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0820 hrs: Departing Gaer Arm in Doubtful Sound heading for the entrance to the Tasman Sea to make way further South reaching the he.
To take the duldrems adlands at 0930 hrs being greeted by a 2 - 3 metre swell with a 0.5m to lm sea running on top. Luckily after 30mins running in 20 knot winds the wind dropped off to 10 knots making for a better run. To tmake for a more fun trip I decided to hold a Salada Cracker eating competion. All on board excepting myself boasted they could eat one in less than a minute....no one did...times raged fron the trhee starting at around 1 minute and 20 seconds to 3 min and 20 seconds....give it a go...it must be the 4 pieces in the one sheet of Saladas.
At 1220 hrs we reached Break Sea Sound and headed down Acheron Passage into Bowen Channel. We dropped the craypot once again just off Crayfish Island hoping for better luck. We then headed into Cascade Cove which was like a mill pond and caught Blue Cod on the way...we wont mentiion the Groper I caught though! Whe chose not to anchor in the Cove and decided to anchor in Pickersgill Harbour where Captain Cook had once anchored to repair his ship and collect fresh water. Captain Cook recorded in his ship's log the the Sea Gods were looking after his ship and crew due to the deep safe anchorage as he was able to lay at planks to get ashore. We anchored at around 1545 hrs in the rain and continued fishing. I received a birthda gift which consisted of a block of wood with around 10m of light weight fishing line, a trout loure and the smallest hook and sinker to be found on the boat. I was advised that I was not to touch any other fishing gear in an attempt to serverely handicap my fishing ability as there was a deal made earlier that the person who caught the bigest fish over the trip would receive $40.00. While fishing for Groper again we noted a charter boat running toward our anchorage so we pulled in the lines and made a dash for our anchorage. On the way back I noted on the depth sounder a sudden rise in the sea bed leaving only 1.2m and we have 1.8? Latter that afternoon we noted a roch sticking at least 0.5m above the waterline...how close was that! By the way the charter boat wasnt anchoring they were dropping off some tourists to walk in where Captain Cook had landed and pik them up again. We continued fishing while anchored...it was wet and misserable but we are on a fishing trip!
When the rain eased off the skipper (Owen) decided to put the tender over the side and do some corking of some planks to limit water intake in rough seas at which time he needed a gofor. Whilst all were fishing I was summonsed to go fetch (gofor) plugging tools. At this time something of monumental proportion swam by and with a flash and a crack rod and reel flew overbord...oops not my rod and reel.
Following explaining to the owner of the rod and reel he (Marty) went into a bout of depression at which time he started reflecting on his chilhood. He recalled losing a rod himself which was later recovered by another person catching a fish which had the hook from his rod in its mouth thus allowing the rod to be recovered. He then desperately started casting out to se if he could catch the monumental creature.
Straight away Marty's reel was running and goodnes knows why he asked me to reel in whatever was on the line. I let the reel run a little and then attempted to bring in what was on the line but like the other reel it took the rig from the end of the line...two large hooks, swivels and size 16 lead weight.
Marty wasnt going to give up though...he was steely in his determination to recover his favourite rod and reel...he prepared another rod and set it over the side and before you knew it he had a bite and reeled in a 56 lb spotted shark which had taken the Sea Perch he had just caught. All at this time Geoff was up forward with a grapling hook trying to recover the rod.
After the excitement of the da we retired to Marty's meal he prepared. We had Cod and Groper with vegies and a glas of crisp NZ white wine followed by the video diary for the day.
We all retired with our bellies full of the days catch, some vino and tears of laughter after watching the video diary.
- comments
donna seems your trip has been eventfull and full of memories, interested in video diaries when will these be published. much love to you all xxx
donna oh and did you know my brother is in christchuch somewhere i have a number if you are there or near it
Sue At long last I get to look at your blog - thanks Alan. Sounds like you are having a great time with plenty of adventures. Hope your feet are better Alan cos they look decidedly unwell in that photo! Hope you are having good run to Akaroa.
Judy What fishy stories we are hearing!!! And, oh that weather!! One day we thought we might sail to NZ on Ka Mate .......mmmm , if this is the right time of the year ......one doesn't like to imagine what might happen at the wrong time of the year!! Yep, looked at Cook Strait weather for the weekend......nasty stuff!! 55 knots no less........surely nothing that Towai and the GOM can't handle!!!! Nice and calm here on Ka Mate, albeit raining and humid. Hang in there boys........it's all in the name of fun!!!!