Time and tide waits for no one, or something like that, so the thought of ‘just going’ when thevarious weather reports for the past few days agreed somewhat that the winds were favourable for a 6m tinny to explore the further reaches allowed by fuel load, and so maximum fuel aboard it was, red totes lining the decks and cabin. Fully loaded.
Of course as all fishermen expect, the mind will simply not allow a peaceful and restful night before a fishing expedition, the mental clock awakening every hour or less throughout the night, so by the time the planned alarm came, deep sleep had just arrived…but may as well up and at ‘em!
The early signs of dawn started to change the horizon tinge as the extra weight of fuel forced the engine to work a little at getting the boat and all the gear on the plane, however the seas state was beautiful, and the wind non-existent making for an incredibly smooth ride, being seated underway in a trailer boat quite a pleasant and unusual experience.
After following the GPS course a while, a test of the auto pilot came up blank, the thought of trolling for a day of three while constantly at the helm meant time to stop a while and attend to that issue, fortunately for someone like me i.e. completely inept at mechanical things, it was simply the little flick switch had corroded, so crossing the wires behind the dash, a bit of tape and ‘bleep’ my robot re-awakened fully functioning. A self-congratulatory smile spread as back onto the plane for another hour or so to the western edge of Little Barrier island, with miles of meandering troll to the Mokohinau Islands, a thoroughly enjoyable prospect given the conditions.
Some dolphins came flying past, and as per good mates, always time for a quick smile and hello before they proceeded, the opposite direction to me. A few patches of bait were spotted on the sounder, but surprisingly few I thought for the time of year, the sea temperatures and general area I was in. So a slight change in plan to head in and around reefy rocky areas with all the bug guns out, kingfish and a long shot at perhaps a black marlin, to grace me with their presence since the striped versions seemed elusive.
Wonderful sights and sounds of surface feeding kahawai were close in to well known charted rocks, rock hopping again.
Simpsons
Navire (south Fanal Island/Mokohinaus)
Maori Rocks (Mokohinau)
The Needles
The kahawai were hitting the marlin and tuna lures, making my adrenaline surge as the reel ratchets lit up, quite amazing to see these fish attacking lures in numbers causing all sorts of white water commotion behind the lures, the mind playing tricks with imaginary marlin fins.
What wasn’t imaginary was the sudden hole in the water just off starboard, like a giant scythe had suddenly appeared from the depths, cutting through the water, and leaving a hole, the deep blue turned to light aqua in an instant. The beastie was unseen by me, and no doubt the kahawai that it was targeting for lunch. The sheer size of the water hole had me wondering whether it was a Great White or a Black Marlin, I had no idea what it was in actual fact, other than it was big, and now, fed.
I tried various approaches to hook into the action, lures, top water stick bait, trolled live kahawai, then splash-bait dead kahawai. All were ignored.
O.K., O.k. time to call the day, and head from one rock to another, this time to get my head down and rest up for the next day’s unknown, and of course wouldn’t you know it, there, right in front of me as I had resigned myself to start the big gear tidy up trolling between rocks looking for the smoothest possible anchorage, it erupted. A black marlin catapulting itself skyward, once, twice, three times clearing the water with its entire body, a glorious sight of a magnificent animal it its element, an awe inspiring surprise right there, not 30m off the bow.
And that was that.
Time to nestle my little boat in the calm hideaway of Burgess Island, out of the 1-2m easterly swell. Several totes emptied into the boats belly. Dinner? Not bothering to spend 10 minutes cooking, just eat a can of Stag chilli beans, a few bits n pieces and kick back. Time to recharge.
The temptation to head further out to deeper water after a stripey won over the idea of staying and trying to tempt the black, and so onwards and outwards at dawn was the call. Lures popping just 30 minutes after first light in 200m+ deep water.
The sounder showed little to no signs of life, for several hours, a skippie or two kept the mind alert as they hit the lures now and then, but the lack of baitfish was clear, clear as the water itself.
So at midday and midway between the Mokes and Gt Barrier, trailer boat wide, the decision whether to return home (Auckland) or back to the Mokes, or over the Gt Barrier took a while to make. I chose Gt Barrier with the idea of fishing my way home to increase my chances of various species of fish. The wind was unnoticeable, yet back towards Auckland the VHF told a different story, a good 15kts wind against tide…think I’ll stay out here thanks.
A little wind gust or two wind arrived as I approached Gt Barrier, and after seeing only one small area of bait that would interest a marlin over the past several hours, the call to chase down kingfish or snapper the following day back in the gulf appealed, I needed that rod to bend.
The wind had changed a few degrees west around from the north so my first thoughts of Katherine Bay were changed, further down and around to a single boat anchorage in a bay only in seen in postcards was found, the warp fell limply. The Tui song was loud, several birds vying for highest volume and most melodic and the water was so clear, 5m below was seemingly touchable with an outstretched hand. Fish life.
Some colourful fish were taken by micro jigs, fun at anchor.
Once the sun departed, the water looked like something out of a high tech animated movie.
Phosphorescent light was the brightest I had ever seen, anything moving was lit up like in a spotlight, mackerel were extremely skittish and looked like exploding fireworks when they reacted to a splash and shot off in all directions, a stick bait was thrown around, the splash was an explosion of light, even the braid line provided a lit fuse effect when touching the water. Quite an astonishing electrical light show.
Back into the Gulf after the next morning’s hot cup, I was met with good looking day again, I think the fish were also making the most of it and having a bit of a holiday too, the area from around the Pigeon rocks to Channel island and down along the eastern side to the Happy Jacks was quiet in terms of fish and birds and mammals apart from some schools of blue mackerel
I figured it’s a fishing trip so a couple of random stop and drops of little lures was made, and here in there a steady stream of good table fish snapper succumbed to temptation. The best technique by far was to put the rod in the capable hands of Rod Holder, lure hard on the floor, and as I slowly drifted along the (80gm) lure would rise gently…once I had figured this method-of-the-day out, each drop was met with success.
A blast back before the afternoon SWs kicked in and whaddaya know – halfway back and my good mate Dave was out having some time out, solo in his Frewza pride and joy, hard case after 3 days , us just chatting across the water in the big wide open.
The washdown and gear clear was a slow n steady approach, mid-afernoon, and by dinner time on land back with my family, all was back to a state of readiness.
...and the little boys waits, the wind and rain arrive outside today.