Just got in from a morning out in the boat.
I can see why there is so many kahawai about in the Manukau. The only place to be if you are looking for kahawai or just getting into swf imho.
Whitebait. Heaps. So many in places I could have walked on them. Ties in with reports I am hearing from the experts on all things small in the rivers.
I was reading an old FlyLife mag, number 56 that had a good article on kahawai eating tiny bait. Below is a picture of the sorts of flies that work in those situations.
Closer to the shoreline is also a very good place to find larger kahawai currently. Using a bigger sprat type pattern works better for those fish.
If I were you, and I was after some swf action I would be looking for a shallow bay with a prominent headland. Like the places you might find between Cornwallis towards Onehunga (as most of you are from that side). Big muddy would be a good beat ans maybe even some of the bays before Huia, there are a couple in there with streams running in. Perfect.
Failing tide. Has to be falling so the kahawai can push the bait into the shallows. Of course the bait doesn't want to be there cause it might get stranded so it heads back out again only to be chased back in again. This repeats itself for a good couple of hours in most places. It is the common ambush theory.
Get into it.