Excitement and anticipation consumed us as we arrived at Whangaroa Harbour in early May for what was hopefully going to be an epic battle between man and fish.

The father and son combo of Murray Stewart and Samuel Clements-Stewart and I were embarking on the trip of a lifetime. How could I not be quietly excited? I had seen 58 striped marlin tagged and released on the two previous trips back in 2015.

We boarded Primetime mid-afternoon and after brief introductions to Captain John Gregory and second skipper Geoff Lamond, we were off – the banter began immediately, as Murray had known Geoff from his previous charter operation.

Inshore fishing for broadbill (Xiphias gladius) was the brief for the final charter for Primetime, which after our trip was reverting to private ownership. So why was there a 650-litre bladder of diesel lying on the deck? What were we going to do with 5300 litres of engine juice? As on previous trips, our expectations were about to be exceeded by the absolute master of bill-fishing.

We sailed urgently at 3pm to catch jack mackerel before the fish scattered at dusk. Fortunately, they were on the bite and two dozen-plus XOS jack macks graced the live well in no time. The forecast was improving with a 15-knot southerly breeze and a lazy southerly swell that chased us up the coast to Shag Bay for the night. Lashings of chicken schnitzel filled our stomachs – the first of many five-star meals prepared by Geoff Lamond over the next week.

We got away at first light, stopping only once to catch some koheru, or broadbill candy, as we were to find out. It was still a long way to our destination and the stretch of water beyond North Cape was a bit lumpy and confused with a 2.5-metre swell running. The three anglers spent day two finding their sea legs.

We knew this trip was the boat’s final charter when we booked it. We didn’t know that Primetime would be sitting on 99 striped marlin for this season and 297 broadbill for its career. No pressure!

At this point John announced, “I have made a corporate decision. We are going to the Never-Nevers and beyond.” Translated, this means “never ask where and never how far”.

With that, four lures were deployed. These lures looked to the average angler like they had been dragged up the road from Kerikeri to Kaeo. Even the secondhand shop probably wouldn’t take them as their skirts were like worn-out broom bristles and their heads severely bill-rashed. It turns out two of these lures had each caught in excess of 100 billfish.

By late afternoon we had reached the edge of our broadbill destination. As location is to retailers, preparation is to Primetime. John had begun preparing for the trip days before we arrived. This was evident in multiple pre-rigged terminal tackle sets, plenty of 500-pound leaders ready to go and fishing lines carefully marked at intervals to indicate depth. Then there were provisions for nine days or more – ice, spare bait and backups for everything except the stove.

A stitched-up koheru with a 16/0 hook, 500lb leader, sacrificial weight and flashing lights that would make Christmas look dull, was dropped to 500 metres. On the first drop, Samuel hooked up 25 minutes into the drift. Like most sword bites, the take was as subtle as a feather falling to the ground. From the bridge the order came to put the rod in the chair and start winding.

Was the fish on or not? Eventually, the weight came on with 200 metres to go and a solid battle followed for the first time billfish angler. There was no shortage of stamina, grit and determination as Samuel’s normal exercise is competing in the Coast to Coast or hunting in the South Island high country.

This time it was just the rural bank manager’s soft right hand that let him down. Blisters followed a tough three-hour, five-minute fight which saw a conservative 280kg fat-bellied sword released at the boat. Broadbill #298 for Capt. John and Primetime! XOS pork chops, mash and fresh beans for tea.

Day 3. Duck shooting opening morning, but we were beyond the Never Nevers by then. The lures were deployed again as we trolled 9.5 nautical miles back up our overnight drift line, but no stripies on the bite.

Our first drop for broadbill saw me catch a mako. Second drop Murray hooks up, the leader comes to boat once and then the fish goes deep. After two hours fight time an estimated 180kg sword is tagged and released.

On the third drop, I hook a 200kg mako, so we move spots. Fourth drop, I hook another mako and am becoming quite popular with the skipper! We stop fishing and experience windy, squally conditions overnight.

The next day Murray hooks a small striped marlin at 7:30am. A short fight ensues before a 100kg billfish is tagged and released – number 100 for Capt. John’s season.

On the next drift, nothing, but on the second drop of the day, I hook up and double-tag a 140kg sword after a 20-minute fight. This was the 300th sword for the boat in its long career. Congratulations againt to John for a milestone that will probably never be beaten.

The next two swords hooked were lost, but on the final drop of the day with Samuel in the chair he hooked up immediately. He felt no weight on the line until he’d retrieved 400m of line, but then the battle began. Nothing could stop this fish!

6:00pm and the lamb roast is medium rare and sending out the nicest of signals that dinner is nearly ready. Wishful thinking really, because the epic battle of man and beast didn’t end until 10:30pm. This sword had dug deep to stay in its comfort zone as daylight vanished. Estimated at 200kg, tagged and released, it was hooked in the pectoral fin, giving it a clear advantage. Needless to say, dinner was late.

On Monday, May 7, a cold south breeze blows. It is not until 3:00pm and the fourth drift of the day that I hook up and begin fighting another stubborn broadie. The fight lasts one hour and 45 minutes. These fish have absolute power –it’s like hooking an outboard motor.

All credit must go to Captain John, who masterfully manoeuvres the boat over pinnacles and drop-offs, getting the angler to wind up or release line depending on where we are. He is the master of managing the ocean currents (different to the tides), tidal flows, wind and swell.

Dusk arrived way to soon, but the call was for one more bait. Murray was on strike when there was a subtle bite on the soaking bait. Murray wound up 300 metres of line and then the rod loaded up again. He eventually brings the 500lb leader within reach and the fish is traced, but under immense pressure the leader has to be dumped.

Line crackled off like a pork roast and Murray gritted his teeth – this bugger was not giving discounts to a Gold Card holder. Estimated at 190 kg, the fish was eventually tagged and released. Fishing the Never Nevers is ok!

Tuesday. It had been windy overnight with a calm sea. I hooked a small striped marlin early in the morning. A short 10-minute fight ensued and the stroppy, green 100kg fish gave Geoff a hard time on the leader and John the bash as he held the bill boat-side. Tag in and it was released.

Back to the broadbill and another bait was dropped with Samuel hooking up. The fish had a 500-metre head-start before it got tangled in the trace and was lost boat-side – oh so close.

Another drop and my turn on strike. This fish was alongside in 15 minutes, but won its release, getting away before it could be tagged.

The next three fish were makos. Bugger! Are we losing our touch?

We should have headed for home, 185 nautical miles away, hours ago, but the call was for one last drop. I free-spooled a bait down, the last for the trip and was hooked up 15 minutes into the drift. A torrid three-hour 50-minute battle followed. The sword was in sight one hour into the fight but then mercilessly peeled 500m of line diving deep against a 24kg drag setting and stopping close to the bottom.

There were several more runs like this. No amount of drag pressure can stop these monsters! Again, darkness came too quickly and the fish found its comfort zone 100m below the boat. Eventually, with 50m of line in the water, the broadbill took on the character of a mackerel being chased by a kingfish. The makos have arrived and disrupt the fight!

At this point the sword came to the boat quickly. Geoff leadered the fish and Samuel masterfully double-tagged it.

This was the last fish for the trip. Extra days were offered, in true John Gregory style, and why would you want to go home when you are there? But the goal to catch a broadbill had been well and truly exceeded and we all had work commitments back home, so the call was made to go.

It was the end of an illustrious partnership between man and machine that will be difficult to emulate.