"Capt Phil" You should do a report of how the weekend went.... "John" Aye!!
Ok just cause you asked me too. Man it's been a wee while since I've done one...
I booked a 2 day trip with Capt Phil of Reel Life Charters. Boat was ship shape again, wont go on about that
20-21. Was keeping a very close eye on the weather, Check in with Phil & trip still on. But, hate that... Sats no good to head out from Whangaroa so he proposed a New Plan.. Chase some snaps in the BOI... cool sounds good, guys wanted some anyhow. We arrive at His place unload gear into "The Man Cave" crack a few brews & in the morn we're off to Doves bay. First time fishing these parts. Livie's were scarce but had a couple kg's of Pillies so Phil took us to the middle ground & we had a drift using a miriad of lures & pillie's. Not much happening I got a nice fish & Samoa got an Auckland fish...
Bait ran out & the tide was getting to the stage Capt wanted. So we went in search of some livie's
& Yes!! found em & quickly filled the tank. Went back to his secret possie 25 odd metres anchored & started the berley trail once we were sorted. What happened next was one of the best Snapper strayline sessions we've had in a long time. Armed with my Torium 14 which had just been serviced by Sato at YeeHaa, on a Terez 20-40 rod. 8/0 gammie Circle & 8/0 gammie Octopus running 30lb sufix 832 braid & 41lb fluoro trace with a 1oz sinker. Started with Jack macs butterflied working beautifully. Capt suggested using them alive & cut the tail to bleed em & booya 16.8lb's later plus various snaps from 8-12lb, I was havin a ball... during our session looked at how the guy's were doing. Samoa what size are your hooks, 5/0 he replied!! wtf!! seriously!! this is where the "Awwwww!!" fish was invented. He would get good hits let the fish run "strike" rod loads then Awwwwww!!!!
Try a bigger hook bro... OK.... result after putting on an 8/0 gammie circle...13 odd lb...
Nice fish bro.... still... this looks a tad better
Our other mate Max was using 6's..... but was doing ok.. Steve was using ummm yeah... left him to it.. was a mean few hours. Once the biting slowed went to check a spot that had some good sign earlier in about 6m of water, but now nothing sooo off back to the mancave a fish cleaning session & man the Lion Red never tasted so good....
Capt checking the forecast for Sunday & he said 5-10 knots should be a good day for Puka.
Day 2: boys well rested eager to get into some Kingi's & Puka. Off to Whangaroa Harbour, that place is just awesome. Catching livie's was easy filled the tank to overflowing & off. Even though the wind dropped the sea was still settling so a few bumps on the way out, which caused the chair I was on to break
Capt said thats been there for 12yrs.... even Boulder sits on that chair no worrie's... one of the reason's why I'm doing this report
.....
Ok this time I'm armed with a Poseidon 500r twin drag reel (see Boulder) for these beautie's with 80lb sufix performance braid on a Daiwa Monster Mesh upto 300grm Rod. Samoa had a Dogfight combo Max a marlin reel said Capt.... Steven only bought a snapper outfit....
Guy's are setting up livie traces & I start with a jig 300grm zest.. Yup no secrets here folks just like the ITM fishing show
Ohh the sabiki's used were from Uncle
have I forgotten anyone??
Jigging not to flash. Capt took us to a spot where you catch Kingi & Puka in the same area. So livie set up. & 75m of water & we're dropping the baits. Some good sign down there, Samoa is on 1st, line was peeling off the Dogfight, Capt tells him to WIND!!! I can't was the reply
we were in fits of laughter.. again Capt tells him wind!!! if he gets to the bottom you'll lose it. I'm next to him & say LIFT!! & wind, again was the I can't
... Bro gotta do something!!! Nek Minnit Awwwwww!!!! yup bye bye fish... mate you tame the fish, not it kick your ass
Waste a good reel for you
Then I feel a hit & slowly dropped the rod tip down let it load up & Yuss!!! fish on!!! quickly get line on & 2 colours on whew then the fish goe's all hell for the bottom, holy Sh..!!
it's taking line like it's in freespool!! Samoa's turn to say Lift!! Wind!!
