A night to remember
My good fishing buddy James (fellow beast master) and I were doing a spot of night-fishing off the rocks at our spot x near Russell when we both achieved our personal bests with some snappers.
We had an amazing days fishing composed of the odd snapper with massive ocean going Kahawhai. James and I both spent plenty of time taking photos of the dolphins which swam right in front of the ledge we were fishing from.
Just as the full moon started slowly rising James hooked up with what I thought do be a foul hooked dolphin. We had been catching some reasonable sized snapper earlier and at the same moment a school of dolphins swam past as James’ line peeled off at an incredible rate in the same direction the dolphin were swimming. 5 -10minutes later a very happy James had his best catch ever a 16-18(est) pound snapper.
Scott with two good Snaps.
After calming down from helping with some words of encouragement and a well placed gaff shot I decided to try my own luck. Thinking that possibly where there is one beast there may be more I carefully threaded half a large bonito head onto my line.Casting out directly into the moonlight with a huge splash I waited, after a big solid take and run I slammed the bait runner into gear and hooked up solid. Around 10 minutes and a very tired arm/sore back later I had the snapper many fishermen only dream about at my feet. James and I were ecstatic what an end to an amazing days fishing.
On the way back.
Blog text by Lloyd Thompson. Photographs by Scott M.