I have just returned to the south island from a successful kite and surf casting fish for two weeks up the east coast of the north island.Started kite fishing at Waipu Cove,Oakura,Doubtless Bay and as high up the far north as Houhora wharf.
The first week was ****,along with unsettled weather,but things charged for the best the 2nd week.
The Doubtless bay area was the best location by far,with plenty of beach choices with the wind.
I based myself at the Whatuwhiwhi top 10 holiday park for 5 nights and this is a must do place to stay,the owners and staff were always very helpful and the camp is spotless and the fish shed for cleaning your catch is fantastic.
They even smoked one of my snapper as well.
My success came in only 3 days.
Off the rocks at Rangiputa i caught good size kahawai,along with snapper that was legal size but the biggie was a 4.5kg snapper.
At this stage the only success with my kite was a gurnard off Oakura bay beach.
I was kite fishing at Tokerau,Taupo bays and the baits weren't being touched,and the locals were also having the same problem as well.
The wind changed and i tried at Taipa bay,and was at last successful.
The first set of 5 hooks i managed a legal snapper,but my 2nd set of 5 hooks i landed a 6.3kg snapper,which i was very impressed with.
I made my way back to Auckland i was 3 days early as i was all fished out so i headed to visit friends in Tauranga on a fantastic private beach,where my friend was catching kahawai from his boat in the harbour.
In all my trip was successful but it was only in 3 days of the 15.
My kite is a flexwing with 1000mtrs of braid on a penn reel and rod,i found the best way to bring in my kite was to purchase a gieme belt to put my rod in as i brought the kite in,i found that was the only way to keep my line tight on the reel,as i was having problems keeping my line tight on the reel if i was bringing my line in hand over hand.
Now back to work and to the real world.