Bright and early start for Greenhorn Greg and myself fishing our first day of Best if the West. Ahiparas premier game fishing Tournament. This was a tournament we were lucky to be holding due to COVID19. With high hopes we launched bright and early at Ship Wreck Bay. A quick consult from above and we were steaming to the grounds for to the north. Many sleeping garnets and 2 beautiful albacore awaited us in the north but things didn't quiet feel right so we made the tough decision to steam head into the chop another 1.5 hours south and wide to the 300m mark. A quick udate to northland radio legend Anette and we we were fishing. 10mins later is was glassing off and Greg was just just finishing the last mouthful of his sausage sandwich and boom short corner popped..... darn dropped... whoohoo this a good fish behind the lures. A quick left hand down to make the lure stall and kaboom!!!! Where on.
Helping Clear the gear like a pro! Green horn Greg was soon harness up, and let me it was jumping.... Greg Enjoy it, enjoy it mate and wow what show
After employing all the tricks we got close to the fish quickly and even managed the leader
at 30 minutes but not yet she screams as it races away it lept so high and clear of the water we could see we were in for the long haul. The fish was huge.
Darkness was going to be on us before long so a radio call was made and the drag was slowly pushed up. Soon we had the leader closer and finally grabbed it. A gaff shot was made while leadering and driving and the fish took off taking some skin, dislocated Greg's finder and the gaff with it....crazy stuff.
Things were looking bleak as this massive fish swam away with the new gaff and Gregs finger facing up the wrong way. Lucky Skip is a chiropractor snapped it back in. And told him not to focus on the pain but on the fish of life time...
More drama unfolded as the fish lunged and surged at the boat several times nearly burning itself off on the boat hull several times. And finally with dolphins feeding all around us the final gaff went in followed by the kingfish gaff and the prized fish was ours....
We drove back to a small crowd on the beach as we arrived just after dark. DAY 4 angler Julian was waiting for us helped with the trailering of the boat and the chaos of things that then followed. Scenes like the fast and furious unfolded with crowds of excited, jealous and drunk people swarmed the boat as we were trying to get the weighing and legalities done. People even tried to disqualify us based on wild theories and crazy notions after it was signed off, one man trying to rip the catch card out of my hands. But alas we were all legal and the fish weighed on at 162.5kg. Julian did the huge task of trucking the fish to Top Smoke in Hohoura as we declined the many beers people were suggesting we drank. Drive home and the token Check point and breath test was passed. Thanks to God. Many prayers said. Aaron for his word straight path. Also Bonze lures and COMP organizations. Woohooo