I remember when a planned fishing trip was a big deal. Everything was packed a full week before hand, you had your gear packed and repacked at least three times, each time your pack/tackle box got heavier and heavier. Then by the night before the trip it all got so intense you just couldn't sleep. Each time you fished a newer, more exotic location the sleep problem just got worse.
It's a lot easier these days. I'm off tomorrow for a trip out in the Hauraki Gulf. I'm leaving behind a stunning west coast fishery, a boat fueled up and ready to go to try my luck onboard charter vessel 2XS with skipper Tagit in an area I've fished many times before but it's certainly not my home turf.
So how do you prepare for a big adventure like this? Here's how you should do it:
Prepare everything throughout the week. Know where you're going, your target species and what you will be using (in this case snapper on lures & softbaits only). Only pack enough gear for that scenario. Get a good nights sleep beforehand because you will wake up in the dark and drive for over an hour. A good nights sleep will leave you feeling refreshed and ready to bring your A game. That's all there is to it.
OK now this is what really happens:
Leave all your gear scattered around from last weeks mission. Plan to leave work early on Friday afternoon, let's say 3.30pm. Remember to do that last hours worth of must do tasks at 3.20pm. Call into the local tackle shop at 4.30pm. Buy more stuff than you need.
Answer your mates txt and say yes, I will call in for a beer. Just one. Drink your beer and spend another hour talking nonsense.
Txt your wife and call her 30mins later after multiple txx and no replies. Apparently we were meant to go out . OOPS! Buy beer and enough food for one.
Get home around 6.30pm and clean the chilly bin that still has 3 litres of fish juice in it from last weekend. Open your mouth just as you direct a stream of water from the garden hose into the foul smelling chilly bin.
Spend 15 minutes gagging trying to remove the taste of putrid fish juice from your mouth due to rebound. Wash the taste away with a Wakachangi, followed by a Lion Brown. Drink a lot more Lion Brown.
Cook dinner for two because your son has turned up. Drink more beer, eat dinner and watch 7 Days on TV3. At 10.00pm put all your gear in a bag and throw stuff in the car. Clean up and retie leaders onto your softbait/jigging gear and throw that in the car. Drink some more Lion Brown. Move the other 5 cars in the driveway so your car is ready to go at 5.30am.
Come inside, make a coffee, sit down and relax with a quick trip around the fishing website.
It is now 11.40pm. I have to be up in 6 hours. At least I'll sleep well. Who am I kidding! I'll stare at the ceiling for an hour. I'll wake up at least twice. After 4.30 I won't get back to sleep again.
See you in the morning Skoti. We be pirates! Arrrrggghhhhh
Best gurnard fisherman in my street