Headed out over the waikato bar as planned yesterday.
Intending to maybe get a couple skippies or something if the opportunity came up..
Heading out went over the biggest wave out the back I have a skipped over...crew and I where very happy how that went..it was not breaking, or going to , just close to it.
Just got to love good power on a bar, get places instant and climbs without hesitation.
Then just after radioing back to CG safe over, get surrounded by about a doz mui dolphins.. 2nd time this has happened in last couple weeks. huge thrill for the crew especially to see such cute endangered species so close up.
As usual prime objective was good company, day on the water a feed.
Saw a bit of sign at the 20m mark.. did a quick drop and a couple low 30s in the bin.. start of the feed objective.. then went quiet.
So headed out to around the 30m mark a favorite...went to the seaward side of the mark and hit very blue water crossing a current.
Drop lines and a burley...
After 5 or 10 mins and another couple low 30s pannies..Feed for all 3 families accomplished, the crew (not me.. again) where bring in pannies one after another, mixed with a few ave gurnard and some rather large KY.
Crew where fairly new to fishing , borrowed our spare 'guest' gear... so where having a ball...
Doesnt get much better than that for a skipper..
Then my rod ran.. a nice 50s snapper..then a mid 30s pannies.. dropped a nice KY at the boat.. that was my day..
Decided to pull the pin 30 mins early..
I knew the swell would be coming up around when intended to re cross the bar 1 1/2 to 2hrs after full tide.
Which meant getting back in about an hr after the full.
Pulled the burley, left lines out while washed and stowed everything else away.. couple more nice high 30s pannies.
Then about 30 m out the back.. landward side.. a marlin jumps right on the edge of the blue water... and again.
I dont have or own any gear for that sort of thing...but do have gear for tuna...
I quickly set up the trolling gear, and thinking while doing so
"swell just starting to increase, bar climbing about 30 mins back..."
Gear ready to go and made the call "no" trolling back or part way, will add too much time to the swell at the bar.
Stowed the gear and headed home steady 23 mph.
Back out side and the larger sets the last swell was just breaking across the posts on shore we line up with.
This is a 1st for me as skipper.
And sort of expected..
counted the sets Called in CG counted the swells and sat on the back of a smallish swell.
Bluntly Growled one of the crew for looking forward when was told , no matter what you watch for an swells or wave catching up to us..
and then one did start to catch up.
Quick look and was not going to be an issue , sat bit closer to swell in front and it dropped to nothing as we where inside...
Knew the bigger swell was still behind and would meet the remains of that heading up the inside of the bar. So stayed more to the bar side, so hand enough room to straighten in its direction towards the shore on the left.. It came through without issues.
Thanked CG headed home to hoods fast cruise 38 mph most of the way.
Pulled the boat out, strapped down, and a beer each for the 5min drive home to process the pre gutted fish.
Result about 24 pannies , the 50 , 2 nice ky and couple gurnard...
Next window.. I dont see one till maybe after 5th feb.
Maybe head up the harbour, have a go at a couple kingies inside the head, and a feed scallops on the way home??