours. Unanchored and no drogue, just drifted out with the tide and current, no wind and very flat water for a good while. Plenty of bites and I kept 6 Snapper and 5 Jack Mackerel, put loads of smaller Snapper back. Less bites as the wind started, back on shore 10.30am. Keepers were 31cm, 32cm, 34cm, 41cm, 41cm, 51cm (51cm my personal best this year so far possibly and was taken on a hand line). I think the chunks of pilchards on sharp new-ish hooks got the best results, less so on the squid.

Nice reports! SD I'm keen to get out next month with you.
My kahawai looked awesome before going into my new stainless steel smoker.
It came out burnt so had to throw it all away. My neighbour suggested soaking the wood chips in water first. To stop them catching alight. He soaks his chips in a 50/50 water and brandy mix for 30 mins. Guys, his smoked fish is the best!

Can anyone else recommend a solution or is my neighbour onto it?

Cooked it with meths - Approx 1/2 full in the dish (its a SS Smoker from the Warehouse ).

How did you prep fish? I leave skin & scales on & if got more then one fish slice them in half & smoke the halves with backbone in, the other halves I skin & fillet for frypan or make a curry. I normally use non iodised sea salt & either brown sugar or sweet chiili sauce. Good luck.

Thats a good result there Telecaster- mustve been fun pulling in the big one on the handline! Bullet- I have my smoker also set up on my bbq. After putting a light spread of manuka chips over the areas that get heat, I then use the lowest setting on two of the three burners only- and it works every time. That being said though, I'm not a fan of the loooong smoked ky, so this is done in 20 minutes: outside orangey brown smokey sweet goodness, contrasting with the creamy flesh inside. A cool twist is dusting a load of course ground black pepper over the fish before smoking. Hmmmmm getting hungry now

Sounds like everyones being doing good on the fishing plenty of action! thanks for the reports guys
Got back from a week up north waipu camping. Tuesday wens morning early mish with great conditions lots of birds ky working with the beach having surf swell rolling in all week.
Both mornings soft baiting over sand also took out squid stinky bait, good bite and snapper up too 55 we all had plenty of fresh snapper to go around.
Was good too spend a bit more time using soft baits so wanted to get evening fish in Thursday was out around 4PM drifting over over sand and patcy reef weed got onto some big ky which was funny thay stayed down low did not jump or run like thay were half asleep, let go everything as didn't need more fish.
About 5.30PM put out a gulp crazy legs jerk shad started to get big wacks one too three off it went! my drag was good fairly tight the fish ran in a straight line towards the beach and was not stopping! I grabed it out of rod holder as I watch my braid spinning off the reel fast using both thumbs now for slowing fish down but it seem like four ever to get him under control I was thinking he will find some reef soon! but stay high in the 5/6 meters lucky for me I gain some line back and my knots helled together nearly ten mins and I was over the top of him and at the same time dragging my drouge in an other mono line out of the way! just now wanted too get a look at him, strong fish to more big dives so close, as I got him side ways great looking golden snapper! reached out and got my hand near the soft bait slid fish across my lap cool approx,67cm and fat as healthy fish quickly got the soft bait out of mouth sun going down so back over the side and release he swam down too bid tail kicks good bye.
So a cool fun eveing last fish , nice camp ground friendly local as well.