Bay of Islands New Zealand

twoutes · April 30, 2011, 05:45:33 CET

Hi Guys.
Thought l'd share some photos of the trip l did with my wife Rita recently to New Zealand.

When my wife Rita asked me if we could go to New Zealand for her birthday, l said "Yes dear, I know just the place". I just couldn't break her heart and say no.

With the recent devestation that occured with the earthquakes on the South Island, l thought that it would be best to fly to Auckland and travel north to the Bay Of Islands, a place that l read so much about when l first got into game fishing, and have always wanted to visit.
Now even though my intension was to do some fishing there, l also wanted to make it a pleasurable trip for Rita.
We spent some time in Auckland and went on a Whale Watching trip to the Hauraki Gulf, which only produced lots of feeding dolphines, and spectacular sights of Gannets diving in for a feed, and also massive flocks of Little Shearwaters.

A short stopover at Pakiri Beach on the way north, gave us a chance to go on a trail ride.

I was having a great time, and so was Rita, as we made our way to the Bay of Islands. We arrived there mid afternoon, and did some sight seeing during which time l recieved a call from Andrew at Anglers Anonymous that our charter was cancelled due to bad weather, and would see if an opportunity presented itself during our time there

The views from the Waitangi National Reserve were spectacular as was Haruru Falls

We spent the next day sight seeing the area, and took the car ferry across to Russell, where l knew the Bay of Islands Swordfishing Club was situated.

We were supposed to be out fishing this day, but still managed to view some game fish, and souvineer shopping, so all was going well.

Back at our hotel, l gave Andrew a call to see how the next day was looking, and luckily enough we were going to have a window of opportunity and go out on his 9 metre heavily modified Craig Loomes, the same designer of the well known New Zealand boat 'Ultimate Lady'

The conditions in the morning were perfect for the runout to 'Stoney Point', and we stopped for a short live bait gathering session which quickly filled our tank with yakkas up to the 300 mm mark. Before too long we were drifting over some king fish grounds using shakespear ugly sticks with shimano TLD 25 reels spool with 37kg mono....and in a very short time could see why.

These Kingfish pull hard, and are not called the 'hoodlems of the sea' for nothing. Rita bought in the first Kingfish to the boat, her first kingfish and around the 14kg mark.....She was wrapped!!

It wasn't long after that l had a hit, only to loose it the a 2 metre long bronze whaler, and another attempt that saw me busted up on the rocks below. In the meantime Louie for San Diego bought in a nice 20kg model.

Rita had a grin on here face suggesting that she might out fish me on this trip, but it soon turned a bit yellow, when the wind stirred things up a bit, which had her producing some burely over the side for us. What a way to spend her birthday

I asked our chef at our hotel whether he would cook our catch, and he obliged, but until this time we hadn't kept any of our fish, and some even caught jigging with butterfly knife jigs. Things had slowed up a bit around mid day, but with limited time left l dropped down another 'livie' to catch another Kingfish to keep for a feed, weighing in at around 18kg, and my P.B Kingfish to date.

Happy Birthday Rita

All in all, we had a great time.....and the beer and fresh oysters where good as well

skip · April 30, 2011, 06:22:28 CET

Awesome Joe, when are you going to open Twoutes Fishing Guide Services so that we can book a trip to Oz and you can arrange trips to the right locations and with the right people!!

fisheye · April 30, 2011, 08:50:06 CET

Great writeup and thanks for sharing photos, give the best of days to the Lady of the house, definitely that was a day to remember. Good luck to both of you.

malvizzu · April 30, 2011, 15:16:53 CET

Excellent write-up (as usual

) and awesome pictures

. Thanks a lot for sharing. Why the hell was I born in b****y Malta $:-\$

ganni · April 30, 2011, 17:38:10 CET

Excellent write up once again

@ malvizzu....why "why the hell was i born in Malta"

??

malta is a lovely country...and for the fish...yes we have fish, probabbly much more than Sardenia

malvizzu · April 30, 2011, 20:30:13 CET

@ganni - did you notice that twoutes was fishing in New Zealand not Sardenia

ganni · April 30, 2011, 20:58:52 CET

of coarse i did, but compared to other Med waters we are quite lucky

twoutes · May 01, 2011, 01:30:26 CET

Quote from: skip on April 30, 2011, 06:22:28 CET
Awesome Joe, when are you going to open Twoutes Fishing Guide Services so that we can book a trip to Oz and you can arrange trips to the right locations and with the right people!!

Thanks Nick. 'Twoutes Fishing Guide Services' is up and running

Any members from here comming to Australia can conntact me, and l'll do my best to help them out, and there may even be an opportunity to take them out in one of my 2 boats. The key is to go out with the right people.
As l said before, l love sharing my trips with you guys, and my place of birth.

Quote from: malvizzu on April 30, 2011, 15:16:53 CET
Excellent write-up (as usual ) and awesome pictures . Thanks a lot for sharing. Why the hell was I born in b****y Malta $:-\$

I too was born in Malta, and its my Maltese blood that gives me my spirit for, fishing, hunting, and adventure.
I was in Malta a few years back and very suprised about the many fishing opportunities over there......you just have to go out with the right people.
I love my fishing, and the many opportunites it gives me to travel.

Thanks for all the comments guys

fishfinder · May 05, 2011, 17:47:52 CET

Thanks for sharing your awesome photos and excellent write up with us.

Come on guys where's the fishing Spirit?

He's Maltese after all. IS there any place for me over there LOL