Hi all, Had a full on three days-Fri,Sat,Sun on the Briney. Great fishing mate Mark Ashcroft-A.K (ramcoed) on Forum came down to Mokau From Hams Thursday night towing his big Ramco to Fish the Small Labour Weekend Comp, The Mokau Fishing Club puts on annually. We couldn't resist not fishing on Friday for a warmup
as it was nice conditions. Familiar to my good Spots Mark pretty much heads to them when he comes down. So over the Bar the two of us went, easy crossing and anchored up a short time later! We fish same styles Big Fresh Strayline Baits out the back and Bait catching Sabiki's underneath. First two hours Quiet, with a few pesky Sharks only to show from the Straylines. Third hour action! a few small Snaps 3-4 kg's. A few more false alarms from some decent size Grey Sharks then one of Marks Rods showed the line heading towards anchor rope, no Drag as yet pulling but this is a sign of a Big Snap taking bait for a swim against current to inhale. And believe me only The big Snaps can do this
Frantically i wound in and moved rods around so Mark could get in line where the fish was heading. Then contact! Screaming Drag the call came its a big Snap. Big runs followed by retrieving line then off it would go again. Finally it came into netting range, looked big! Marks old Pb 10.4 kg's when i first felt weight said no worries, bigger
We didn't hang round much after that, a few high fives and in we went to get it weighed. A beauty conditioned fish, came in at 11 kg's on the dot! very fat and 82 cm long. Job Done. On to the Comp, Saturday no go, Ugly Westerly Blowing Swell up no boats went out to fish although we had a look and straight back in again
Sunday Wind had dropped, but Misty rain greeted the morning. Bar not bad. Only Half Dozen or so of the entered fleet went out. We were one of them. Biggish Swell running bit uncomfortable but fishable. We battled the elements for five hours before we caught two decent Snaps! Otherwise we had bugger all to enter. I got a respectable 8.95 kg Snap and Marks 8.1. Thought they were good enough for a prize or two!Mine held on for second and Marks Third. Only top Three for each species won prizes, so we were Rapt. Top Snap Went to Duane, another Forum Member A.K. (Sink) With a 9.4 kg Beauty! Few Photo's- Myself and Mark with our 2nd and 3rd placed Snaps in the Hotel Carpark after weighing. Mark with his new P.B! and the fish on Measure. Cheers....