Snapper 1000. No names are mentioned to protect the identity of those involved, but you all know who you are.
As a guest of the Foxton club I keep a low profile as some of the BIG GUNS are fishing in the mob.
After the briefing we head over to the northern end of the beach. Park up on the selected spot and start to fish as soon as the clock strikes 3. All the baits start drifting north and a LOT of weed is picked off lines and the mood is sombre. Most of us bring the lines in and decide to wait it out.
The waiting game lasts till just before sunset and the baits go back into the drink. Same result , weed and more weed.
As we progress into the night things start to get WEIRD. A pink horned unicorn makes an appearance and ominous blue lights appear on the water. There is an array of tip lights, some even visible from MARS. One of the older members of the group even carries a photo in his pocket of a fish just to remind him why he is here (Oldtimers disease)
From about 11pm the beach gets quiet as we all try and get a bit of shuteye. Sleeping in the van is not an option for me due to my frame size (built for comfort not for speed) so I rough it on the sand ,my team mate decides to give sleeping in the van ago. Neither of us get much sleep. At about 4 we decide to give it a go again.
Fresh baits go in, and they actually stay in one place, a couple of bites are coming and the mood is picking up.
At 7:30 my rod bends over and at long last a fish is on the line. The first thing my team mate does is grab a knife and threatens to cut my line, now im fighting a fish and swearing at him at the same time. The old timer with the photo comes by again just to make sure I know what a snapper looks like. He helps untangle my line and slides fish onto the beach. 2.2kg not the biggest but still I am pleased to at least get a fish on the scale.
It was a real good fishing comp, well organized and well run, hope I get an invite again next year. Thanx to all involved. Born to fish. Forced to work.
Sums it up really ,good weekend still recovering nice to catchup with people. The weather was about as good as it gets . Well run event good on you team , hope to be back next year. Thanks to the Thornton Motor Camp for the use of their complex.
Spot on Salt - Great comp - atmosphere at the spot was great as we all had a laugh, fishing well, its another story but it was great to meet new faces - Thanks Foxton Club for the invite - Thorton Holiday Park,Thumbs up and the Host Club - Whakatane..Well done guys - looking forward to next year and here's to hoping you smash 100+ fisho's...Good things come to those who bait.
Which club do we need to contact for invites to this? Some of our clubbies may be keen to travel or we could potentially add it as an away fish on our calendar...Brenton Cumberpatch North Shore Surfcasting Club, 2012 Treasurer.
Was a great night with conditions that just got better as the night wore on and turned into morning,good company,good food(pot of butter chicken curry on the fire at 1am)chur VJ wicked as allways. Awsome well run comp,thanks to Ray and the rest of the club for a great time .
Great comp and thanks for sharing the photo's Mark. Thanks also to Ray and the Whakatane club and not forgetting the Thornton camp owners. Looking forward to next year.A woman who has never seen her husband fishing, doesn't know what a patient man she married !
I dont think Panser was smoking anything funny during the night and I have to admit that there was definitely a blue light on the water and some of the weirdest tip lights Ive seen. Someone said the blue light was to attract the fish.....ha. This was the inaugural erection of our new awning. Worked a treat, money well spent. It was a bit rugged late afternoon. The weed was a pain. We had a great time though. We parked up with Snappy and Panser and the Tackle Tactics crowd. The snapper don't know where the car park is! Sometimes it is better to travel than to arrive.
on 2/10/2012, 5:17 pm
