Tony & I went out on the Kaipara yesterday intent on a normal bottom
fishing expedition augmented by a flounder net set & oyster gathering.
Suffice to say the end result was well below expectation namely :-
1 X an OS gurnard
3 X healthy size snaps
6 X good size KY
2 X flounder
5 X unknowns that broke off
8 X very unwelcome chunky parore
As unimpressive that might be, after talking to several anglers, it became
apparent that we seemingly had done much better than them & were puzzled
as to why the catch rate had suddenly fallen so dramatically after being on a
high recently until today.
We felt it must have had something to do with the fact the stomachs of the fish
caught yesterday were chocka full of baby snapper & sub juveniles of other species.
However all that is not the purpose of this thread, so will outline the subject intended.
( To be cont )
Long story short ..........
An upside of fishing the Kaipara where we were is can be assured of an ultra generous
legal allowance of oysters PP from the beds covering umpteen acres acessable from 1/2
to low tide & this occasion was no ecception.
On arrival home they are tipped out on the drive & water blasted to clean the shells & was
then we noticed this little critter about 8 to 9 cm wriggling amongst the oysters that proved
to be very elusive & powerful despite its' size.
We managed to catch it & Tony was carrying it in the palm of his hand intending to put it
in a jar of sea water we managed to salvage from the other bucket then release it in the
nearby tidal SW creek.
Was then he began to jump about shaking his hand shouting repeatedly "The little bugger
bit me" Naturally to begin with I thought he was joking bu eventually he managed to convince
me & sure enough there was a red welt where it had been & he was not game to pick it up
again & experience another bite or sting that he said was more intense than a wasp sting.
We both have photos of it so will post them once I overcome some current problems to do
so. In the interim the poor little bugger will find itself now living on the east coast from the
west & wont know a soul.
The best description we can offer is it looked like a minature dark coloured mahi mahi with
a tiny mouth not possible of inflicting a bite until that is he /she opened it surprising wide.
What on earth (or in the sea) could it have been ... anyone know or suggest ?
When you cry, feel pain or sadness, no one notices your sorrow .... BUT
fart just ONE time !!!!!!!!!!!