Now with all neighbours present and all keen fishoās a plan was hatched while the fridge emptied, letās hook up and go fishing.
Next morning Nick and I have the boat loaded and await the company of others but seems their supervisors had other ideas, something to do with lawns and BBQās with their extended family. Oh well two upās ok and off we went before our supervisors had other ideas.
Arrived in Whitianga, couple of beers a meal and hit the bunks ready for an early start. The drive down providing plenty of time to discuss what we were going to catch and what our plan was.
0530hrs weāre at the bakery and hit the water chasing livebaits, other trips we had the tank full in no time but today took a bit more concentration and searching. It was a bleak and drizzly morning and while having been cooked by the sun over the past few days neither of us really packed any warm gear, oh well harden-up. Finally we had enough and headed off into a steady but confused and lumpy swell. The further out providing a steady swell with a bit of a breeze and finally we arrive at the pins north of the Aldermenās, baits away.
Game on and over the next couple of hours we plucked a few 15kg plus beautyās on board keeping two as that was all that would fit in the Tuna bag. Now here I must mention that while Iāve always been keen on fishing it is only in the last couple of years Iāve been more serious and looking at the gear I use. Nick on the other hand is well experience in a lot of techniques and has been a great source of information and education. While we wonāt admit to having a competition it somehow ends up that way.
Anyway weāre now into mid-afternoon and the kingyās are dropping off the bite, another two liveyās are deployed and the concentration is immense. Few signs on the sounder and Iām focused feeling the line as I lower it down. Twitches are increasing Iām at 30mtrs, sorry mate but youāre going deeper, 40mtrs, a couple of tugs, choice I think while quietly saying to myself ādonāt strikeā. WTF, sheās a biggy, my live-bait that is but how can it lift that sinker. My line is now looking limp, I start winding it in slowly, a bit of pressure comes on, yep Iām hooked. Now Iām thinking phuk and I say to Nick here comes a jumper, bloody Marcoās.
We both stand looking at my line now rising rapidly and pressure building. Then bugger me a bill starts to show followed by a big head, some colour and bit of tail walking. āMarlinā we both called and Iām on. Now Nick never gets his line out of the water for me but today all rods were carefully thrown into the cabin and the deck cleared, this was part of the plan but not on the smaller of my jigging rods which the bail arm had broken on a previous drop.
Lines peeling out, the reels screaming and weāre into battle. Itās over the next hour or so we both think great, now what do we do, especially when we got it alongside at one point, suddenly Nickās boat felt a lot smaller (6.1 Surtees) and so did we. A call was made to one that didnāt come but had landed a marlin before, whether Nick was after actual advice or just to wind him up Iām not sure but a few tips were passed over. Now Nick being the caring helpful type did offer me a knife, a beer and various other forms of support. After about 1.5hrs of long runs and spectacular jumps I made a mistake and took one hand off the rod for some rest, cramps were starting. This was a mistake as now my hand was closed and I couldnāt open it so the rod was passed over to one with a big grin.
One hand on the wheel and weāve now swapped rolls, small problem my hand has now cramped on the wheel. Itās now that I realise since Iāve given up the rod Iāll have to grab the trace and thatās at the end with the club. Anyway Nickās on for another 3/4hr or so and we figure out a way to wear the beast down, weāre down to 20mtrs, 10mtrs, the PR knot shows, my turn again, I grab the trace and start pulling and we get it alongside. What a big bill you have, anyway here it was and after having it alongside for a minute or so I couldnāt reach the bill the kingy hook rolled out and we lost it released it. We watched as it gently swam alongside and glided back to where we had interrupted its day, what an awesome sight.
It was now approaching 1800hrs, we said goodbye and headed for home re-hydrating. Nick sits down to drive and finds his not so fresh livey sitting at his feet from his prompt clearing of the deck. Arriving back weāre greeted by the motel owner who asks how we went and the story was told. Shower and headed off for something to eat while they were open. Quick scoff couple of beers and time to wonder back, walking past the ramp we stop to see how others had got on as it was dark and surely this late meant they had a good catch. They asked about us, story time again of which they replied, āso youāre the twoā bugger me news travels fast, we were legends in our own minds and world famous in Whitianga.
Anyway, bunks were calling and wasnāt long before lights out that night. Finally get the body moving and weāre off, bakery and liveyās. Didnāt take long to fill the tank and weāre able to head out earlier with some good large baits. The swell was gentle and the chop on top had eased so it was a good gentle muscle loosener on the trip out. We arrived, bit more of a crowd today. Found a spot and weāre on, quite proud of one I had but with no blood and a clean hookup had Nick grinning as he released it for all to see. Then Nick lands a good solid 20 plus one, bugger no pressure. Couple more drops and we seem to have something playing with our baits but no runs, just large taps or thumps.
