Our trusty and very capable stead - The Oracle
Capt. Mike Boswell
Crewman - Luke
The Team:
BACK: Graham (Koro), Stu (Biggear), John, Mark (Gamefish), Willy, Dave (NZ Turtle), Braden, Warren, Scotty (Crayfish)
Middle: Neil (Ab_Fab)
Front: Richard (Peck), Tim, Kezza
Our destination: The 3 Kings Island Group - stunning bit of geography....unspoiled and oozing potential....very special place.
Day 2:
It was declared to be a "kingfish" day as we didn't really want to keep much fish on the first day to ensure we would be taking home product in the best possible condition, so "toot toot" goes the fog horn signaling the start of the fun and games...(photos in no particular order)
so on and so forth - we all would have caught and released well over 150 primo conditioned kingies in that session with the biggest knocking on the high 20kg mark but a very impressive average size...also plenty of 'by-catch' puka and bass for the bin..newbies hooked and old hands satisfied, we headed for our benign anchorage at the 3 Kings, South-West Bay.....a good feed, plenty of liquid refreshments and a good nights sleep.
DAY 3:
We made the call to stay on the anchor till we had filled the livebait tank with prime koheru...a bit of burley and patience and the job was done...it was the plan to head back out to the Middlesex and catch a few table fish....anyone that has fished the Kings or Ranfurly knows that it normally doesn't take long to achieve that goal, so after making our way through some pretty hefty swells we arrive at "the pantry"....
in no time at all the bins where looking healthy as and we had enough tucker, so back to South West Bay for yet another top notch kai prepared by Mr Bradley
3 Kings Spare Ribs - Bradley Stylez....mean!!
DAY 4:
We had planned a leisurely sort of day with a bit of island hoping, site seeing, bug gathering, popper casting, live bait towing etc etc.....what a play ground
The 3 Kings are isolated, rough torn and as their names suggests majestic. Cragged weather battle scared steep cliffs of ancient rock fall away in to the benthos....truly a special location and if the opportunity ever befalls you - DO IT!!
The Princess Group - a rabbit warren of jutting pinnacles and centennial peaks around every corner - I was fully expecting a Terradactyl to come sweeping out of the cliffs at any time.
...and my personal favourite...."Teabag-Boulder"...
After our scenic tour it was cockroach hunting time
from all accounts from the divers it was an amazing dive with awesome visibility.
followed by a bit of impromptu live bait fishing along the cliffs of South West Bay....
not bad for anchorage fishing aye what?
around lunchtime we headed back to Spirits bay for another awesome meal and a few bevvies.....
DAY 5:
Cape Maria van Diemen was our destination and before we knew it all manner of baits where being dropped to the hungry snapper population below.
Certainly no monster snappers this time, but a very very healthy average size and plenty of personal bests for the team - an awesome session with several "ones that got away" stories at the the end.
The divers where keen for another dive and Capt. Mike knew just the spot...
Pecks personal best Spiny that went a mammoth 3.7kg - will look awesome when the taxidermist is finished with it....choice as bro!!
Crewmen Luke with his personal best Red that pulled the scales down to 3.8kg and has a date with a taxidemist as well......his grin never shifted for the reminder of the trip....well done fulla!!
A quick trip down the coast followed to our anchorage at Smokehouse Bay (Doubtless Bay) where yet another a-grade meal and bevvies followed.....some of the crew even managed to do a bit of "Bluefin Fishing" at 4:30am - the techinique is simple - drink tequila, rum, burbon, Lion reds etc etc, strap in to a harness with the 130lb gear and let Capt. Mike run around the decks yelling "I'm a bluefin" whilst the angler proceeds of go arse over kite......primo entertainment at the very least!!
(d)
DAY 6:
As the "night shift" where heading to their bunks, the "day shift" got the hell out of theirs as drunkst snorefest 2009 started up....a pure cacophony!
A cooked breakie and it was in to the filleting production line....filleters, skinners, boners, cutter upperers and vacuum packers
a few hours later and the job was done.
Back to where it all began, the Maonganui Wharf where we had a bit of a prize giving as many gracious individuals had donated freely product and awards.
KING of the KINGS
Custom Straight Up Rod Rack
Innovative Vacuum Sealer
Tim Dixon
27kg est. Kingfish
Heaviest Bass
Innovative Vacuum Sealer
Bluewater Fishing NZ DVD
Scott Tindale
37.5kg
Heaviest Puka on a Jig
Boulder guiding $100 voucher
CM Bearing Buddy
Stu
25kg
Heaviest Snapper on a Jig
Bays Canvas & Trim - custom rod bag
Fishing for Snapper DVD
Braden
4kg
Personal Best Award
Innovative Vacuum Sealer
ITM Fishing Show Beanie
Warren
Puka, bass, bluenose, kingi and snapper
Keen As Award
Matt's Kiwi Fishing Adventures - Book
Fishing for Snapper DVD
ITM Fishing Show Beanie
Willy
After a round of heartfelt thanks to the crew and participants, the catch divided up and trucks loaded it was time for home to see our respective families and get a good nights sleep.
you be the judge....Ultimate Fishing Adventure?
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70% of the Earth is Water...
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