Peter4
24-01-2010, 09:45 AM
Yesterday Kyle & I zipped across to Peel pre-dawn (4.15am) in nearly perfect conditions. We wanted to fish early as we were expecting heavy boat traffic for the rest of the day.
In that regard we were pleasantly surprised - most of the early traffic was heading offshore and we didn't get a crowd around Peel until 8.00am or so.
First couple of drifts came up empty even though there was a heap of bait showing on the sounder. Next drift yielded a 32cm snap for me....then all hell broke loose! The very next drift saw Kyle nab a good moses perch and me nail a 35cm maori cod. Just as I release the cod my deadstick takes a big hit and I wrestle in a 40cm snapper. Kyle gets another undersize snap and I manage one as well.
Next drift is interrupted by a mother dolphin and her baby which accepted my undersize snapper as breakfast when I released it. The dolphins swam under our boat and the water was gin clear as we could see them 3m or so underneath us.
It goes quiet shortly after so we head to our second mark. We purposely drifted a little wider (in deeper water to avoid boat traffic) and were immediately rewarded by a good flathead to Kyle and a 35cm snap to me. As I release the snap I see a small bite on my second rod. One twitch later it is smashed and a 40cm gold-spot cod comes aboard. Shortly after I manage another small maori cod.
We then tried drifting the sand flats but the flathead didn't want to play and we only managed two to Kyle and one to me. A quick run up to Harries where only 6 or 7 boats were fishing but being plagued by friendly dolphins.
We headed home and finished cleaning the boat by 11.00am. A good morning on the water - 4 flathead, 8 snapper to 40cm, 2 maori cod and a 40cm gold-spot cod. No vermin! All fish caught on light gear and soft plastics and released to grow bigger!
Regs
Pete & Kyle
In that regard we were pleasantly surprised - most of the early traffic was heading offshore and we didn't get a crowd around Peel until 8.00am or so.
First couple of drifts came up empty even though there was a heap of bait showing on the sounder. Next drift yielded a 32cm snap for me....then all hell broke loose! The very next drift saw Kyle nab a good moses perch and me nail a 35cm maori cod. Just as I release the cod my deadstick takes a big hit and I wrestle in a 40cm snapper. Kyle gets another undersize snap and I manage one as well.
Next drift is interrupted by a mother dolphin and her baby which accepted my undersize snapper as breakfast when I released it. The dolphins swam under our boat and the water was gin clear as we could see them 3m or so underneath us.
It goes quiet shortly after so we head to our second mark. We purposely drifted a little wider (in deeper water to avoid boat traffic) and were immediately rewarded by a good flathead to Kyle and a 35cm snap to me. As I release the snap I see a small bite on my second rod. One twitch later it is smashed and a 40cm gold-spot cod comes aboard. Shortly after I manage another small maori cod.
We then tried drifting the sand flats but the flathead didn't want to play and we only managed two to Kyle and one to me. A quick run up to Harries where only 6 or 7 boats were fishing but being plagued by friendly dolphins.
We headed home and finished cleaning the boat by 11.00am. A good morning on the water - 4 flathead, 8 snapper to 40cm, 2 maori cod and a 40cm gold-spot cod. No vermin! All fish caught on light gear and soft plastics and released to grow bigger!
Regs
Pete & Kyle