This makes sense as you’re fishing 
in shallow water off a beach (under 
5m) so the fish must feel vulnerable 
at times when venturing into the 
surf zone to look for their food.  
Sharks still prowl this zone, and I 
had a recent kahawai attacked when 
hooked fishing back in March and 
it had fresh teeth marks around the 
tail with blood dripping into the sand 
once landed.  So, the larger predators 
are also hunting off beaches in close.
The next time you cast a line off 
a beach, note what the sunlight 
levels are and if you also get more 
bites or action when you have 
more cloud cover above you.
Another observation when 
surfcasting with other anglers 
is that often the biggest fish are 
caught closer in and not way out 
when you attempt to pull off 
the biggest cast of the day and 
put the bait out over 100m.
Many of the best fish have been 
caught off bad throws when losing 
balance on a cast from a wave hitting 
you, or the line slipped off your finger 
when you wound up to cast it out 
the back.  This is backed up from an 
old memory I can recall, when my 
younger brother who couldn’t cast as 
far as me when learning to surfcast 
and he would only get 30-40m out.
Whereas my cast was well over 
75m out and yet he was out fishing 
me and landing bigger fish that were 
obviously in closer and feeding 
on something in the deeper hole 
that we had chosen to cast into.
This means you should mix up your 
casts when fishing and place a few 
in closer, don’t wade out as far and 
drop the big effort in the cast.  I am 
guilty of always trying to get it way 
out as far as I can, but what I have 
learnt is fish will come in surprisingly 
close to the beach to feed.  Reducing 
your cast at times will help produce 
fish, instead of casting over them.
On a good day with low swell and 
smaller sets rolling in, try fishing using 
two rods and cast one as far as you 
can with the second surfcaster just 
flicked out and left in the rod holder.  
I have done this many times and have 
been surprised at how the closer in 
baits catch more and/or bigger fish.
It pays to try things when 
surfcasting on the west side, fish 
will turn up in unexpected places 
and can make a good day, into 
a great day on the beach.
The writer checks his rod and 
line after a fresh bite while 
sitting in the rod holder.
Large kahawai (2kg+) are often 
encountered surfcasting on the west side 
and great for the smoker and as fresh bait.
Feature
24  FISHING IN GODZONE MAGAZINE

View this content as a flipbook by clicking here.