Fishing Charter - Kaikoura
Saturday July 11th 2009
Dawn broke cold and cloudy, the air chilled by the snow covered mountains casting their shadow over the town. 16 hardy souls rugged up like wombles met in South Bay at 6.45am to meet the crew of the “MV Seamist” and we broke mooring in the dark at 7am.
A cool Westerly breeze kept everyone awake and there were little groups huddled together like penguins on the deck trying to stay warm. A stiff chop and swell met us as we left the shelter of the harbour and cruised out around the peninsular to where the craypots awaited……Ahhhh the thought of fresh crayfish…..and after the first two pots were lifted, it was still just that…ONLY A THOUGHT!!!!, as only females in berry or undersize had been lifted. The chill in the air worsened a little as the sun rose…well we think it rose we just couldn’t see it at all For some the rock and roll of the boat while lifting the craypots was almost too much and there were a few green-gilled folk with gazes fixed on the horizon! With all pots lifted we only had 8 takeable crayfish on board....not a great start, but it was out of season, so we headed south to check on the longline that had been set in a grouper hole.
We stopped on the way to view a pod of a hundred or so dolphins playing on the way to catch their lunch, and then hauled up the longline…..nothing but baitless hooks!!!, not a great omen for the day and I was beginning to think that someone had brought bananas on board the boat…..but quickly dismissed this as no-one would be that silly!!!
We steamed south towards Bushett Shoals, our fishing ground for the day in hope of our target species, the elusive grouper and trumpeter. I saw the spout of a whale, and the tail fluke as it dived before we could get close enough to view it. On the way, about 9am it was deemed breakfast time and the BBQ was cranked up and sausages and bacon cooked up to be eaten with countless loaves of bread, with the young crewman showing great balance and expertise in carrying towers of swaying bread. The food was brilliant and once it was washed down with a cuppa everyone had warmed up considerably and was ready to start fishing.
We stopped just off the Conway River and drifted over a few rocks and holes that our skipper, Hank....yes Hank from most of our other charter trips…he seems to change boats as much as we do!!! Guess you just can’t keep a good old seadog down. A few good sized blue cod were hauled aboard, and a few Jock Stewarts (Sea Perch) that the crew kept for bait for their cray pots. The fishing was slow and there were lots of tangled lines as the boat drifted in the Westerly breeze. After a while we headed on to the Shoals.
Competitiveness was beginning to show as those who had caught good sized fish were spouting their own virtues with good natured banter..…as usual the left rear side of the boat was going well, but the right front not so good…eh Matthew?
Our first fishing spot at the Shoals proved successful with a number of big blue cod hauled up, by this time Bevan was beginning to get upset as Ange was catching all the cod and he was only getting Jocks or barracuda. Louise then stunned us all by pulling in the first and as it turned out, only Trumpeter of the trip, winning a cap for best catch of the day, so the fishers all showed more vigour. We tried many different rocks and holes but the fish were either not abundant or just not hungry…..and then it happened….a shout from the bow turned everyone’s heads and YES in plain view to all was the culprit eating a BANANA!!!!!!, no not just one, he had TWO, and we all then knew we had been ROBbed of good fishing luck, Hawkes, line and sinker……
We were accompanied by numerous seabirds, shearwaters, petrels, skuas, 3 types of Albatross; Wandering, Royal & Buller, and also the common Mother Careys Chickens (Orthonicus Tegal). As well many different fish species were hauled aboard, apart from Blue cod and Perch, young Jack won a cap for strangest catch of the day with a large octopus, and wrasse, barracuda, scorpion fish, dogfish and red cod were all hauled aboard. We stayed out 2 hours later than expected to fill our catch and the last spot proved successful with many large Sea Perch and Blue Cod pulled aboard but alas no further target species.
We headed for South Bay as the crew filleted the catch and then came for many the highlight of the day, the Skipper spied a whale and we got within 200 metres as it spouted and then dived showing us a perfect tail fluke I a magical moment. But alas as the camera clicked the boat tilted upwards and I got nothing but mountains!!!!! What a buzz it was to see such a beautiful creature up and close in its natural environment.
We berthed at 4pm after 9 hours on the briny, all tired but happy, shared out the catch, the crew excelling by whipping away and bringing in extra crayfish to make up numbers, a nice touch to end a good day out. It was then on our way home, each with many a feed of fish to show for our efforts. Our crew stopped at the Junction Hotel at Spring Creek for a feed, and staggered away with bulging bellies……my carload all sleeping it off as I drove them home.
Thanks to the crew of the Seamist for their hospitality, the owners of the Sunrise Bungalow who cooked an amazing feed on Friday night, and also Barnacle Bill & Liz who accommodated a few of us. A great trip away as usual. Cheers John & Louise
