May do some more diving, some fishing and maybe try spearfishing for the first time. I'm actually not that keen on big game. It's not just the cost, I prefer light line fishing, much like we do for snapper with jigs and soft baits. 

Would it be worth casting lures from the beaches and jetties? 

Any recommendations for inshore fishing charters, spear fishing or even places to go?

Cheers!

I managed to wrangle a good chunk of time on a Sunday free - and after some asking around and searching the net, I found Ripples Fishing Charter. 

I rang the owner Henk (an ex Aussie Defence Force Chopper pilot) and we quickly hatched a bit of a plan. Staying at the Mendana Hotel right next door to the yacht club I quickly figured out that the flash looking 7m Aluminum Cat with brand spanking twin 250hp Opti's on the back was going to be our fishing platform. There's nothing like seeing a well maintained boat to inspire confidence that we were going to doing things properly. 

Sunday came and I met Henk down at the Yachtie and he rowed me out to the boat, we set up and away we went. Because I'd left it so late to arrange it his normal deckie wasnt available for the trip, but given I prefer to be working at sea - this was no problem, and gave me an opportunity to talk to Henk while we set the gear (he supplies all the gear - all shimano reels and rods) up and threw some lures out. It was good to see all of the safety gear on the boat too - very modern electronics standard on most NZ charter boats, and a mountain of bottled water. 

We found a workup pretty quickly but despite our best efforts towing mainly bibbed hard body lures around the school there were no hits. Henk then suggested we motor down back past the club toward a wreck that he knew would hold fish. 

Well that proved to be a great idea! It didnt take too long before two of the rods were bent, the reels screaming and I was on. I managed to drop the first fish (a reasonable wahoo) as lines crossed but was soon holding the second rod and enjoying playing and landing my first solomons wahoo. 

What speed machines they are! That pretty much was it for us for the fishing that day with the bite turning off so we ended up crusing home close in, passing dug out canoes with outriggers with single fishermen handline jigging for bottom fish. Henk was great company and ensured I was well supplied with bottles of water etc whilst he told me about living in Honiara and of course the fishing! 

Whilst we didnt load up on heaps of fish, it was awesome to get a break from work, get on the water on a safe platform, and gave me some ideas about bringing mechanical jig and popping gear back for next time. 

If you're in Honiara and itching for a fish - get in touch with Henk. He's a good bloke and is really into trying to put together trips for people to match their requirements - and has access to some great looking fishing places on some of the islands further offshore. If I had more time, that's where I'd be getting him to take me! Roll on next time. 

Cheers Henk! 

Dave

My name is Raja Ganeshan - owner of Shuttle Bus - a door to door Shuttle company in Auckland - www.shuttlebus.co.nz. 

I was on  a holiday to my country; and am back only on the 5th Sept; hence regret for the delay in investigating this complaint thoroughly and replying the same.

We take all complaints against our company seriously; and hence this reply to this forum post.  

This is our version of what happened with regards to the complaint about our service for the benefit of your website readership:

a. The booking was made for an arrival transfer.  Our driver was there on time; as we have checked the "swipe card" records of the concerned driver and his entry was at 2310 hrs on the 23rd August 2012.

b. We usually hold a name sign for the passenger to be picked up by us.  The pre-designated spot is clearly told to the passengers while they make their booking.  And also we instruct them to "make a phone call" to us in case they are unable to identify their driver; so we can get in touch with our driver and see that the passenger and the driver are linked at the Auckland airport.

c. With regarding to calling us from the airport; you do not need money; or mobile phone; if you just go to the ISITE centre at the airport; and tell them the phone number; they would be more than pleased to give us a call; on behalf of the passenger; which would enable us to link up the passenger with our waiting driver.

d. The main point to be noted here is that the ONLY way for the driver holding the sign at the airport is for the client to come to him or the client giving us a phone call to link them up with our driver; in case they could not for some reason see him.  In this case neither of these actions were taken by the complaining client.

e. With our driver being at the airport; which has been verified by myself; we feel we have fulfilled our part of the contract; and the client who did not feel the need to carry our phone number; or who presumed the driver will be identifying him or did not call us from the airport; so we were enabled to link him up with our waiting driver; has clearly failed to fulfill his obligations.

d. Despite this fact; still to be courteous to him; we offered him a 100% free ride; the next time he used our services; but he wants to en cash this offer as cash; which is not possible; as we have put in our time and efforts to go out to our airport; involving; vehicle running; swipe card charges; payment to driver for his effort etc.

e. As regards to the difference in fares that the client is quoting; ours is a "one on one" transfer and the service that they used will be a "shared ride" transfer where the company carries a few other passengers to make up their money!

f. Now that the complainant has decided to "slander" our name in public; we would also like to stand by our version of the events that unfolded; and would like to fight it out legally; as a matter of principle.  We have the proof of the swipe card at the given time and date to prove that our driver was in fact at the airport on the said date/time.

We leave it to the intelligence of people reading this forum to decide who is in the wrong or who is in the right!

 

Trip one bottom fishing 4hrs @ $Sol320            = 1280

Fuel 22 ltrs                                                     =   374

Total                                                              =  1654  = $NZ335 approx

 

Trip two trolling 4hrs                                       =  1280

Fuel 3                                                            =    646

Total                                                              =  1926   = $NZ390 approx

 

Trip three casting / trolling  5 1/2 hrs                =  1760

Fuel 67 litrs                                                     =  1139

Total                                                               =  2899   = $NZ585 approx

 

Trip four trolling/casting/ bottom fish 7 hrs.        =  2240

Fuel 68 litrs                                                      =  1156

Total                                                                =  3396   = $NZ685 approx 

 

This is an open bare boat with twin 40 hp o/bs & supply own gear (rods reels lines lures )

lunch, water.

 

Frozen bait was supplied & terminal sinker/ trace/hooks loaned for bottom fishing with

ice for fish bin supplied on 1 day only.  

 

Compared to a recent charter in RARO @ $NZ120 pp X 6 on board for 5hrs. all gear

supplied along with lunch/water on a 40" surveyed boat with toilet etc, skipper & deckie

on board.

 

Will be interesting to see what the charge is for a trip ot at Norfolk Is in 10 days time

with similar price of fuel.

 

One trap is that on the interational flight to Honiara we were allowed 23 kgs of luggage

plus another 23kgs shared between us having paid for an extra bag = approx 35 ea.

However when transferring to the domestic flight to Munda only allowed 16 kgs ea. so

are most likely going to be stung for excess.

 

Am out fishing in the gulf tomorrow with a forum member but doubt I will be grizzling

about the cost even if unlikely to catch the variety of colourful fish found in the Solomons.