An intense week of work and study with no time for fishing had me looking at the weather and seeing nothing but gale force winds and high swell - except for Sunday. Sunday looked Pretty. Bludy. Good. Smudge was keen so a flurry of texts later and Smudge, Skoti and yours truly were heading out on Smudge2 for a day on the Manukau.
Because I was with the Gurnard Guru I settled back to watch and learn. Obviously that was the right approach as I pulled in the first Gurnard. Note to self: don't do a jig for catching the first Gurnard when on the Gurnard Guru's boat. Or at least be wearing a wetsuit and have a life jacket on.
Luckily Smudge's place in the universe was restored quickly by catching the next two Gurnard's. Being the good sport that he is, he let them both go before they were in the boat by not waiting for the net - or even calling for one (there weren't enough tissues on the boat so the next tides could be quite high).
Given the slightly "problematic" status of Gurnard fishing (i.e. according to Smudge it was going south in a hurry) we turned our attention to Kahawai. With not a bird in sight that endeavour didn't last long. Obviously I was to blame because at some point I may have suggested going after Kahawai. Another lesson learnt.
With the turn of the tide we headed back in to "Smudge's secret spot number 2" and there things started to heat up...as in Smudge caught a couple of Kahawai (which we were no longer targeting right Smudge?). Skoti and I matched his efforts by pulling in some of the smallest snapper seen in the Manukau. I was estatic! Not only had I caught the first Gurnard (against the Gurnard Guru) but I also caught the first Snapper and smallest Snapper! You can't beat that sort of fishing trifecta.
Slowly but surely the Gurnard Guru started getting runs on the board. Skoti kept up with him for a while - bringing in a nice Trevally and a few Gurnard - but the day ended with another win for the Gurnard Guru on a tough day for fishing. All up 8 Gurnard (on board), 3 Kahawai and 1 Trevally as well as 2 Gurnard lost (and countless tissues used)
Weather conditions ranged from calm and warm to chilly and choppy but all up it was another great day out.
If you're going out it seems a bit quiet at the moment. We weren't the only boats not getting a full quota and everyone we spoke to on the water seemed to be doing it tough too. Regardless, it's always good to get out on the water and once again learnt something from watching Smudge in action. Lesson 1 is: call for the net! Early would be preferable! Lesson 2: don't mention fish lost because the net wasn't called for.
Tight lines!