b"SMALL BOATS and avoid the winds, but that didn't save us for long. After a short time, the wind got up and the rain started again.SOFTBAITINGWe were fishing with our favourite softbaits, and we also tried using micro softbaits as well, changing colours a few times to see if anything would take but it was hard going. Minimal bites, with not much action at all, a stark contrast to previous excursions to the same spots in the past. Frustration was building.I was still enjoying myself in the challenging conditions, having made the sensible decision to not only layer up, with thermals and all, but grab the bright yellow 'I know what you did last summer' full length and hooded raincoat on the way out.Granted, the gumboots literally filled with water, and I had to pull them off and empty them over the side of theboat often, but the rest of body was dry and warm. Justin however, being the stubborn Taurus that Hooked up in thehe is, was underdressed shallows where the fishing can be surprisinglyand underprepared for the good for lure fishing. downpour that we endured.There was a little bit of swell runningThe writer had at our usual Tokerau Beach launchingthe sense to spot which could make things tricky,grab the bright so we drove a short way over the hillyellow jacket to Whatuwhiwhi. on the way out the door.I'm pretty sure I that have some kind of P.T.S.D about launching the boat as every time we do it, I get flash backs to the Takapuna boat ramp and holding the boat all by myself as the swell would twist and turn it sideways and I'd be cursing for Justin to hurry up and retrieve the trailer. (Yes, still on the list is to learn to back the trailer, but don't hold it against me).However, with not one other boat or person on the beach, and my anxieties aside, we managed a smooth launch with our small boat.So, we were practically jumping for joy at finally being out on the boat and we decided to fish the shallows, hearing some reports from the locals on their recent outings and, of course, to try 36FISHING IN GODZONE JUL/AUG 2023"