Abel Tasman - 20th March 2004
NELSON FISHING & DIVING COMPETITION – ABEL TASMAN – MARCH 20TH
After the Westhaven trip was a no go and with the weather forecast for strong westerly winds we decided to head up the Abel Tasman. 5.45am saw John, Sam, Bob, Rick, Nigel, Angus, Mark and Rick’s boy Stephen load up the two boats and by 6.00 we were heading for Kaiteriteri. With strong winds predicted later in the day we headed up towards Awaroa head first so that e would be closer to home if the weather did cut up.
We arrived, geared up and dropped in (along with John’s mask!!) on the outside of the heads and headed west ensuring we stayed well out of the reserve. We saw some very big crays in some good country but as usual in that area they are in big holes and well out of reach – good to see them around though. With only a little bit of luck we headed back to Bark Bay Reef, good country again but once again not many crays. Rick put me onto a promising little spot now called “Sam’s Point” an excellent dive with a swim-thru cave and great country but only small crays about. It may be one for the future though.
As the tallies and crayfish size were still down we caught up with Angus and co at Pitt Head – same old story, nothing much about so decided to head to “Six Foot Rock” and try and bag a competition winner.
After 15 minutes of searching we found the spot and four of us leapt in. The viz was very poor and after half an hour of scrambling we surfaced, completely covered in silt with only another two crays in the catch bag – and the one in my catch-bag was over 4 pound. The only problem was I hadn’t entered the competition!!#@*?*?!#@!
As time was moving on we headed back to the boat ramp in calm seas, gave the boats a quick hose down and then headed to the Railway Hotel for the debrief. After a couple of ales and a few yarns we headed our separate ways.
John picked up Angus and they went down to the weigh in where John entered two crays, even though they were on the small size, as no-one else had weighed any in. They watched chilly bin after chilly bin of fish getting weighed but amazingly no further crayfish were to be seen. A nervous wait followed as the weigh-in continued well passed the cut-off time of 4.00pm and John eventually shot home to get changed before returning for Angus to advise him that no further crays had been entered (of course after pulling his leg about the monster that had arrived while he was away!!).
This was of course much to the annoyance of Angus as he had decided not to enter his own crayfish, thinking there would be many bigger and is still kicking himself as he would have won a prize.
5.30 rolled around and the prizes were called out with our man Bruce Lines the MC also shocked that such small crayfish would clean up 1st and 2nd prizes. Just goes to show - You’ve gotta be in to win!
Angus was placated a little when he won a good spot prize, which shows it is well worth waiting around for the prize giving even if you haven’t caught anything. There were also other club members who missed out on spot prizes because they were not in attendance.
It was another great day out on a successful trip with the club and a big thank you to Rick and Angus for providing their boats once again and also to John for organising the trip.
Cheers – Sam Shattock