Terakihi. And the great thing is they should be back in close within the next month or so. Reminds me it's time to source a few good 2/0 flasher rigs.

out in clear deep water"maomao" so damn easy to catch and once mastered how to avoid the bones are nice to eat, 

I really enjoy catching bottom dewlers. Puka, Bluenose Seabass.
I think the lure of the Gurnard is the length, you know that they look so much bigger when they get to 500mm and must admit that they also attracts me.

Sheez, i love catching all fish. I spose the lure for me is pb's ,competition and targeting a species.
Yes that includes Gurnard Smudge, i too have been elbow deep in a special grunter brew this week!

For me its a chance to hang out with my sons and do something together on an even footing. We run a PB chart of all the different fish we catch and use that as gloating rights amongst ourselves - and you know its funny cause the kids are all ready telling Fisherman stories, but the PB chart does not lie...

What I enjoy is going out and targeting a species then catching a bunch of them. There's a certain sense of accomplishment vs. just dangling a ledger rig somewhere vaguely fishy-looking and catching whatever comes along.

What really does it for me is not the fishing, but the sitting down with the family digging into to a plate of Blue Cod, Paua, Crayfish, or whatever else we have managed to snag on a trip out.

Good question. Big snapper on slow jigs from deep water, preferably on a sunny day with a glassed out sea. Don't know why, it's just my thing. It's got so bad, I only carry a slow jigging rod these days! 

Its about a day out on the water with good company, from the grandchildren, friends, children, to the wifes friends....espec with those who have never been out or been fishing before...
Hook a nice fish...then tell them u need a sandwich and pass the rod to them to hold....
And the lessons learnt as a kid come into play.. come home from football and clean your boots....and latter , golf, clean your shoes / clubs
Now clean/ maintenance on the boat, making burley,  tieing leaders for the next trip, winter time servicing reels, pre fish, smoking, handing freinds/ neighbours a couple fish or fillets.

Dont like...quiet days on the boat, which fortunately doesnt happen... If quiet, go for a dive, or bait up and drop the long line... or simply go prospecting those markers u have considered possibles studying maps/ satellite pictures up close.

The mystery of not knowing exactly what's on the end of the line until you see it, the battle with a good fish on light line in shallow water, using tools and techniques to entice a bite, and the adventure of being out on the ocean with friends and family.