Michael Jenkins wrote: I also put a bright float, lumo

I just use the orange floats so might give the rest a go, but I always use them surfcasting now. After seeing the difference getting bait off the bottom from pauls fishing kites Im convinced having it in the water column is better than on the sand.

What rig do you use? I use a simple running rig with a breakaway approx twice the length of the trace.

My first learning of the beach is the eastern northern end of coromandel. Surf casting was my predominant form of fishing as it was the only way I could fish every day during the holidays lol.

Is it Gil Henderson from 90 mile area, he wrote a really good book I had on reading the surf. Apologies if Ive messed up the name its been a long time since Ive seen that book.

Great write up OP

Looking forward to it chad! :)

Bamapple: out west I focus my efforts around the low tide, can still get fish on the hightide but by far the majority of the action happens in the last 2 hours out going and first 2 hours incoming ( can be a bit quiet for 1/2 hour or so over slack) Be careful though, there's usually atleast 1 or 2 much bigger wave sets that roll threw at the top and bottom of the tide, and the bigger the tides, the bigger that set is relative to the other waves.

I have been meaning to update this for a while now. I am going to put up a big write up of my most recent trip away and update this to include a bit more slide baiting for you. 

Agreed nothing wrong with a bit of bling to add a bit more movement to the bait here is some of my traces I have blinged up I use genie clips on my traces to make for quick bait changes aswell as quick change arounds with traces if one type of attractor does not work. so it does not hurt to add an octopus or needlefish skirt to your trace.