Headed out on a solo mission yesterday from Auckland's East Coast Bays. Prospects were good with 10 knots wind predicted, dropping to 5 knots late afternoon. All went well on launching and motor on song I headed out past a couple of these guys on anchor:
And went past this rock:
Then parked up in front of Takapu Rock on the incoming tide and proceeded to strayline. Fishing was a bit slow with the bite VERY tentative. Caught a few snaps but this was the standout. This fish took a largish pillie on a strayline with at least 100m of line out. I knew it was heavier than average but because I had so much (nylon) line out it did not really respond until the line angle started to lift it off the reef and then it gave me a good fight:
And then... the real highlight of the day was a pod of Orca showed up. All females with calves. This one came closest to check me out:
Pretty cool. So a wonderful day...and not put off by the trek back to the Bays in a rising 15 knot wind against tide. Not sure where the 5 knots falling was.