Ok bro this is how you do it, So I lift & it was not freakin easy & half a wind
lift & half a wind then lift 1 wind & slowly but surely I was making head way, gotta tell you's this fish was not giving up, it fought like a mutha trucker & was not going to give up easy & neither was I, even when we got it onboard it was still flapping around. After all the commotion settled, told Samoa that's how we roll!! yes Sir!!
30 odd kilo's boat was moving for an accurate reading but it'll do
Our next drift, I let Steven have a go with my outfit so I could have a rest
Ok bro let em go, soon as you feel it hit the bottom wind the handle a few times to keep it about 2m off the bottom, don't want to catch rock fish
when you feel something pulling lower the tip down slowly & hold on!! Sure enough he was on Fuc... *^#@!!! he yells... Ok bro lift & wind get some line back #$^%... what was that
come on bro lift that rod & wind go go go... lift & wind, lift & half wind
long as you getting some line back bro keep going, nek minnit he's high sticking wtf!! wooo wooo bro don't lift that high, you break it you bought it
up pops a very nice Kingi. high 5 bro... how was that #%$^&@ puff puff pant
what bro! #%$^@ puff puff pant
welcome to catching Kingi's bro
The boys get a couple more before it slowed. Capt said ok we're off to the 200m spot.... Dammm. We get there & I remember Boulder said Capt had electric reels.... mateeeee!! yes pls. Everytime we dropped it down it pulled up a Puka or Bass, only way to fish those depths. Max was using a torium 50?? he got a nice Puka. Then Samoa wanted to have a go with it. He deploys it & not long after we can see something having a go at it,
WIND says the Capt, Samoa saying look fish biting again Capt says WIND it!!
so he's winding can see the fish fighting he stops see there's a fish see look. Capt wind it dont talk
half way up ok someone else pls
Max was waiting to hit the button on the Tanacom, so I said I will do it, Max then jumps over grabs the rod & winds only to then see me hit the button
Damm I wanted to do that, well I did offer to reel in that one. Up came a Bass. Max winds in nothing...... When Samoa gave him the rod the fish got away.. Capt said too much talking not enough winding, when you stopped to talk, the fish had time to throw the hook..... Awwwww!!! guess who bought the beers...
time for 1 more drop. I deployed Maxes outfit this time trying to keep the sinker just off the bottom, nek minnit the line starts getting tight cool, but aw aww something different about this, bugger a rock fish aahhh.. I turn into an anchor so up comes the other outfit Capt puts boat in reverse, slowly get line back & there's a fish on Capt. Ok boat reverses a little more, sure enough I can feel a fish!! Capt says let the line loose it may swim its self out, I do just that & after a bit start winding hey presto, excellent. Half way up Samoa comes over, here let me wind it now
This time bro wind no talking ok... It's up top hook a nice Puka bottom a Red Cod!! it had it's gut cavity torn out & a V cut into it's tail. Thinking that's what was caught in a crack or something...
Thats our trip done plenty of fish for all. Some good learnings for the guys & a very very goodtime had by all.
Big up's
To Capt Phil, he'll take you out put you onto Fish.. all you have to do is catch em... easy
He really is a great Capt & person, can't recommend him enough. You get a chance to go out with him take it, or I will
Have done a few trips with him now, most with Boulder. Believe me I'll be back!!
The guys said to say hell yeah we had a great time.. Their!! out on Wave Dancer (knew I forgot someone) today. Just got a txt from Max got our quota but back to catching Auckland fish
Max with some of the catch
Yup you know who bought the beers
wonder if I get a discount on the next trip
for this report...
Time for a lion red
cheers
John
edit: added this pic of my rod in action...