Tough fishing to kick off the year

Unfortunately, there wasn’t a great start weather-wise to 2023, but at least now we are finally getting some windows of opportunity to get out on the west coast for a surfcast.

I shot off to one of my favourite west coast beaches for an evening fish, aiming for a kingfish on a slidebait rig. While I could deploy my livebait, the day was slow, with just one fish showing the slightest interest in my offering. I did see some anglers landing a few kahawai but as soon as the sun started going down, the temperatures dropped and some wind stirred up the water – a perfect opportunity to target a smoothhound. At last, success and a bend in the rod. I managed to get two using prawns for bait, and both were released.

Time for a Plan B. When the conditions changed, Peter gave up on the kingfish to target an alternative species.

At times like this when you are struggling with ‘Plan A’, it pays to have a backup and an open mind. When one method doesn’t work, quickly improvise to a different one. This ensures that you will be able to salvage the day by catching at least something, even if it isn’t the target species. For me, I observed the conditions and quickly changed my method to suit the species of fish I decided to target when the kingfish ignored the livie.

Unfortunately, the fishing wasn’t the only thing that ended up being disappointing. I had witnessed several people bringing their dogs onto the beach where a man’s best friend is banned. The reason dogs are not allowed, and certainly not allowed unleashed, is because beyond the beach and in the dunes there is a fragile ecosystem that DoC is trying to protect. The last thing we want to see is a beautiful beach shut down due to a few blind morons who choose to ignore the signs and the rules.