Hi all Been a few weeks of rotten weather on the westcoast here in Mokau.
With daylight saving started i can be home from work at 4 pm and all lines out by 4.30 pm. Looked good at lunchtime so geared up, zoomed home after work, quick feed, chucked 20 thawed out Kahawhai fillets in the icy tec and i was away! Wasn't a flash launch off beach, took one wave making my big installed skuppers work overtime! Was a little bit of a swell running so fished one of my close in spots.
First hour nothing then ever so slightly a drag starting clicking until it increased to line peeling off! Gave it the brakes and hooked up on a good snapper. Played it to net a nice fat fish close to 20 lbs. Another hour or so passed and as there wasn't much action freshened up baits to whole fillet and a half just hanging from bottom hook. Lay accross boat on me tiny seats with legs hanging over side just watching straylines as i often do.
Within five minutes of bait change, A freight train hit!!! My term for a real big snap! The line was flying off the reel. I sprung up from lying down grabbed rod still screaming out and struck! over it went big bend time for action. About an 8-10 minute play to net. I was picking it for a mid 20 lb fish, but when i saw it coming up knew it was alot bigger!! high fived myself, adrenaline pumping took a few minutes to organise the boat. Rods everywhere big snap going ape in net. i only have about a metre between seats to do everything.
After it was dead got the measurer out for photo's! its a beauty 89 cm long. Showed a few people on way home and by the time i got photo's light was fading and they are not that flash. Iv'e got budgie scales, have included a few shots showing weight as well as me holding fish. If they up over fourteen, fifteen kg weigh em on calibrated scales as ive caught a few now that weight. No mount for the fish just sharing it round after getting cold smoked.