Another lovely early start from Wellington—4am.

I went and collected my key to go through the gate and carried on out to spot X. I found my launching spot, which has a rocky outcrop and a bay either side, meaning I can come back in either way sheltered. I set up the kayak and installed all the Railblaza gear and the newly made rod savers I’ve been working on. Picked out a select few jigs and soft baits, and I was on my way.

The wind wasn’t what was predicted, so I stayed in the shallows—25 to 30 metres—for a while. Didn’t take long to land the first gift back to the sea: a blue cod around 40cm. It’s OK, that’s normal size here.

It was a slow and airy morning with a chill in the air, and the mind kept playing tricks in the low light and shifting shadows on the waves.

As I worked the jigs and soft baits, I started getting a few good cod in the bin. I throw anything under 40cm back. Ended up with seven nice cod ranging from 45 to 52cm, so I set up the jig cam to try out prototype number 4. Always fun watching the footage after, seeing how the fish behave while you’re working the jig. Like last time, I noticed that even a small bit of seaweed on the hook was enough to put the cod off. This time it was spot on—correct leader length to the camera and no weed on the hook.

Got a few more cod, and then the rod buckled over and took off. Instantly I knew—this wasn’t a cod. It was peeling line through the drag. After a few minutes’ battle, to my surprise, a kingfish surfaced. Not massive—82cm—but a nice addition to the catch bag.

Looking at the footage afterwards, the king was so keen on the lure but kept missing it. Also spotted what looked like either trevally, moki, or maybe even a trumpeter in the background. (That’s the dream catch: a trumpeter on the kayak.)

After a few drops in the 60m marks, picking up just a few kahawai from the bait ball and another big cod, I called it a day as sea fog was rolling in fast.

All in all, a good day.

Kept 14 cod and the kingfish. Dropped my key back off, filleted up four cod for the landowner, and had a good chat.

It was a magic day out on the east coast—love using the Catch gear to fool the fish.

#letthefishbethejudge

#theoceanismychurch