Awesome trip mate, the grass is always greener on the other side!
I would have to agree about the Barra fight, Ive caught up to a metre long barra on 1-3kg bream rods with 8lb line and other than the first run I just had to be careful with their weight.
Question for you though, they don't look like the king threadfin Im used to (forgive my ignorance), what sort of threadies are they?
Oh and the Salmon are on at the Swansea channel, not many around off the beaches this season though ?