I actually meant the spot wasn't that secret among the fly fishers.

Agree, Gordy will catch kings if he gets a sniff of where they're at. You take a guy who has fished flats most of his life around Florida etc and put him into a spot like that, you're going to see results. One of the reasons I love fishing with him, 'cause he gets it when the water gets super skinny.

Early start tomorrow. Had my own success this evening and will do again in the morning no doubt.

But it still looks like I have to get out of the BOI's for decent flats fishing. Great tides early next week for some west coast or far north spots. There might be a bit of easterly at 20kt, but will still be able to see scattering bait. If anyone keen on a far north drive let me know 

 

For the pole, Kilwell sold me a 32mm OD fibreglass pole for cheap which has been great - Andrew Perring had a crack with it when he came out before xmas.  But its a bit bendy so talked to Kilwell again and they have sent me 37mm OD carbon fibre in 2m sections that got delivered to Omokoroa for the strip strike weekend.  I'll report on its performance if you like. 

But seriously, if you like to fish bare foot don't use the paint and grit/sand it gets very tough on bare feet over a day's fishing. I suggest instead you look for some non slip matts, you know the stuff that stops keys and cell phones sliding around and glue them to the floor, softer on the feet and easy to replace a needed.

 

With Kiwigrip its not whats in the paint that makes it textured but the applictaor that you use to apply it. You mask off where you dont want it and roll it on.

Saw a big king tailing, 5 snapper on a black ray (who knew?), lost count on snapper sightings in 2 to 3 feet of water, lost count on kingfish too.  Got a heart stopping take from a snapper by putting a fly on the bottom in front of him, stripping then pausing then stripping and watching the snapper pounce like a bonefish.  Immediately broke off but I was so elated with the cat and mouse game I didn't care.   Broke off on a number of flats kings including a 30 pounder but hooked and landed a few.  Blind "meat" fishing for snapper on the last day wasn't bad either. 

 

Saw Milan, Nathan and Nikolaj (Big Angry Fish) too and had a quick chat with them - nice guys. 

 

Got food for thought on terminal rigging (increased breaking strain and better leader to fly line connection) and boat modifications.  Poling platform absolute must to take advantage of options there.  And lots to think about for trying to find similar habitat/location situations locally.