b'Feature GET A NETWith summer in full swing, there are a lot of baitfish schools about in numbers and out on the west coast where I surfcast, the mullet are schooling up in force in the surf as they prefer the shallow warm water to eat the plankton that is found in the waves.Always net on a surf beach when the tide is coming in, avoid guts, sand banks and holes, and look for flat areas of beach without potholes.As you drive along the beach you need to constantly watch the waves looking for mullet surfing down the face or jumping out.If you see any brownish coloured water in the whitewash of the waves, this is a prime place to net.The darker looking water is holding plankton so the mullet will usually be found here feeding in good numbers.Recently just after New Years Day, we had a school of over 200+ mullet feeding on the surface on Northlands Ripiro Beach and just out of reach with the net in deeper water.We did manage to pick up Trevally are regarded by many as aa dozen fish in closer to the beach, great fish for sashimi, but out on the west coast when surfcasting the writerremember it is no good trying to drag turns them into top snapper baits. a 60m net out above your head.G oing fishing is an expensive exercise and hobby these days, not only with fuel prices, ramp and parking fees, boat and towing vehicle insurance hikes, and all the assorted fishing tackle you need, but the cost of bait like pilchards or squid are at all-time highs.Being mostly a lure fisho these days, I baulk at the price of bait in the shops and how many anglers still pay for their bait.I still use bait when surfcasting and the odd harbour straylining session, but I always look to catchFresh mullet caught off a surf beach my own to use fresh and youcan also be smoked, one of the simply cant beat fresh bait! best fish going when smoked!58FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE'