A slow surfcasting session in tough conditions, testing patience before a late hookup with a big kahawai.

🌊 Battling a Big Swell and Seaweed

I was in two minds about heading out on this surfcasting trip. Conditions were borderline, with a 0.6m to 0.8m swell forecast, and it had been worse the day before — meaning the sea could still be discoloured. But with bad weather forecast later in the week, and my mate on holiday, we decided to give it a shot.

After arriving at the fishing spot and before having eyes on the surf, I could already hear it rumbling away, which had me a bit concerned. I made a slightly apprehensive walk down to the beach, where the swell looked to be around 0.8 m — right on the limit of what I’d normally fish.

Despite the swell, I managed to get the sinkers locked in beyond the breakers. It wasn’t long before a fish was on, but it was a bit disappointing to see a very small school shark appear in the surf. It had taken a cooked prawn bait intended for elephant fish.

The next two to three hours were fairly uneventful, apart from a number of small school sharks continuing to find the bait.

Then, around midday, a lot of seaweed started appearing in the surf. It quickly became a major nuisance and was almost impossible to avoid at times.

Dealing with a seaweed snag

🎣 A Well Earned Kahawai

For another hour or so, I was constantly winding in my line as seaweed floated past, and casting out again once it cleared.

Finally, my fortunes changed. I cast out a salted yellow-eyed mullet bait and something decent took it on the drop. From the initial run, I suspected it was a kahawai. After a spirited fight, a very fat, barrel-shaped kahawai appeared in the surf. To my surprise, I found another kahawai around 25cm long in its belly.

That kahawai alone made the trip worthwhile, and it provided some very tasty sashimi meals over the next two to three days. I prefer to leave the fillets in the fridge for 24 hours before consuming them as sashimi, as the flesh naturally tenderises and softens slightly. They’re even better after 48 hours, though beyond that there’s a point where the flesh can start to go a bit “fishy”.

A large kahawai in superb condition

🪼 Bluebottle Invasion

Shortly after landing the kahawai, my mate decided to head home. Apart from a solid strike on a bait he’d dropped out to around 250 m with his drone, his day had been fairly uneventful.

On my last fishing trip, I’d noticed a number of bluebottles washed up. There were even more on this beach, with numbers continuing to build as the day went on. So many, in fact, that it sounded like I was walking on bubble wrap at times as they popped underfoot.

Bluebottles washed up on the beach

About 45 minutes after my mate left, I decided to pack up and head home as well. It hadn’t been the most productive day, but I was more than satisfied to finish with the kahawai.

📓 Field Notes

• Location: Canterbury
• Target species: Elephant fish, gurnard, rig shark, kahawai
• Landed: Kahawai
• Conditions: Light to moderate winds, 0.8m swell, discoloured water
• Tide: Outgoing to incoming (kahawai caught on the incoming)
• Best bait: Salted yellow-eyed mullet for kahawai
• My gear: Shimano Xitus Pro 13'6" rods (x2), Shimano Ultegra CI4+ 14000 XTC reel, Shimano Ultegra XSD 14000 reel

Got any feedback or questions? Feel free to drop a comment on any of my social media channels — I read them all.

— Dan