Hi Muzz yes I got a Suzuki 175 to replace my aging Optimax. They overpropped it though at set up, put a 21" pitch prop on it which was a bit ridiculous. Was ok on the lake running it in but out in the swell it just bogged down. It was horible.  I just got a 17" put on it so out to the lake in the next couple of days to see how it goes. It should be spot on. Looking forward to making up for lost time, I haven't had that good a run over the last couple of years but will be taking it out on the bluenose very soon.

Thanks Muzz, should be good now. If you are keen for a tarakihi fish  p/m me. March/April/May normally good months for us.

Went out anniversary day for a bit of a run. 14 snapper down of Opape plus kept a couple of kahawai to start with. Nothing big snapper wise, all 35 - 40 cm. Great eating. Headed from there out to a tarakihi spot. Pretty hard work but we ended up with 21 plus a couple of nice big pinkies. I found a couple of schools but they seemed to be moving. Would drift through them a couple of times and load up then there was just nothing there on exactly the same drift. Got a feed anyway. Bit of a quick troll on the way home for skippies, ended up with a couple of small albies. Was good to give my new motor a good run in the sea with the new prop. Problem solved, 17" appears spot on. I have a 17" enertia from my Optimax in the shed, I might try that and see how it goes. They are are a great prop.

Out last Friday for the first time in ages. Pretty good day, just targeted tarakihi, ended up with 36 plus a nice kingi and a few other bit sand pieces.  Lost a few sets of gear to small makos so decided to call it a day. Looked like a few skippies still around, had a 30 minute troll on the way home but no joy.

Sorry, omitted to say the gurnard mark is off Whakatane where I went the other day.

Not sure where the gurnard mark is but have done ok 20/30 metres off the Ohiwa bar. Not much of a gurnard fisherman but winter/spring are meant to be the best months