After waking up and checking metservice this morning seeing the forecast wasn't too bad, Coxie and I decided to go out on the Manukau and look for gurnard.
We only managed to land 2 with the biggest one being 41cm.
We had quite a few gurnard bites but they were a bit shy today and the kahawai kept getting to the bait before the gurnard could.
We saw there were white pimples on the skin of the gurnard but kept them anyway because aparantly it doesn't affect their flesh.. Has anyone had experience with this before?
Here's a couple of photos for anyone who hasn't seen them before..

Not long after we iki'd the gurnard, we realized there was a browny-greeny colour in by the gills.. Is this normal?
I've never seen it before

Not long after catching the only 2 gurnard of the trip, something reasonable size grabbed my rod. I thought it was a big kahawai, as we'd been catching them all day, but when I pulled up into the boat and saw it was a barracuda I couldn't believe it.. Second one in a week!
Feisty little mongrels they are! I caught one for my first time last week and only found out after we released it that they're good for bait, completely forgot today when I caught it to keep it for bait, but maybe next time! Has anyone else been catching them and those that use it for bait, is it any good to use on the Manukau?

Any help with either of those things would be greatly appreciated

FC