Where in Auck are you based
East auck kayak fishing club & nth shore kayak fishing club have Viking 400 kayaks to use on club days, I think east auck has a reload as well... I think 20 bucks or free, cant remember... good bunch of guys in both clubs & they do regular day trips where newbies tag along
http://www.nskfc.org.nz/2022-calendar/NewTab1http://www.eakfc.org/Club-Trips/Up-Coming-weekend-TripsBoth clubs are more active on facebook
Its always better to go out with someone else when starting out, but get some time on the water to learn your balance in various sea conditions. I nearly flipped my kayak first time out, when I flicked a bait out... the motion of me doing so I nearly went for an unplaned swim
I learned solo, stayed in close to shore & only ventured out wide when the conditions suited my kayaking skill level... just get your tides right, its no fun at the end of the day to battle against a running tide
https://canoeandkayak.co.nz do kayak courses to help you start out, I did the course years ago when I bought my kayak & can highly recomend it, especially the safety side of it... learn self rescue
The rest of your experience is just time on the water
Some kayaks are more drier than others in the same sea conditions
In my viking reload I would take out the stella, just rinse off after use & service yearly
Ive found the low profile baitcasters are not worth the bother of taking out on a kayak & yet, spin reels are ok, especially your certate with its waterproofness
Some of the bling gear that is used on kayaks, ppl just look after their gear, but is mostly spin reels of slammers, certates & stay away from cheap sh*t