Fishing "down under"

First of occasional reports from Rhod, I used to fish at Rhyl  some 45 years ago before you lot stuffed the fishing up!
Friday here was a holiday commemorating those lost in the Gallipoli campaign in the last war.
The fencing supply yard I worked for put on a fishing charter for the staff and friends on the local Kaipara harbour, only an old displacement boat, but good to fish from. We decided not to venture to the "graveyard" near the harbour entrance as some of the crew would not be able to handle the current and the confused 1.5M swell, so we fished in shelter. We moved a couple of times as the current dictated, and a slow but steady stream of fish were caught, many of which would be familiar to you, 75cm tope, spotted dogfish, red gurnard (I think your tub gurnard with blue on the pectoral fins). I cannot remember if you get hammerhead sharks there? , also snapper, kahawai and silver trevally, nothing big, but good fun with good friends. Rhod (cannot seem to add photos)

Thanks for the report Rhod sounds like a great place   
Please keep trying with the photos   

Hammerhead Sharks.... we get them all the time    

Welcome to the forum Rhod!

I fished a bit in N.Z. when on my travels a few years ago. I recall having a good scrap with a stingray from the harbour beach at Whitianga (on herring gear    ). Do you get them over on the west coast?

You got me hooked in the first line!

If you can't crack the photos email them to me and I'll sort them out for you

Thanks for the report Rhod!

Yes, we get them everywhere mostly (brown) eagle rays up to 15 kg and fewer (black) short tailed stingrays up to very big!
Not particularly edible, but some people do, mind you round here some cultures will eat anything from the sea.
The eagle rays are good at burying themselves in the sand, and then take a bit of shifting. that's one reason we use 15 kg line, but they do put up a good scrap, and sometimes jump. Rhod