Drove back into Napier today with lashing rain and cold temps. The last 36 hours however had been quite summer like at Mahia Peninsular. We arrived yesterday midday, missed the tide and were forced to fish the northern end of the beach. I found a spot where there was a nice high tide gutter just in casting range and managed a couple of kahawai there while we waited for the tide to drop which would allow us to drive down the beach.
Once the tide dropped we headed south for 5 kms to some favourite territory where we had experienced some great fishing in the past. We made camp and put out a couple of lines each. In two minutes we were both hooked up. @ kahawai as it turned out. Sues about a kilo mine closer to 2.5kgs. Back went the lines and I was on again. A kilo kahawai for me, then two more both small.It became dark, then cold. Sue dissapeared into the truck. I threw on more clothes and carried on.At 7.30 one rod went over and I struggled for quite a while with a 2 kg kahawai hooked in the gill plate. I put him back. At 11pm I dived for a rod that pointed at the horizon while line peeled from the reel. Ten minutes later i beached a three oe four kilo Tope. I looked over at the other rod and the line hung limp. I tightened and came up on a wriggling fish. After a short fight and a lot of spashing I beached another tope, three kilos this time. I changed to crayfish bait from the tuna I had been using. Wham! a bite straight away. Five minutes and I saw his eyes in my headlamp beam. A four kilo lemonfish. I put him back too.It was midnight and I didnt get another bite till we were getting breakfast organised at 7.30am. This fish was strong and fast and hung deep and solid. Slowly I worked him in, a beautiful fat trevally.
We had breakfast with the lines out but no action.
WE had to leave ahead of the tide or stay another night. The weather forecast was rubbish with a huge southerly buster headed our way. We decided to leave and relocate at Whakaki and fish there till the weather arrived. When we arrived we could see the weather to the south so knew we only had a short time. Out went the rods and nothing happened. The weather rolled closer.
After an hour of nothing my rod dipped then straightened and the line dropped slack. Thankful that I was using circle hooks I picked up the rod and tightened, Sure enough the fish was still there. The fight was tipical, heavy weight all the way in and a struggle on the edge befoe I slid out a huge fat gurnard. I was stoked.
WE were seriously running out of time as the weather approached. Two more gurnard took the same bait as the big one. (bonus and budget.)
One by one we reeled in. Sue caught a yelloweyed mullet before packing up. I left one rod out till the last minute.
In the next ten minutes summer finished and winter arrived. I started to rain as we drove off. I reckon we had extracted as much as we could from the trip.