I stood shaking with adrenaline as my first '20 pounder' emerged from the clear blue depths off the remote Far North coast after a hell of a fight featuring searing runs and vicious head shakes - a big garish Z Man Doormatadorz grub in its jaw hinge. I might have said something like "Holy sh*t!".

My mate Chris and I were astounded by the big fish's size, as we cautiously netted it, measured it (81cm, 21lb for the record) and I held it up for some photos. After years and years of trying, I'd finally secured my membership to what's recognised by most snapper fishos as the big snapper club! 

For plenty of Forum members, tamure that size are relatively common, so they will wonder what the fuss is about. Others say an obsession with big fish means you're still an immature angler. But I would rather experience the buzz of a tough battle with one donkey, and release it, than hook lots of pannies that don't trouble the drag. In any case I think most would admit it's easier to take a moral position on hunting large specimens once you've actually landed a few! For a variety of reasons, I'd never been blessed with a monster snapper, and sometimes wondered if I ever would.

So with that achieved at long last, I plonked down in the skipper's seat of my little FC465 runabout to sip on some hot tea and reflect on achieving a dream. 

We had one '5 knot variables' window during a week-long trip that we could safely do the long journey up the isolated coast north of Houhora in my little tinny to the home of the giants. The rest of the trip was blustery early winter weather, including two days too stormy to launch. 

Making the most of the glass out conditions, we had a superb day of fishing, landing six stunning fish over 65cm on soft baits - all but one released (barotrauma, I think). The Doormatadorz in Atomic Sunrise and Nuked Chicken, and a 7" Coconut Ice did the damage for me, while Chris - who is in his first season fishing soft baits - showed his burgeoning skills by nailing two PBs in a row on Z Man 7" Nuked Pilchards.

As usual, on the stronger wind days the harbour and Rangaunu Bay produced great fishing. Even in gusting 20+kts, the narrow parts of the harbour are safe if you're sensible in a small boat. I found the Gulp Squid Vicious a weapon over the sand, along with my favourite 5" Z Man Midnight Oil grub. We landed some lovely trevally which are a signature catch in the area, and hard fighting snapper to 60cm in 9-15m. Over reefy ground up the coast I also landed two new soft bait species for me - grand-daddy hapuku, and pig fish. The windy harbour conditions made any top water effort for kingies very tricky, so no luck there.

As on my past two trips, we had an unforgettable encounter with dolphins, which carved in our (slow) bow wave, and saw plenty of korora (little blue penguins). We also saw a lone majestic albatross sweeping over the oceanic swells, and a free-jumping albacore.

As we packed up to drive home, a monster easterly swell arrived to pummel the coast, so we were thankful the weather gods had blessed us with one pearler of a day. Tangaroa had also rewarded our efforts with fishing of a lifetime to look back on. 

It's such an addictive place, and I'll look forward to my next chance to tangle with the giants of the Far North.

Boat looks great as well.

Impressive on the softbait, must be the best way to land such a fish. Top shelf bruv!

Well, coming from Mr Monster Snapper himself, that mean's a lot Geoff! I appreciate your kind comment, and those from all the others who took the time to post a reply.

It's not easy to match Catch of the Day with 'likes' without a pic of a bikini-clad mermaid in sight! 

I enjoy being an active part of the Forum, and appreciate the efforts of all other members who post reports to keep it going.