Fishing: Ready for battle

One of the most prolific yet underrated of our fish is the humble kahawai, but this tough battler is finally being recognised for its value as a light tackle sport fish.

In other countries anglers would fall over themselves to have the chance of hooking a kahawai. In Australia, salmon, as the same fish is called, is highly regarded. The name comes from its likeness to freshwater salmon and the scientific name, Aripis trutta, stems from its trout-like appearance.

Kahawai are important in our sport fisheries as the ideal entry-level species for those starting out, but the pugnacious kahawai is not always easy to catch. The common plastic lure with two hooks, the Smiths jig, in either white, green or chrome, can still be found on most boats - usually attached to a stout handline.

And trolling this old favourite through a school of kahawai as they splash and dart after baitfish - while delicate terns wheel and dive overhead - is the time-honoured approach to kahawai fishing. But kahawai can be frustrating, ignoring the offerings as they continue to feed in full view. The reason is that their quarry is much smaller than the lures. It is all about size.

Sometimes the kahawai will be chasing whitebait-sized fish, at other times eating plankton or krill.

The answer is to change the approach and employ tactics used by trout fishermen.

Angling for trout involves different values. It is a delicate business, as much about admiration for the quarry, the challenge and the environment in which it is found as it is about catching fish.

By contrast, saltwater fly-fishing is far more brutal, where the dynamics are tougher and the tackle tested to the limit.

But the small flies used by trout anglers are well received by the sea fish. The silver smelt flies are perfect imitations of the bait commonly on the menu and a nymph makes a very effective plankton simulator.

So when the kahawai ignore the usual silver spinners and plastic jigs, take a leaf out of the trout angler's book and reach for a size 6 Grey Ghost. The delicate fly can be fished on a salt water rod. Just tie it to a 2m trace of 4kg breaking strain mono and connect this to a swivel, adding a small ball sinker above the swivel to take the fly down.

Then troll through the feeding kahawai and see what happens. A fly rod with a sinking line can be used for trolling and casting. Another trout tactic which really fills the bin with kahawai is the lead-core line used for deep trolling on lakes.

This is colour-coded in 10m increments and two or three colours are sufficient, with a longer trace than is used for the fly. The trace should also be a little stronger.

The lure can be a smelt fly, but the popular trout trolling lures such as a silver toby or cobra in clown colour (white with spots) work far better on this gear.

The reels commonly used for lake trolling are single-action, bakelite reels with a large drum. This tackle is perfect for slow trolling and because the line gets down several metres it will catch kahawai even when there is no surface activity. But be prepared for a reel which is spinning wildly, turning the knobs into a knuckle-duster on the strike. The drag should be set so the line does not run out while trolling, with the clicker on to signal a strike, but not too tight or the line may break. When playing a fish, extra pressure can be applied by palming the edge of the reel. Fishing for kahawai on this tackle improves angling skills as the fish cannot be forced into submission but must be handled carefully, keeping an even pressure on the line at all times, with the rod held high to absorb sudden surges.

When at the boat, kahawai should be netted as the hooks and tackle may not hold together if they are hoisted into the boat. Net them head first and only when they are lying on their side on the surface.

Kahawai have long been regarded as only good for smoking. Fishcakes or pie are other traditional dishes, and the fillets are fine when poached in milk. But when it comes to raw fish served Polynesian-style or as sashimi, there is none better. It is just a question of rapping the kahawai on the head and putting it on ice immediately. Bleeding fresh-caught kahawai is a popular ploy but whether this adds any value to the eating quality is questioned by many experienced anglers. But what is never in doubt is their sporting value.