A Guideline with Mako Lodge and Fishing Charters by Mark Kitteridge

Mako Lodge was snuggled within dense northern bush, facing out over the mirror-calm Bay of Islands. Even at this stage I knew that it was going to be a very nice place to stay and wished I’d brought a partner along to share the opportunity.

The welcoming committee was there to meet me — Tess, Mako Lodge’s wannabe watchdog, menaced me with her fast wagging tail and licky tongue. Jean’s smiling face met me at the doorway. “Come on in,” she said, “Graeme’s here but he’s just had a shower so it might be better if we wait for him to get some clothes on.” I agreed; some things are best kept secret on one’s first charter with a new skipper!

Graeme joined us a couple of minutes later, and after introductions and a beer or two, he showed me around their lovely property. The amount of wildlife was phenomenal, particularly the birds. “Overseas visitors in particular just can’t believe what they see and hear here. They all comment on the bellbirds in the mornings and the moreporks at night,” Graeme explained.

I asked him if he cheated by playing bird-sounds tapes outside their windows, but Graeme just laughed.

Down at the bottom of the lodge is a grassy lawn and some big trees to sit under, one with a wooden bench table and seats. A canoe and dinghies are available for guests to use, as is an outboard motor. “There’s heaps of snapper in this bay,” Graeme said, “and there’s a lot of mullet and flounder, too. If I set a net, I usually catch between 5 and 20 a day — more than enough for a good breakfast.”

He next showed me around the various accommodation facilities. The 6-person ‘homestay’ where I stayed features full kitchen facilities, a TV/VCR (with video library), separate toilet, bathroom and shower, radio, hairdryer and a laundry (both washer and dryer).

The rooms are large and spacious, spotlessly clean and tastefully decorated. I had the choice of several single beds or a super-king-size, so of course I took a single (like hell I did!).

In front of the sitting-room picture windows, a large balcony provided a great vantagepoint to look out over the mirror-calm seas. In addition, there is also a separate double bedroom downstairs, complete with basic necessities. This can be used either for the spill-over from upstairs, or simply as a pleasant and inexpensive place to lay down your head at the end of a long day — ditto for the downstairs unit beneath the lodge proper. This is popular with ‘the boys’ who come up for some fishing and a few social drinks — reasonably basic, but clean, tidy and very comfortable.

The lodge itself also offers the previously mentioned amenities, as well as the option of a gas barbecue. Although it is possible to make your own meals, Jean makes such tasty food at such reasonable rates; good intentions generally fold after the first evening. We had smoked kingfish and raw oysters with dipping sauces for an entree, followed by roast pork and vegetables (including the interesting accompaniment of a pear stewed in cinnamon) and then a dessert of home-made ice-cream, fresh strawberries and cream. The menu changes constantly, but borrows heavily from the sea and whatever is in season — some of which comes out of their own garden. Delicious!

Later, giddy from a little too much wine, I laid down my head and went into a happy, satisfied sleep, accompanied by Graeme’s morepork tape playing outside. At five the next morning this was switched over to the bellbird tape — but a little bit too loudly, I thought. Despite playing in full Dolby sound, and the songster obviously giving its all, I was thankful when it was apparently switched off a few minutes later. After that, I lay awake for the last hour, thinking about all the snapper and kingfish just waiting to be caught. Apart from the occasional sound of an enthusiastic bird, the outside world was filled with an overwhelming silence.

Out Fishing

Jean made up a hearty breakfast and while enjoying it, we were joined by our third member, Grant, from Volpower. Like me, Grant was keen to catch kingfish and snapper — in whatever order, but preferably big.

Rather than make two or three trips over to Mako aboard the small dinghy with all our gear, we decided instead to meet Graeme at the nearby Russell Wharf, only five minutes away. By the time we jumped on board, Graeme had three sets of baitfly gear out and waiting to be used — but first we had the safety features and procedures explained — and as I have often said, this should be done on every charter. The schools of mackerel turned out to be patchy, but we filled up the live bait tank steadily. I also had a good fight with a reasonable gurnard, but the small fly hook ripped out as it lay flapping on the surface.

With over 30 baits in the tank we were away, our first destination ‘The 71’, a reef that is mile or two off Cape Brett.

We started by drifting across the area with a couple of weighted live bait rigs, but unfortunately, apart from the odd barracouta and a couple of small kingfish, not a lot was happening. The only real excitement came as I was wrestling with a monster ‘couta, and about thirty nice kingies came up with it. Bloody typical!

After three hours of intensive fishing for little reward we decided to go elsewhere, this time to an area of foul off Waiwiri Rock.

By this stage I was in full-on jigging mode; my original Butterworth Jig King Deluxe rod, 454 Newell reel and 200g Raider jig whipping up a storm. This effort produced a small kingfish before the jig finally enticed something a little more substantial, and it was a great feeling to have some line reversing off the reel against a stern drag. It took five minutes to overcome the fish, which turned out to be a kingfish of around 8 or 9kg. We were all relieved. Then it was off to the Bird.

