The one that catches the fish on the day. Part of the challenge for me is figuring out what’s likely to work best, and then deploying that technique well enough to get the eat. Sometimes it happens, quite often it doesn’t, but it’s always fun just getting out and at it!
We’re incredibly lucky to have such a variety of species here. I love Kingfish for their brutal aggression as they launch a pack attack on a shoal of terrified baitfish, a big head nodding Snapper gets me going and I’ll even give a shout out to the humble Kahawai on light gear. If I had to choose one though it would probably be Striped Marlin; the adrenalin rush when you see an angry fish lit up in the spread, the total sense of humour failure when they first feel the hook, and the aerial acrobatics that follow, just incredible.
Whether going for marlin and swords in the far North, hurling topwater lures off the bricks in the Coromandel, fishing the Taupo rivers or getting schooled by wily back country browns in the South, this entire country is a fisherman’s paradise. So many places to learn and explore with so many different methods to try. It’s the main reason I moved here! Further afield, targeting Sailfish off Kuala Rompin in Malaysia. It’s an absolutely epic fishery I’d love to get back to some time.
I’ve fished since I was 7 years old and I’ll never get bored of the places it takes you. The reason for any one mission might vary, sometimes it’s for a feed, sometimes a solo trip for a bit of meditative escape and sometimes to spend time with family and mates. Whatever the reason I’ll always be thinking about the trip the night before and waking up with a massive sense of anticipation on the day. Whether you catch or not, time spent on the water is never wasted!
