Ryan and Bex letting go of work
Waitangi weekend we all took a day's leave on the Friday, to make it a four-day weekend. We didn't know we were going as far as Duffers Reef, but we were planning to catch fish. Poppy seems to be saying, "Poor deluded creatures".
We venture forth
At Richmond Reef too many are juveniles
Too many kingfish turn out to be barracuda
Next day we continue north
Duffers Reef
Although it looks like a nice day in the photograph, it was by then - early on the Saturday morning - SE 4 rising 6 with a gale warning in place. There's a big fetch up the side of Forsyth Island. We hung about for twenty minutes and pulled the pin. We spent some time fishing Post Office Point in the lee of the southerly, but with limited success. That night we sheltered in Waitata Bay.
Next day - the Sunday - the forecast was SE 25 knots easing, and by the time Caleb and Bex had made everyone breakfast the wind had eased a lot. We set forth once again for Duffers Reef and Goat Point.
Goat Point on the Sunday
Working close in with 10 to 25 metres depth
Sue with a decent sized Blue Cod
Scarlet Wrasse (we think)
Perch (going back)
Tired but happy
Fortunately...
somebody knows how to fillet
Just too much excitement
Duffers Reef and Goat Point
A south-easterly air flow maintained throughout the weekend, temperatures were pleasant around 21 degrees. Nights we anchored in Ketu, Waitata, and Chance Bays. We also anchored in Richmond Bay for lunch on the Friday and Wynans Bay for breakfast on the Saturday and Richmond Bay again on the way South. We steamed 107 nautical miles and consumed around 200 litres of diesel, 800 litres of water, less than one bottle of gas, and six bags of ice. Not to mention quite a few bottles of cider and wine and a lot of food.
