So after a not so great start in the first couple months out of Rags we decided to hit the road and head down to New Plymouth to get in on the hot Stripie action down there after weeks of red hot reports, we just hoped it wasn't too late.
Well the first hic-up and a bit of good luck came about 1.5hr into the trip when a bearing on the trailer failed at Te Kuiti. I noticed a bad wobble when I looked back at my trailer, had spare parts for trailer breakdown... all except a set of bearings!!! Luckily we brike down right outside the Carters Tire service in Te Kuiti and the boys hadn't gone home yet as they were having a few beers after work so the boss there saved our arse and the trip getting it fixed there and then. How lucky was that!!!
When we got the the Naki we quickly booked into the camp ground which is right next to the ramp and club which was ideal. We met up with Mike "the Angler " on and Pirate and shared a couple beers and stories and a bit of a run down of the area which was great.
We got on the water just after first light and was quite pleasantly surprised how easy everything was from launching and powering out to the ground which was only a 15 boat ride before the lures went in. So easy compared to Rags. The radio chatter was unreal and seemed every half hour people were hooking up or landing fish. We marked some bait of the hook and worked it hard all afternoon until we got a blind strike on the short rigger Blue and purple BTK Dojo heavy 25s. Fish pulled 4-500m on a the first blistering run and never jumped at all..... we had suspicions of a decent tuna initially as it stayed deep the whole fight and went on a few good runs. Had a bit of drama when the fish started heading towards another boat that had been hooked up for 4 hours ( it looked like it would of been directly under the boat only a couple hundred meters away from us ). We drove down on it to get on top and averted the crisis and got some separation between us. Finally got the fish up after 40mins, got some colour and to our surprise it was marlin! Managed to get a tag in it before it took off again. 20 mins later and some heavy drag on sunset we got it up boatside again where we intended to let her go but was hooked in the eye and gill so decided to take it. First fish for Lady angler and cherry number 6 for the Boat. Fish looked short but was very healthy and fat and just made weight 90.8kg
First fish for lady angler 1hr fight on 24kg
weight not quite on board yet 90.8kg
Second day the action had slowed a little compared to Friday but was still consistent. Got a couple makos to the boat in the morning in 80m of the city so decided to try the hook again. Lots of boats around and small patches of bait that we worked hard for nothing so decided to follow the hunndy line down to the tank farm. Mid avo I saw a fish come up on the daisey chain and dropped back and bite the Bonze kahawai on the long corner, I called it all as it was happening and the ratchet started to click...... then crewman stopped the motor
........ needless to say I don't think he will be doing that again!!!
Day three we decided to go to our marks where we got the hit and started working it hard. Saw another fish come into the spread and head right for my daisey chain again and this bugger was hungry... he tried to eat the middle lure in the daisey chain wrapped his bill around the leader a couple times and break of all but the first lure in the chain!!! *******! He wasn't finished though as he dropped back on the Bonze Kahawai again first tailing it then coming closer all barred up doing that window wiper thing they do with gob wide open...... I had time and the knees were shaking to freespool the lure back to him and felt him take and turn as I slowly cranked the drag back up to 12kg at strike and he was hooked!! Woohoo first time id ever done that on the bite.... felt so damn good. Fish managed to wrap around the shotty and twist the mainlines. I managaged to clear gear and drop the drag down to about 8kg just bofore I untangle the shotty while fish was still screaming line. Phew no lost gear and we were solidly hooked up on 80lb. We got a tag in after 25min fight and sent him on his way. First T&R for angler Bonze kahawai single heavy Dojo 35
After that and noticing how much action the Kawahai was getting I tried to match colours and swapped out the long rigger for a full size Pakula sprocket Illusion. Hour later that got eaten and we were hooked up again..... a few moments passed as we were clearing gear then snap... mainline snapped. Suspect it ran over other gear at first but after a closer inspection I see my top roller had seized quite badly!!! My bad I though I looked after my gear better than that. Another learning curve.
Well that was basically it. We had a great weekend for our first time in New Plymouth and will happily do it again. Big thanks to the New Plymouth club and members who all showed us some great hospitality and what a fishing club is all about.