Choice Nicks hooked the bottom thatās him out the way for a while. Hang on weāre in 100mrs and heās only got out 40 plus. As each swell passes by the rod bends and straightens, heās locked up with max drag on a PE5. Then a couple of small but solid shakes and the lines just peeling out slowly, 20mtrs gone. Same again sits still then swims effortlessly, another lot of line out, this having Nick on his knees the short rod jammed on the rail with his hands underneath and the other end in the water, lovely, my turn for some useful tips and advice. Typical, after my effort yesterday Nick just has to hook something bigger. This time he broke, I grabbed the rod, braced myself, knees on the gunnel, back straight, Iām ready. Then it simply powers up, more line gone and snap goes the braid.
Oh well bugger this live baiting weāre off trolling some plastics, much easier. Did this for a while before heading in and heading home.
Home and shattered by 1930 and the neighbour comes over to check out our stories over a few ales. Photos he asks, no need check this out we got his autograph, bill marks on the side and itās now Nick notices itās a āMā for marlin. Choice
It was a calm Saturday morning in 2010.
I turned my alarm off at 0430. It did not wake me, I had not
slept well after a night thinking about the fish we were about to catch off the
West Coast.
I rolled over and told my better looking half, If I catch a
10lb+ Snapper today I will do a victory lap of the boat.
That was it we were up and ready for our one hour drive to
the boat ramp, hoping to launch before sunrise.
What happened over the next few hours only disappointed.
Shark after shark with the occasional small Cod. These were not Spiny Dogs but
big School sharks between 5 and 6 feet.
I had just battled four consecutive 5 ft flaming sharks so
decided to up anchor and try a drift across the reef, usually holding good Blue
cod.
Not far into our drift the rod bends over with that typical
sharky feel about it, big hard nods and long runs. āBloody sharkā I said to my
trusty fishing partner. āRemember to play it like a snapper she said, thatās
what you always tell me.ā
Anyway did I listen, NO, I cranked the drag up and winched
the Beast in. Within minutes I could barely believe my eyes, this fish that
rolled over was not grey, it was Red and white. Wholly crap, (and other words)
left my mouth, get the Bloody net it's a Snapper, an bloody big snapper......
A desperate surge forward with the net by my boatwoman, and
the beast was flapping around on the deck. A few high fives and wahoo's and
splash there I was diving in to the deep blue for my lap of Whiskey Bravo.
Probably a good thing I forgot for a second about all the
sharks we had been releasing. Back in the boat to consider my catch.
This was when the neighbouring boat came over to help after
hearing screams and looking over to a big splash as I entered the water. Poor
folks thought we were in trouble and I was MOB.
Anyway long story short, I had completed my first swim of
the Wanganui fishing season, It was November and the water 14Degrees. Did I feel
the cold. Nope, not that I can remember but this will go down as one of my
biggest fishing memories.
One I will tell to my grandchildren when they ask about my 19.47lb snapper on the Living room wall.
CrayZfish wrote: It was a calm Saturday morning in 2010. I turned my alarm off at 0430. It did not wake me, I had not
slept well after a night thinking about the fish we were about to catch off the
West Coast. I rolled over and told my better looking half, If I catch a
10lb+ Snapper today I will do a victory lap of the boat. That was it we were up and ready for our one hour drive to
the boat ramp, hoping to launch before sunrise. What happened over the next few hours only disappointed.
Shark after shark with the occasional small Cod. These were not Spiny Dogs but
big School sharks between 5 and 6 feet. I had just battled four consecutive 5 ft flaming sharks so
decided to up anchor and try a drift across the reef, usually holding good Blue
cod. Not far into our drift the rod bends over with that typical
sharky feel about it, big hard nods and long runs. āBloody sharkā I said to my
trusty fishing partner. āRemember to play it like a snapper she said, thatās
what you always tell me.ā Anyway did I listen, NO, I cranked the drag up and winched
the Beast in. Within minutes I could barely believe my eyes, this fish that
rolled over was not grey, it was Red and white. Wholly crap, (and other words)
left my mouth, get the Bloody net it's a Snapper, an bloody big snapper...... A desperate surge forward with the net by my boatwoman, and
the beast was flapping around on the deck. A few high fives and wahoo's and
splash there I was diving in to the deep blue for my lap of Whiskey Bravo. Probably a good thing I forgot for a second about all the
sharks we had been releasing. Back in the boat to consider my catch. This was when the neighbouring boat came over to help after
hearing screams and looking over to a big splash as I entered the water. Poor
folks thought we were in trouble and I was MOB. Anyway long story short, I had completed my first swim of
the Wanganui fishing season, It was November and the water 14Degrees. Did I feel
the cold. Nope, not that I can remember but this will go down as one of my
biggest fishing memories. One I will tell to my grandchildren when they ask about my 19.47lb snapper on the Living room wall. |
CrayZfish wrote: Thanks Smudge. Snapper was mounted by Richard Hawke in Scotts ferry. Funnily enough about a month before the mount was finished I caught a bigger fish that went 21.5lbs also from Wanganui. In both days those snapper were the only ones caught. |
smudge wrote: Otto, seriously cool story! |
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