Busted out a 45 hour solo fish and dive mission to the far north last week. Woke at 12:15 am on Tuesday morning and got back to Auckland at 9:20 pm on Wednesday night!!
Launched the Allenco at Houhora around 7:30 am, and slowly made my way to North Cape throughout the day, taking in the incredible scenery and lobbing baits around as I went. Softbaiting was very slow on the way up, managing some panny Snaps and a decent Trevally eventually off Parengarenga.
Decided I'd go for a freedive on my arrival to North Cape to "clear my mind" and WOW! First breath I came across a solid Snapper asleep in a gut, which I could of smoked with the gun, but gave it a chance and it eventually swam off. Next breath resulted in a big Packhorse Crayfish that was released as it was in berry (holding eggs). The next hour or so I caught about 20 odd big Packhorse Crayfish in shallow water, keeping 6 good ones, and releasing some monsters that were in berry up to 4 kg or so.... Bloody good fun!!!
Eventually hopped out and decided to set up for a strayline not far from the dive spot, cutting up some massive slabs of fresh baits to deploy. Cast the first bait out the back and rigged the second bait. Not long after the second bait splashed down the first bait started smoking off. Wound that in but it was only a 80 cm Snapper hahaha. The second bait made it's way into a "snag" during the commotion, and when I managed to free it I wound up a big Packhorse Crayfish that had eaten the bait!! First time I've ever caught a Cray on a line. What a place and a pretty epic first 2 baits!!! I managed to release 77 cm and 69 cm Snaps soon after, and hooked and lost two absolute stonker Snapper to the Kelp.... Very big fish..... I kept some nice pannies and had plenty more massive runs here and there, before I eventually called it a day.
Slept under the stars (side console boat with zero protection) on my new fold out mattress, waking around 2 am or so to find my sleeping bag absolutely saturated by the dew that had settled..... Lol.
The next day I woke to stunning weather and shot out off North Cape to fish for Kingfish amongst the numerous surface schools of Trevally, Kahawai and Koheru. I managed a handful of rat Kings on a jig, pulling hook on one that felt decent size. Only had a few follows on the stickbait....
Decided to go have another swim, jumping in at a new spot. I was only swimming for 5 minutes, and started coming across some good looking Cray country, before turning around to the sight of a pack of 25 or so Kingfish swimming right at me. I lined up one of the bigger ones and placed a good holding shot on it, enduring a real tough 10 minute fight before eventually getting it in my arms. It went around 16 kg or so. Was pretty nervous of Sharks if I'm being honest, and didn't jump back in at that spot with all the blood and guts in the water! Shot down to another spot and nabbed another two solid Packhorse Crayfish quickly for the family and friends, and had another pack of a dozen nice Kings around 12-14 kg say hello.
Made the journey back to Houhora after that, unpacked the boat and packed up the car, then settled in for the 5 hour 15 minute drive back...
What a place and what an adventure! Will remember that one for a while, and I will be back to claim one of those monster Snapper and Packhorse Crayfish when the stars align again one day.