Murrays Bach - Feb 03
Murray’s batch weekend was very much a game of two halves, only the second half involving any diving. We all met as planned in Havelock earlyish on Saturday morning and eventually Murray arrived having battled his way through mounting seas from the batch. John joined me aboard the trusty Firestar and everybody else opted for the potentially drier trip with Murray, but the seas were enough to ensure that everybody got a good dousing on the way to North West bay. We then had the grand tour of this isolated community, which includes a policeman (when in residence) and a mayor, at least, that’s what the rest of them call him. Batches are spread liberally through the bush here with even a house bus and trailer home – in need of some serious TLC. Fishing was then the order of the day and Mon managed to catch her first snapper (two actually) across the bay before a number of moves produced a few able blue cod over the legal size. Ample scallops were dredged in Miro Bay for dinner before a lesson in cleaning and filleting snapper from Murray and to round off the day a pig arrived accompanied by its captors and their dogs.
Sunday dawned as another non-diving day, so more scalloping and fishing before I had to leave to get back to Havelock and home. We had a few big runs while targeting snapper but no more came on board. With everyone else ready to head back to the batch I had one last cast and managed to reel in a very good size Kahawai that put up a great fight. A great end to the fishing. Naturally the weather started to clear up as I motored up Pelorus Sound and all was bright and sunny in Nelson. So I gather the next day held great diving for crays out around the Chetwode islands.
Yes Alistair, Sunday dawned calm and clear and we headed out to the Chetwodes. Murray and Megan stayed on board fishing while Shep, Mon and I dropped below for a beautiful dive. Viz was 15 metres plus and plenty of fish and colour about. Butterfish galore along with Moki, cod, spotties and plenty of Mon’s favourite, the leather jacket. Nice country with plenty of weed and some good holes and crevasses.
Shep and Mon didn’t see any crays, but John pulled up 2 goodies, one a 7 pounder – very nice. We had some lunch and a spot of fishing and headed a bit further north to one of Murray’s spots. This dive was in quite silty water with a bit of current, but shallow with lots of boulders. Not many feelers to start with but now and again we’d come across a few. Shep saw a couple of monsters, Mon caught a goody and I pulled out another biggie over 7 pound after a real battle. I also saw a Nudibranch of very strange colours on this dive. It was white and covered in orange spots, with purple feelers – very pretty. After feeding it to a cod we surfaced (only kidding!!) Back on board we completed the fish quota and headed back to Murray’s. A very successful day.
A quick bite to eat and we headed back to Havelock leaving Shep & Megan alone for a romantic week in the secluded hideaway of Northwest Bay.
What a lovely spot Murray – awesome place, and as Arnie would say – “We’ll be back” - if you’ll have us!!
A great weekend had by all.
Alistair & John