Kayaking on the Coromandel

There's nothing I love better than catching snapper and kings on Gulp, during a recent trip to New Zealand's Coromandel peninsula I jumped onto one of Rob Fort's kayaks for a bit of a paddle and a cast around some of the spectacular inshore islands. It didn't take long for the action start, its quite different fighting larger fish from a kayak as you get towed around trying to land them. Fresh kiwi snapper, scallops, crayfish and a cold beer, hard to beat I reckon.

Rob and his partner Jackie Danton are both part of the Berkley New Zealand Pro Team and run a kayak and guiding business out of Coromandel town on the North Islands east coast. Rob is also a talented artist that spends many hours producing amazing air brush works of New Zealands marine life and fish species.

A nice catch of kiwi snapper that come out of the shallows around the islands, lightly weighted 5 inch Gulp Jerk shads are always deadly around the kelp lined rocky edges. Rob and Jackie's kayaks were perfectly set up for this style of fishing with quality electronics, multiple rod holders and a sea anchor on a handy sliding retrieve system to slow your drift when needed .

When Robs not out catching the hell out them on Gulp, he's in his studio painting or creating something stunning.