This was not in high summer or autumn, the water was not warm and full of baitfish. It was during the deepest and foulest winter, and over our heads a 35kT northwester was blasting. It wasn’t the first green-backed beast we’d had pay us a call, nor was it our last.

Rock fishing is an addictive and often highly productive way to fish. It’s also available just about everywhere in the country.

One essential piece of kit for every budding rock fisherman is a rod holder. Tom Lusk suggests a few products to suit every spend-level. There are very few rock spots around NZ with perfect fissures to jam a rod butt into while waiting for a bite. One solution to this problem is to carry a rod holder that will keep your rod secure and at the best angle to keep your bait out of the swell and kelp. Here are a few options...

The best gear, techniques and tips for starting out.

Tom Lusk applies some good old-fashioned kiwi ingenuity to fishing with these simple and cost effect DIY fishing hacks.

How many times have you kicked yourself for doing something hair-brained or idiotic while fishing? I’m just as guilty as anyone for doing it. Here’s a few of the ‘simple’ yet almost deadly mistakes I’ve made along my fishing journeys; I hope that you can learn the same lessons as I did.

There’s not much that beats catching fish on a fly you’ve tied yourself, and thankfully it’s not difficult or expensive to get tying and catching. This article will look at the principles behind the saltwater fly and give you some starting guidelines to set you on the path of this addictive pastime.

As I write this, there’s a big blow lashing my home waters of Auckland. The northerly winds are gusting to 40 knots, and there is a two metre swell pounding both coasts. Not great conditions for fishing, in fact, it’s downright dangerous!

Coromandel is a great destination for winter rock fishing, and not just because of the huge number of fish that reside in its beautiful, craggy coastline. It is the shape of the peninsula that makes it pretty much a sure bet in whatever weather gets thrown at it. The fat kahawai livey on Mikey’s line suddenly leapt straight out of the water, hot on its tail we could see the green and gold flashes of a massive kingfish. With a broadside smack it took the kahawai, busting the line in the process, then it was gone.

Most serious rock fishos only feel comfortable when they have a soupy brew fanning out into the depths. Tom Lusk gives us his favourite recipes that the fish will love. The principle is simple: bring the fish from far and wide with delicious oily smells and fragments then get them in the mood to feed, so that when they see your bait drifting along, they won’t be able to resist.