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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote rusty360 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jul 2026 at 9:00pm
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A question for the manukau experts, who uses braid on big muddy? Is better than plain old nylon? Im keen to give it a go but know zero about it.

Cheers!
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jul 2026 at 9:27pm
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I use braid mostly Jared. I use 10lb generally. It's nice and thin and doesn't catch much current so you can use lighter sinkers. I suggest you use mono for straylining. Six to ten pound is enough as long as your drag is set for 2 to 3 lb accordingly. You wont need more than that for kahawai, gurnard or snapper unless youre fishing foul ground for snapper.

Before you go down the road of using braid I strongly suggest you learn to tie an FG knot. I tie an FG knot to connect my braid to a 20ld leader that is 2 to 3m long. That knot will see me good for a year.

I usually use the 20lb as my terminal leader but if fishing using a dropper rig or straylining where there is a serious chance of a snpper 5kg or more I use (usually) a Mustad Fastach swivel to connect a 60lb trace. Big snapper will bite through a 20lb trace easily but if usung jigs or softbaits you wont have a problem with 20lb or even 15lb trace.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Schecter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jul 2026 at 6:57am
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I'm limited for space on the kayak, and I carry 3 rods at a time.  Strayline (mono), softbait (braid) and livebait (braid). 

I use braid because my softbait set covers most of my bases: softbaiting, microjigging, trolling, and straylining.  I don't have any issues with braid so far, and I prefer it for straylining because of its sensitivity and its quick descent through the water column.  Very light braid and fluorocarbon for myself, but I buy the top-of-the-range stuff for quality and durability.  

However, my baitrunner spooled with mono is also lethal for straylining.  



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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Kevin.S Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jul 2026 at 9:59am
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I've used mono and braid, and when the current starts to run you can really notice the difference between them.  Sometimes my wife will have braid while I have mono and she can get to the bottom with a couple of ounces smaller weight than I can.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15 Jul 2026 at 7:54pm
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Yepp it is the small things that can make all the difference
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote BananaBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Jul 2026 at 12:02pm
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Originally posted by rusty360 rusty360 wrote:

A question for the manukau experts, who uses braid on big muddy? Is better than plain old nylon? Im keen to give it a go but know zero about it.
defo no expert here but severely stuck in my ways
Its mono for me
Bought my 4 & 8kg mono overhead setups in the early 90s for stray lining & still using that same gear today on the muddy
I reckon you just get used to what you prefer & then better yourself with it in different fishing conditions be it skinny water or the deep stuff
Also take out 2x braid setups on the kayak & have used them for bait fishing... they work, just prefer fishing an overhead mono rather than a spin reel with braid
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Schecter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Jul 2026 at 6:56am
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Very tough fishing for myself at the end of the harbour yesterday morning.  The fog was dense, and to make matters worse, I was fishing and watching the football final at the same time.  I won't be doing that again.  

The dense fog limited my options to go far, so I fished some spots I'd overlooked.  It didn't prove to be productive, and I barely got a nibble on the strayline.  

However, when the tide turned, I decided to use the incoming tide to softbait on my way back to camp and picked up some fish along the way.  The snapper measured a short 42cm on the measuring mat, but it was a very fat bugger!    

The shinkei jime method for dispatching the fish has been a highlight for me.  The tenderness of the flesh and little bloodline has been marvellous. My neighbour isn't a fan of kahawai, but after giving him one, he's a convert. 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote gurnard Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Aug 2026 at 11:51am
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I use mono predominantly. I do have a jigging setup for use in the deeper channels when the current starts motoring. Definitely helps to get the bait down the bottom easier with less weight/resistance.

Been a while since I fished the Manukau actually. Sold my boat a while ago and I think it's been two years since I have fished the place I grew up and fished since I was a young child. Had a baby and some other things on the go. Long story short got myself another boat and am looking forward to getting back out asap.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote Schecter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Sep 2026 at 8:45pm
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I arrived at the harbour early this morning. The forecast seemed ideal for venturing far and wide under clear skies.

There wasn’t a breeze; the sea was totally calm and still. Fishing’s been pretty slow lately, according to the latest reports. I really tried hard to catch some kahawai and put them to use as livies. I stuck with it for a few hours, but got nowhere.

I spotted loads of birds way off, diving into the churned-up water. I slowly paddled over to where all the action was and caught some fish.

This season, I’m switching things up and going with lures instead of bait, since soft baits have been killing it lately over the last few years.

In the end, got four fat kahawai, though not a snapper around. The water temperature is sitting at 15C. It’s just months away before the snapper show up at the harbour again.

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Sep 2026 at 9:41pm
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Nice work Schecter, I think snapper may be around sooner than you think. Well I am hoping so
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28 Sep 2026 at 9:15pm
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Just a heads up. Sunday through to Tuesday next week is looking ok for over the coast. at this stage. If it is fishable I will be out. I would head to 60m but I have heard of good catches in at 30m also. Jigs work well at this time of year but so do big baits such as whole kahawai fillets. Expect a few tope on baits like that though. Smaller baits will/should do the goods with fewer sharks.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Schecter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2026 at 8:51am
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I managed a quick trip out on the harbour, and launched at 8am. 


The SW wind was due to arrive around midday, and didn’t want to venture far, so I stayed close to shore. 


The incoming tide didn’t make it any easier, but after a good paddle against the tide I anchored beyond the mouth and straylined in the shallows (very shallow), with freshly caught kahawai, and a small piece of old pilchard. 


A good feed was caught and I decided to pull the pin at 10:40am before the wind arrived.


The fish measured at 47, 48 and 58cm, and they were incredibly fat! The fillets and the rib cages were very fatty and packed with roe.


I’m looking forward to eating the heads and roe this evening. 

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote BananaBoat Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Oct 2026 at 7:21pm
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Nice catch mate
Fish heads & roe to eat, how good eh
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 Oct 2026 at 6:25am
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Thats a great catch Schecter, big fish. I'll post up a report from off the coast a bit later on
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