![]() Apologies for late post but been on the water east and west for five days straight and not all fishing. Obviously had a great day Thursday finally getting my brothers first marlin. Saw it freejumping from 500m away and managed to catch up to it after 30 or so jumps, first pass in front of it and it hoovered the short corner like a monster from a horror movie. First hook up I’ve ever had from a free jumper. It peeled off 400m and sounded. After two circles around it I realised it hadn’t moved and stopped the boat - nothing happened. Cranked it straight up from 137 straight off the bar and it was stone cold dead. One side was covered in mud still... Real shame as mark was intent on releasing it. Anyway thought we would get some pics strung up and a huge thanks to Smudge for the courtesy weigh, great to finally meet you after stooging around this forum for so long. Had a day back out there Friday on a mates boat for a few albies and one seen tailing. Quick two days down the bottom end to keep the boss happy and filled with scallops and I was back out today. Found skippies in 90m just north of bar and bugger me if we couldn’t catch one for an hour. First one in the boat got bridled and chucked back in. While I was searching for a rubber band the bloody thing got eaten out of my hand after all of 30s in the water. Bit of chaos ensued and after coming tight and peeling off 50m it was all over. Things went a bit dead after that and couldn’t find bait anywhere for a few hours. Sank a few (great handle mate) and wandered in to cap off a great few days on the water. Jeez we are lucky. Stu |
![]() Smudge discovered snorting flies didn't give him the buzz he was after |
![]() Long time reader, first time having something to post about. Headed out over the Kaipara Bar Sunday lunchtime for an over-nighter. Gear in at 50m and filled up with skippies all the way out to the 100m. Hooked up to a marlin north of the bar about 4pm in 93m. Awesome aerial show, splashing and jumping on a long run. 15 minutes in started to go deep then all of a sudden hook pulled - gutted! Towed the rest of that evening and Monday until lunchtime for nothing else, heard of another boat hooked up though. Second fish lost for us in 2 trips, gets the blood boiling but keen to get back out and make amends. |
![]() Yeah but only a shadow of what it was 30 years ago. |
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