stormy

Pull the boat up on the beach, hop into the water and carry the gear off. Then motor out to the mooring and swim back in to shore. Easy. That's what we did.

I went there a few years ago to spend 3 nights. Ended up being a week, as the weather turned nasty and we couldn't leave. We stayed in one of the cabins. Took a LOT of ice with us and it was still ice at the end of the week. Got good snapper, kingfish, bream, flathead etc which were all iced down and in perfect condition. Those black rays are indeed massive and clean up fish frames like a vacuum cleaner. The back beach is great for SP fishing for flathead and a variety of lure smashing species.

Poor old fella, Paikea. Wish I could retire.

Good going LA. They are heading upstream for sure. Going to give my outside spot a miss this week and try the usual still water one. A few locals have reported lots of fish around the wharf pylons, nearby, so with any luck I might get a few. Bombed out on Friday, but didn't get a donut. Landed one fish around 40cms. Released to fight another day.

It seems to be a 1981 year model. Look at http://www.marineengine.com/parts/engine-model-guides/omc-johnson-evinrude-model-number-guide/omc-johnson-evinrude-model-number-guide-00002.html

You want the model # which should be stamped above the serial #

I have and use the GoPro head strap, H. Works just fine, along with the wrist remote to turn the camera on and off. Okay, just to keep with the theme, Spotted Shag or Parekareka, on NZ North Island.

I was trying to find some instructive reports from you Scarab, but Scratchie beat me to it.

Went for a quick fish off the rocks this yesterday morning with a couple of good mates and was amazed at how everything has changed with the big swells of last week. Sandy beaches are rocky and lots of storm debris and old kelp has disappeared - well, I imagine it is in the waterways and ocean again but the waves and tides have undercut the banks, causing trees and scrub to fall. Rock platforms are cleared of cabbage weed to a large degree, but it was still easy to find baits at our chosen spot. The fish were there for the taking as well. The first few hook ups were dropped, as the floats bobbed down and then back up again quite quickly. I told the boys to shorten up on the depth as I figured they were up high in the water column and feeding without diving down with the bait. I had about 1m of leader under the float and started to hook up almost immediately. Got a nice down and a strong run. Called it for a pig, but it turned out to be a feisty trevally of some 38cm. Landed a few fish and then hooked into one which I again called for a pig, and it was. A solid, powerful fish which tried to reef me a few times before I finally managed to get him in. Only went 39cm but was deep and thick in the 'shoulders'. Glad to get it on 6lb luderick gear. We finished up around 11am and I had 10 fish in my bag. John got 4 and Bob got one. The swell was only small, in contrast to last week and the fishing comfortable. A few big waves starting surging over the platform on the rising tide, so we called it quits at 11am and bled, filleted and skinned a few fish to keep, releasing the others. The walk out always seems longer but it was an enjoyable day spent with good friends, great scenery and fabulous weather.

Good report H. We might be heading down to Greenwell or Burrill next week for a kayak session. Never gave Gars a thought, but glad of the reminder that there is more than flathead and bream to target. Went for a Luderick session off the rocks on Tuesday and landed 39 fish between three of us in 2.5 hours. I managed 18 of those. Released the majority.

Good luck down there. Hope you get a few.

I saw that hat in your backyard the other day. There was a cat curled up in it, fast asleep.

Nice. Yes the colour suits the rest of the trim.

Nice fish Jet. Haven't had a chance to use the T curve I got from you, but soon.... Maybe target some whiting in Gunnamatta.

That sounds good scratchie. I can tag along and just fish next to Paikea while you put in the hard work. We don't know any spots, do we Paikea, but don't let that put you off, scratchie

Took advantage and got a couple last week end. Handed in a couple of boxy kids jackets for the additional discount. Read the post #1, fishnitup - the link is there.

Yes, typo. Should check before hitting post. They are $158 for two manual inflate CO2 jackets.

That is a good initiative for sure. The same jackets sell retail at BoatnBits for $118 for two, so the van isn't really offering a big, subsidised saving, but good if you want to get rid of the old ones and buy the new I like the Normandy invasion comment.

Yeah, that's what the dance is for. Side step, side step, bump!!! Depending on how big the bump is, it can have a splashing effect on the uneducated.

Also heavily patrolled - the jetty. Can't fish off the jetty. If you go there, you may get bream, whiting flathead off the beach. Good luck, and remember to take any rubbish back to the bins with you. So many visiting fishos leave bait, uneaten food, plastic bags, beer bottles etc lying where they fish. Starting to look like the southside of Capt Cook Bridge with all the rubbish left behind.

Good session. They are pretty thick around that possie - the fish as well . I don't mind the climb down, but the return trip with a few fish in the bucket, is a killer for my old muscles. Did you have to do the Pokémon sidestep to follow the drift? Step, step, bump.

Roberta, I have clambered down that breakwall trying to land fish and would prefer my ledges Yes, a workmate taught me to blackfish some 43 yrs ago and I still enjoy it very much. My two new 'apprentices' show all signs of wanting to go again asap. Average size of the ones we get here anytime, is between 36cm to 40cm so quite respectable. Saw some nice fish in the racks last time I was in Forster. We are booked in to Ohma Bay Big 4, last week Oct and first week November so hope to catch up this time.

Went out for a fish off the rocks last Monday with my mate Bob the bus driver and a new acquaintance, Helmut the newbie. Went to one of my spots near Garie and set Helmut up with the correct rig, except that he had a 7ft rod which was not really ideal for ocean blackfish habitat. Not to be deterred, he had a go and soon was hooked into a good fish. He couldn't lead the fish along the ledge, to be washed up in the swell, due to the lack of length in the rod and he dropped three good fish trying to land them. Eventually, he managed a nice fish of 40cm and I reckon you could have heard him whooping in Sutherland. He was stoked and very excited and has asked if he can come again next week, with more suitable gear. Bob got four nice fish and I hooked my bag limit but only managed to land a neat dozen. A lovely day out, but the swell kept building during the morning and with a rising tide, made the spot unsafe. Bob stepped into a hole and got drenched and took some skin off on the barnacles. Poor old fella. Helmut also stepped into a bigger hole, and ended up sitting in the pool. That was it for me and I made the call to finish, despite the fact that no waves knocked them over but not being aware of their surroundings. A good morning, with 17 fish landed. Received a phone call from another good friend asking if I could take him and his son Pete out for a fish off the rocks. Went out today and got Pete set up and into his first fish. Both he and his dad, Mark, landed fish so they were very pleased and enjoyed the day immensely. The spot was a bit busy today, with 8 of us fishing the platform. I lucked out again today, landing seven fish and the rest of the boys also got seven fish between them. Be good to have a break until next week, as my back is killing me. Must be getting old. A highlight of the day was blooding a "new" rod which was given to me yesterday. A brand new, never used, never had a reel on it, Sportex 663. It was built by the previous owner, Ian Whitton of DP Whitton and Sons, a fishing gear importer from the 60's and 70's. Landed four fish on it and a few people came over to admire and ask where they could get one. Great action but a bit heavy after a while.

They would work for a while, depending on how worn they are. It's not like a pair of good stainless steel ones cost all that much, but if you do get your feet knocked out from under you, you can always say "I wish I hadn't taken the cheapest option"