Hi All,
Been having some fun times boating, snorkelling and fishing with the kids lately. In previous summers they'd only last a few hours, whereas now they're coming out on big missions and lasting the whole day. Really rewarding seeing them develop their fishing skills and taking an interest in the ocean. Just cool days on the water, anything else is a bonus.
Well, last week we got a big bonus! Took the young fella, Oscar for a mission out wide. Was stoked how he coped with the sea. Good solid 2m easterly swell with a bit of sw chop on top and he was buzzing at the chance of hooking a marlin. In saying that interest started to wane, and at about the 2pm mark the call was made "Dad lets pull the lines in and go catch a hapuka"
Lures were pulled out, spot lined up on the trusty old Furuno FCV600L in bottom zoom, and droppers rigged with some fresh skippy cubes, one for him and one for me. First drift he got some attention straight away and brought his line up from 200m, rebaited and he was nearly back down, when my rod got bumped, I wound into it and my 37kg CD bent butt tournament rod buckled over hard, the swell lifted the boat up and man….there was some serious weight there. Is that the bottom? Few more winds and there was a nod and a slight change in angle. "Man that looks like a huge bass to me" I said to the young fella. He started winding all the way back in while I had a bit of a tustle on my hands. Eventually got it up and it hit the surface with a BOOM like a submarine "HOLY S****" from the young fella, had to turn a blind eye to the language in the circumstances…. He will never forget the sight of that thing hitting the surface.
Thought it was a solid fish, maybe 50 or so, bit tried to lift it in and Naaaaa. not enough Weetbix aye.
Am i getting weak or is this a biggin? Man, I've got bigger marlin over the side by myself, but all the weight is in the head aye, time to have a think about this….
Bit of a hand from the young fella…naaa…
Round the back of the boat, over the transom and finally got em…
Tried to lift up for a photo but not a shot
Been to the Three Kings three times and seen a 60kg by my Dad and a 66kg to both Boulder and Drew, so well stoked to pip those on home turf. Back at the weigh scales, and a new club record at 68.95kg.
Into the chiller for the night at Tairua Butchery for the flesh to set, then the big mission the next day to cut up. Guts disposed of, everything else, head, wings, frame and lots of fillets got divvied up and shared out around town. Couple of nice feeds kept for us, Fogdog Panko crumbed Bass on top of a nice leek risotto…you beaut!
Now, time to plan the next mission….