Well, tough, Kerren, because I don't remember - ever - to take a camera out fishing, and the photographer who took pics after I returned to shore has yet to email me one.  But, like Rachel Hunter's hair, it will happen...

 

Meantime, you'll need to convert words into mental pictures, from the tale that is unfolding now.

 

The Northland Kayak Fishing Club has an expedition every month, and yesterday was Bland Bay's turn.  It looked like a good day was about to occur at 0645, when the first few of us were setting up on the beach, and indeed it became even better.  Clear sky, no/little breeze, sea with about a 1m swell.

 

I was one of the first on the water, because my yak fishing is done with 2 softbait rods with baitcasters on 'em, no electronics, no gaff, no net, no drogue; just one old grey b****** for propulsion and an anchor for stopping.  And because I'm an OGB, I headed for the nearest bit of rock facing the open sea, whilst the keen types headed away over the northern horizon.

 

First cast, zing pow a fighting kahawai; returned to Tangaroa.  Second cast, same, also returned because I have heaps of smoked KY at home. (Yes, Eliza, you can make KY Jelly smoke - wanna find out how???).

 

Third cast, nada, fourth BANG WOW; now, I've been catching some big snapper recently, but when this guy took off, it was the irresistible force.  I thought I was getting it under control, but then "ping", the braid parted on an underwater rock.  Probably a kingi, though it felt a bit slower - you know, more the diesel freight train than the F1 car.  Words were uttered.

 

More casting into the rocks under a small cliff, no more customers, so I just drifted a bit out to sea with the low offshore breeze, just relaxing on the lift and fall of the swell.  A few 38-40cm pannies on board: released because I already had some snapper at home from Saturday morning's dinghy session.  My eyes were pulling me towards a small offshore reef system that the swell was breaking on.  So was the tide. 

 

 A bit of a paddle off to one side, maybe 20m away from the exposed reef, and then just drop the 5" jerkshad into the deeper water at the edge.  No takers, but as the bait reached the surface again, a large pink missile came up after it, missed, and flicking its tail at me, shot back down into the green, leaving a boil of water on the surface.  I just let the bait go down immediately, wafting, not working, and then...nudge nudge, touch touch, awaaaayyyy.

 

This one just took off, out to sea.  I was being towed, gaining a bit, losing a bit, put some more weight on, and "ping" again.  I don't f@#@$%^&ing believe it!

 

In a fit of pique, I paddled south to the sea side of another island, fished right in to the wash, catching a few bigger pannies.  One better fish, about 60cm, pulled me closer to the rocks and breaking swell so I had to paddle away with the reel disengaged to avoid becoming plastic and person pizza.  Ah, well, killed him for the struggle he put me to.

 

The wind had turned to a southerly by now, so pushed me back towards that offshore reef (huh - "offshore": maybe 400m from shore).  Caught a few more pannies and better over the sand, and then, oh, and then, just within 30m of the breaking swell on the sea side of the reef...

 

More quiet nuzzling at the bait.  I think there's something here; I think we have a solid customer...patient, patient, yes, take the SB for a walk.  And....Strike! Yep, you beauty, we're away again.  The reef was now closer, and the fish was heading in towards it.  Probably had a home in one of the channels underwater - there are big fingers of rock pointing out to sea here.  Meantime, I was up above, watching the water level go up and down 1 1/2m or so, blue-green turning to white, now only 5m away.  Better put the reel out of gear and me into reverse.  Thumb on spool and paddled backwards, all the time ensuring he's still there.

 

Then when out further again, I coaxed him back out to sea.  Big circles now, getting smaller - 4 times around or so, then he was at the surface.  Ah, yes, Music from Big Pink. Splosh and back down he dived, coaxed back up, down and up.  I reached over, and he shot away towards the reef again.  Eventually, and only 10m away from the breaking water, hand into his gills, and aboard.  Another paddle away from the reef, then ikied and into the back. 

 

Kids, don't try this at home.

 

Now the decision.  Will I try for more?  This was a big fish, mid-20s probably, but catching one only could just be a fluke.  Ah, stuff it, let's have another go.  A few minutes' rest to let the OGB's heart rate lower, and then paddled down to the reef's side where I lost the goodie before.

 

Second cast, more nudge nudge, felt like a smaller customer, then when it swam away with bait in mouth, yes, more flicky on the tail; must be smaller.  And then I tried putting more weight on it.  S***tabloodybrick I've got a submarine on here.  15 minutes of battle, this time all the way around the reef - 50 metres at least in diameter - some fraught moments with the stern of the yak almost in breaking water, and aboard.  No room in the rear well, so he sat on my lap.  In retrospect, not a good idea; the jaws of a 20lb-plus snapper right at your crigs.

 

Once again: Kids, don't try this at home.

 

OK OK OK, any more would be just plain greedy, so off to shore, 3/4 of an hour ahead of rendezvous time.

 

The club Weighmaster officiated: 86cm, 10.64kg; 90cm, 11.55kg; some smaller ones as well, all in the books.

 

"This thread is useless without pics."

 

Tough, Kezza.

 

PS the local smokie up here sorted the 2 bigger fish out overnight.  The smoked head alone of one weighed 1.9kg, and the bigger one 2.2kg.

 

PPS: all on 1/0 size hooks on 1/2oz Nitro jigheads, 5" Gulp! jerkshads of assorted muted colours, for them wot's into that sort of detail.

 

[Pics now up - see p2]

 

Look forward to hopefully seeing a pic or two.

 

Now that I'm very much keen on doing.  I'm a spectacular failure with them, as NJay keeps on reminding me.

 

 

My good gear never goes on the kayak: the Citica was dunked twice yesterday, the Rovex once.

 

But all my braid now is either 10lb or 4kg rated, apart from some Crystal Fireline 1.4kg on one spin reel.

 

I think the braid would mainly test around 15lb - my knots (garbage as they are), 2-3lb.

 

Have you found out how we can go about getting 'those' jigheads ordered in bulk (as opposed to the replacements with the same product code)?