Even as we neared we could see a lot of activity, with birds wheeling and squawking and the splashes of feeding fish erupting below them. On the first drift I successfully landed another small king on the jig, as well as a very large barracouta.

Graeme decided to try a different drift, and as we slowed, a heap of kingfish could be seen milling around under the boat. Although only verging on legal size, they were particularly willing and we had an hour of rod-wrenching action before we’d had our fill. Just seeing them fighting over the jigs a couple of metres from the boat was a real thrill after the anti-climax of the morning, and Graeme was kept busy tracing and releasing fish, one after another. The school was over 100 metres long and in light of all the gloomy reports about the big kingies disappearing, it offered some hope for the future.

With only a couple of hours left at this stage, it was time for a snapper fish. On our way to Roberton Island, Graeme suddenly swerved and headed in a different direction — “I’ve just got a gut feeling…” he explained.

Upon arrival, I quickly appreciated his decision; a large gut swirled and foamed ahead of us, and the weedy coastline on either side screamed ‘Big Fish!’ Graeme soon had an effective berley trail in place, the frozen block supplemented by chopped pieces of pilchard and mackerel. Action wasn’t long in coming. I started with a 1.5kg fish, and Graeme took one of about 4kg. Then they started to get bigger — much bigger. Graeme got the ball rolling with a lovely fish of around 8kg and I thought that this was probably going to be the fish of the day. Then Grant landed one of 6-7kg, and in the midst of taking photos of these lovely fish, I managed to lose two howling runs on whole mackerel — both of which ended in bust-offs.

The next fish was not so lucky. This fish took a butterflied mackerel and pulled off a heap of line. It had plenty of weight to it and its big, thumping headshakes made me nervous. I wished it had been hooked on the 10kg outfit instead of my six, but it was too late now. Besides, I eventually landed it: a fish knocking on the old 20lb door. My day was made.

But we couldn’t leave just yet, as the opportunity was just too tempting — and we’d only been there for around 40 minutes!

In the remaining twenty minutes (our agreed departure time), another fish of around 7kg was landed before I hooked up on another howler. It took around 20 metres off the reel and fought stubbornly all the way back, often surging away on powerful runs. When the pink-brown form came to the surface and thrashed around, I didn’t realise how big the fish was, until it was netted and brought on board. What a beauty!

The Salter scales said 24.5-lb (11.3kg) — my biggest this year. (Well done, Graeme — that gut-instinct was spot-on!).

With five big fish on board, catching any more would have been wasteful and irresponsible, so with a mixture of jubilation and regret (there had to be 30-lber there!), we headed for home.

The Boat

Measuring 8.2 metres in length, Mako is Graeme’s third attempt at finding the ideal boat and I reckon he’s found it. This boat is seaworthy, very stable, spacious, dry and easy to fish from. It is also meticulously set-up, fully equipped and totally functional — just like everything that Graeme does.

There’s enough seating forward to shelter his maximum of six anglers from the elements — and it even has a proper flush-loo up front — but the cockpit’s still huge and the rocket launcher is angled to keep the spare rods out of the way. We cast and struck to our hearts’ content without any problems at all.

Although he specialises in sportfishing (especially for kingfish, snapper and hapuka), Graeme also has the gear and inclination to go gamefishing (a full complement of 24-37kg Penn International gear), as well as cruise around his beautiful home waters for those who wish to do so. A barbie or picnic on the beach of a sandy island is a McIntosh speciality.

Graeme provides a light lunch and refreshments as part of his service — as is a famous Paihia Bomb seasickness pill for those who need it - or just want to make sure.

I built up a fair amount of admiration for Graeme. He works his butt off trying to keep everyone’s fishing chances alive while at the same time endeavouring to provide services at other levels, such as making coffee, sorting out lunches, icing down any fish caught and so on. I bet he sleeps well at night.

Graeme expects to do everything for his anglers and is dedicated to going the extra mile. If you like to do your own rigs or put your own baits on, you’d better let him know, as that’s usually his job. And if you don’t catch anything as a result, don’t blame him!

Graeme has worked out methods and techniques that work and if customers want to do their own thing, it is at their own risk. He wants to see his clients land fish and take home some great memories, as well as a few skite photos.

All fish brought on board are cleaned as per your wishes before the day’s end and kept in good condition in the very large icebox.

Last Word

I came away well satisfied with my stay at the Macintosh’s. They are a warm, accommodating couple who will go to the 'enth degree' to make your stay as pleasant as possible. They pride themselves on adapting to suit the various needs of their clients and judging by my own stay, there must be a plenty of happy Mako Lodge visitors around. Graeme and Jean are charming hosts and I felt as if they were old friends by the end of my 36 hour visit. I recommend that you take some friends or family to share the experience.