New Year 24/25

Outrageous behaviour flared briefly, but had subsided well before midnight. Just on H8 this year. Notable for how quiet it was. Beautiful snapper for tea.

Christmas 2023

Nina flew in early afternoon on the Friday and we sailed without delay. First night in K-Bay then the next day found us fishing on our old fave mark near Bird Island. I had caught one decent cod already, and we soon had 5 more; we headed over to Homestead Bay. 

Sunday (Christmas Eve) we made our way south to the Kenepuru. We were approached by the Fisheries Patrol and were not boarded. With every buoy occupied, we anchored in 8 metres at a new spot immediately west of Weka Point. In the act of anchoring, the windlass packed a big sad. It's a great anchorage and we will return here. 

Spent a very pleasant Christmas Day. Around mid-day hooners and biscuiters came out and roared around, which was fun. Then it all went quiet again. Especially towards the end of the day the weather was lovely, hot and calm. I had caught a small snapper already, but in the afternoon—having deployed the prawn heads as burley—Nina was near one of the rods when we caught a big snapper. She reeled in handsomely and (for the first and only time in years) we had actually caught a snapper in sight of Snapper Point... and on Christmas Day! 

 

Boxing Day we loafed about in the morning, and were paid a visit by Brett Stanaway from Seabee, anchored across the way. Seabee is not exactly a sister, being a little smaller than Orion. Like Orion she was built at Paremata. In the afternoon we hauled the anchor by hand and headed in. Nina cooked the snapper on passage and we sat at the table down aft in warm sun.

March 6 cruise

 

Kauauroa Bay at sunset

Māori Bay, Port Ligar

Mussel barge, Forsyth Island

Dad's birthday cruise

Dad's Birthday card from Nina

Mackerel and bacon

Back at Raetihi after a long absence. Caught a small but legal snapper. A couple of mackerel contributed to my breakfast. Lots of activity on the water. Pretty quiet at the Lodge. Met up with Bruce and Suzanne. Nina steered in the channel and right up to the Johnson Light. Took 485 litres of fuel. Logged 22 nm.

Canterbury Anniversary

Well, you never know your luck. Regular old weekend up the Kenepuru. Two caught within minutes of each other. One went back, the other was well legal and became breakfast for two. Caught on bare Wasabi hooks on the last of the flood at dusk.