Here's a quick report from a extended weekend with my lad - logan and fatherin law Cam.
Hooked the boat up in Christchurch on Wednesday night for the 7 hour tow to havelock at the base of the Marlborough sounds. Blue cod season is close so the plan was to target gurnard. I've never really had a plan just to hit the carrots but fair to saw we will be doing it again.
Got to havelock at 3pm on Thursday and whilst loading the boat the young lad fell off the boat and landed shoulder and head down. It's 5 foot to board platform so I had one of those 'oh no' moments and a little panic as we were in the concrete car park. Up to the local doc who was really nice and we got the all clear. New glasses coming and plenty of savlon to fix it.
Managed to shoot out to middle pelorus and onto a club mooring I belong too for a refresher or two and settle in for the night. Next morning up and a quick blank fish in spot A, then on to spot b with a really close buzz by Dolphins including one that nearly jumped in the boat - logan was lean over the side and got its spray over him - a very close encounter. Got to spot b, now renamed spot c. Fished for 2 hours on the drift for 18 carrots with several double headers and a triple hook up. Only 390mm and above kept. Onto the mooring again and a few refreshers whilst I filleted. Next day back to spot b - fished for 1 hour before pulling the pin as we had more than enough. It gave us plenty of time for poppa dad and son time. Ended up probably only 3 hours of fishing time due to hitting the mother load and not wanting to overtake. Plenty of refreshment and exiting time!
Magic trip over 4 days. Biggest gurnard pushing 500mm, smallest kept was 390, nothing under legal hooked. Epic gurnard.
I'll let he pictures do the talking