Hen & Chicks in a small inflatable/kayak

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    Posted: 23 Nov 2017 at 3:10pm
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Has anyone had any experience in heading out to the Hen and Chicks from Marsden Point/Whangarei heads in a small inflatable (less than 3m) or a Kayak?

Wondering if its possible in good weather.

Cheers!Thumbs Up
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (1) Likes(1)   Quote White snake Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Nov 2017 at 4:12pm
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Don't mean to be rude mate but please don't become another statistic.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Blucky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Nov 2017 at 4:29pm
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No offense taken.

Was curious to see if people actually do it or if its a plain stupid idea.

What size hull do people usually use to venture over there?
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Was curious to see if people actually do it or if its a plain stupid idea.

 Most proberly and yes
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I do it fairly regularly on a 180 horsepower, 3.4 metre jetski, but I choose my days very carefully and the ski is a very stable platform for its size. I don't think the vessels you describe would suitable. It can chop up very quickly and nastily. The worst bit is the harbour itself if it's wind against tide. That harbour offers no protection. I would say don't do it, but it's your life. 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Blucky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Nov 2017 at 7:07pm
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Haha point taken, will have to give it a miss and keep to closer to shore until I get a bigger craft.

Does anyone have any good spots around the heads? Would be launching from urquharts bay.

Cheers
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Originally posted by Blucky Blucky wrote:

Has anyone had any experience in heading out to the Hen and Chicks from Marsden Point/Whangarei heads in a small inflatable (less than 3m) or a Kayak?

Wondering if its possible in good weather.

Cheers!Thumbs Up

NO, even on a flat calm zero wind day, NO...

Would be gutsy on a rigid kayak and stupid on an inflatable model.

There can be a wicked tidal/current flow in and out of harbour which can put sea up, add wind to this and can be scary at times even in say a 16ft boat.


PS, The Chicks isn't awesome fishing, hot and cold... I have fished there maybe a total of a dozen times as a local for some years. I can only say one of those trips was great.

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Originally posted by Blucky Blucky wrote:


Does anyone have any good spots around the heads? Would be launching from urquharts bay.
 

good news is that the fish are in the harbour now (OK, that's the cat out the bag!), so you can catch them in urquharts and pretty much everywhere else provided you get the time, tides and specific location right. 
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Blucky Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Nov 2017 at 9:08am
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Thanks MB, looks like I might have to give Smugglers a go or peach cove as long as I don't bump into a great white while in the water!

I imagine the tidal currents wouldn't be too strong once you're closer to bream head?
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Originally posted by Blucky Blucky wrote:

I imagine the tidal currents wouldn't be too strong once you're closer to bream head?

True. The worst areas are the natural bottlenecks in the harbour, Reotahi (around the island) and the harbour entrance come to mind. Although the entrance looks wide, the sand bank at Marsden Point funnels the water. Google Maps satellite images will give you a rough idea of where to find the sand banks and bottle necks.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Fizzlesticks Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 07 Feb 2018 at 10:19pm
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I've kayaked to hen from mangawhai for a spearfish on a really calm day. It was a great experience but I wouldn't do it again. What struck me the most was the amount of boats I knew were out there on a hot sunny day but didn't see any of them. I was supposed to meet up with a friend out there on his boat for refreshments but I never saw him either, even though it was planned. It's not far but just be prepared to battle it out by yourself if the wind picks up because nobody is going to see you. I used a scupper pro dive kayak and discovered it had a nasty habit of broaching on the way back when the breeze picked up.
It doesn't have to be fun to be fun
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Originally posted by Fizzlesticks Fizzlesticks wrote:

I've kayaked to hen from mangawhai for a spearfish on a really calm day. It was a great experience but I wouldn't do it again. What struck me the most was the amount of boats I knew were out there on a hot sunny day but didn't see any of them. I was supposed to meet up with a friend out there on his boat for refreshments but I never saw him either, even though it was planned. It's not far but just be prepared to battle it out by yourself if the wind picks up because nobody is going to see you. I used a scupper pro dive kayak and discovered it had a nasty habit of broaching on the way back when the breeze picked up.


That’s hardcore mate! I found myself further offshore than I planned to be on a number of occasions when I was kayak fishing, but never that far!
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