The rate people are opening threads like this its surley looking that way

 

That's good going R Jack - nicely done.  If you are up for an evening trip out in the next week or two and fancy some company then drop us a line as getting out cray chasing off Banks is something I'm real keen on.  The cat's meow Mr Felix and I are heading off to Kaiks tomorrow for some general slaughter, and if this nor'easter holds it should make for a good trip.

 

We needn't have worried though - Kaiks was blue sea, warm sun and around a 2 foot ground swell.  Stopped at a bay along the coast before town, and got suited up.  Fd3s was toting his new beauchat gun, and Pomahaka and his mate Anthony - who's a newb to the game - were keen on some paua. 

 

Jumped in (after startling about 100 seals that we hadn't noticed on observing the bay from the road) and it was straight into 4m vis and some lovely fishy territory.  Saw butters from the off, and picked up crays and paua.  After rounding the furthest point of the reef, headed back over some mixed boulder/ sandy ground in about 8m so figured I'd nip down for a look, only to be greeted by Mr Blue Cod and a couple of his mates.  First one I've seen around the S Isalnd, and I was stoked to have a chance at one.  A decent breath up, and I was soon on the bottom.  It was textbook stuff - laid flat, stirred up the sand, kept my head down and when I looked up there was the biggest of the lot eying me up.  A nice easy shot and he was mine.  Sweet!

 

 

Headed back to the shallows, met up with the others and after grabbing a few paua we hopped out. 

 

 

Fd3s with his first butter:

 

 

Not for too long though as we all got back in again - it was just too good to resist!  I headed back out to the blue cod spot and found another takeable fish, then foraged for some more crays.  We ended up with 8 crays, limit of paua, and a load of butters, the blue cod and one nice moki. 

 

A good South Island haul:

 

 

After a bit of R&R at the pub for beer and carbs, we headed off home to finally get back 13 hours after leaving.  Bit tired last night.

 

It was great to be out there, and I can feel my breath-hold and general underwater fitness improving from dive to dive.  Still getting leg and foot cramps though - how can I avoid these?  Finally, kudos to Anthony for persistence despite being underweighted, he kept at it for ages after we'd all got out in order to secure his first blackfoot & yellowfoot paua, along with some (not so tasty, as he found out ) kina.   Full marks for effort.

 

Now to get ready to do it all over again next weekend