I'm a newbie top water fisho, keen to have a decent go this summer in Waitemata, inner Hauraki, and hopefully from shore up in Northland.

The black/silver orca is a favorite of a few charter operators ...comes pre rigged and wont break the bank.....Carpenters are difficult to swim....especially for newbies.....starwalkers and shimano ocea pencils are easy to swim even if you are clueless...If its bright id use darker lures.......if its dark....something to stand out a bit more.....a sinking stickbait can be good when its not calm......Cant go past river 2 sea Doggies for those.....again cheap and the build is great.....some awesome pilchard/sprat look a likes(bottom two)......the rest.....as Pete said

laidbackdood wrote: Carpenters are difficult to swim....especially for newbies.

DenimViper wrote: laidbackdood wrote: Carpenters are difficult to swim....especially for newbies. Not that difficult. Certainly not Carpenter Bluefish anyway, you can just wind them in slow retrieve and they swim brilliant. Gamma maybe a little tricky especially if there is a little bit of chop.  It all comes down to the rod as well as the angler and the lure.

In a recent session the pink 90g ASWB was getting hit early morning and when we were under cloud cover.

DenimViper wrote: Will do some landbase top water soon. Welcome to tag along when you get yourself sorted.

Funny, I met Mr Zilla attempting to slaughter squid along Tamaki Drive one dark night with another forum miscreant Stripstrike. Small world. Stripstrike was kind enough to explain the basics of egi etc to me a few weeks back. Very helpful and typical of what I've encountered in my short time on the forums.

most of the more expensive baits are worth what you pay with beter craftmanship/ swimming action. in terms of beginner baits. a pink and a black shimano orca will get you started. pink for low light and black for when the sun comes up.