Real Fishy

October 22nd 2017

Tony had already travelled 19,000 km from the UK to get here, but it was the final 20km that were the hardest; An out-going tide, and a 15 knot South Westerly breeze meant it was an uncomfortable ride across the Manukau bar and out to the 60 metre mark. Steep troughs and sloppy waves forced a slow slog of stop-start progress. It was one of those trips where you hold on tight and suffer a pounding in the hope that the fishing will justify the effort it takes to get there. A keen boatie and fisho, Tony’s home patch is very different to NZ.  Neither the environment or the species were familiar, but as a subscriber to the Recurve blog he was well aware of the exciting fishing we are privileged to experience.  His hopes were high of enjoying his own small slice of the action.

So did it pay off? Did the West coast deliver the goods? . . . . I’ll let the photos answer that one. Though what they don’t reveal is quite how amazing the fishing was. The snapper were all fit, fat and frisky.  Their average weight was 4kg with barely a pannie amongst them. My initial theory suggested the lures were helping us avoid the small stuff and weeding the bigger specimens from the schools.  . . . . but just to prove me wrong, Andy tied on a flasher rig, dropped a fresh cut bait  – and this was also hoovered up by another substantial red.

We filled the bin inside of 2hours and judging by the stream of boats who headed for home alongside us, we weren’t the only ones to enjoy an epic session. Talk back on the beach was of spectacular action and hefty hauls of plump spring snaps. Seems like the West coast is blowing hot right now. And when she’s hot, she’s scalding!