Charter Fishing on the Dreamrider - Part II

Happy Clients

The Snapper was putting up a great fight and I could tell by the strain on the rod, that it was a good one. I only had the line in the water for a couple of minutes when I got the hook up, I don’t often fish while I have a group of clients but on this occasion the boys had almost got their limit so I decided to have a go., fighting it to the surface I was visualizing nice fresh snapper fillets on my plate for my evening dinner.

The Snapper broke the surface 30 feet behind the Dream Rider, and looked to be a nice medium sized one. But something was wrong, while I was winding it in closer. The fish seemed to become elongated and growing in size before my eyes. Oh sh-- a huge Bronze Whaler shark had followed the snapper to the surface and was about to rob me of my dinner. I went into overdrive frantically winding the reel in as fast as I could, while watching the monster gaining on the hapless fish with deceptive ease, and then leisurely opening his jaws he swallowed my dinner in one single gulp, A sharp tug that left me flat on my back, The mono filament line all over the place, and me without my dinner. Worse still, when I gathered myself and looked around, I found that I was surrounded by ten grinning clients that had seen it all happen and thought it a huge joke.

Sharks are always a problem on a charter boat as they can cause chaos. Unfortunately the Kaipara Harbour where I operate the Dream Rider is a nursery for White Pointers, Bronze Whalers, Seven Gillers and the lowly but very common Tope, (School Shark).They come into the Harbour in their thousands to drop their young over the summer months. 

Tope Shark

The White pointers and Bronze Whalers predominantly prey on the Topes and anything else they can catch. The Topes prey on the smaller fish eg Snapper Kahawai Travalli etc.  They can all become a major pain in the butt with the loss of sinkers and tackle, not to mention the loss of the fish that they were targeting. This often forces us to move to another fishing spot. Of course there are those on board that think its great fun and get a kick out of playing them. This however is not always appreciated by those that want nothing to do with sharks, and the howls of annoyance are directed at the misguided angler, when the hooked shark gathers up all the lines in its savage attempt to throw the line, often leaving the owners holding nothing but an empty line minus the sinker and tackle. Over the years I have learned to live with the sharks but I feel sorry for my clients, they are the ones out of pocket with the mounting loss of gear.

Dinner

During the many years that I have run the Charter business, I have enjoyed some memorable experiences. On one occasioned I had on board a group of fairly seasoned campaigners. Some of these had over the years obviously enjoyed a tipple or two, resulting in expanding waist lines.  These guys tend to enjoy life to the full but are not the most agile on the deck of a heaving boat. This particular day fish was coming on at a cracking pace, and one of these portly gentleman was in the act of lifting out two fish (we call them double headers) he held them poised about three feet above the water, while he proceeded to tell his neighbour how it takes rare skill to catch two at a time. When suddenly there was a huge eruption and a large Bronze Whaler came leaping out of the sea, and with consummate ease swallowed both of the fish that the angler had conveniently left there for him. Falling back into the sea the huge shark created such a wave that it almost engulfed the anglers across the stern. The resulting chaos has left an indelible picture in my mind that will stay with me forever. The gentleman that was standing at the Starboard corner let out a yell, and proceeded to dance around in rapt wonderment. The chap next to him just stood there in stunned silence not believing what he had just witnessed, both of these guys were drenched from top to tail. The third chap in line had suddenly disappeared from the rail. Quickly looking around I found him standing behind me, ten feet from the action. He had moved so fast that I had not seen him leave the rail. He was standing there bone dry, shaking like a leaf in a gale. Later while talking to him he said that he could not even remember moving. His reflexes must have been incredible. It’s amazing what a squirt of adrenaline will do. The next in line was the chap that had caught the double header. He was frozen into immobility, His mouth, still open and was as white as a ghost, and to add insult to injury he was still holding his broken rod, minus its top half that the shark had also claimed. The guy in the other corner of the stern, wet as a shag, was peeing himself with laughter, or was it terror? I did not like to ask him. 

After everything had settled down I watched how every one reacted differently. Some staring in wonder, trying to grasp what they had just witnessed, others were swearing and cursing at how wet they were, yet others were talking about how close the shark had been, and that they could have reached out and touched it. While others had to sit down, and were as white as a sheet and shivering from reaction.

I know that it was an experience that they will never forget, and I smile to myself knowing that the story will grow with the telling. The shark will grow from its twelve feet to an incredible twenty feet and will of course be a lot closer, (practically on the deck) and that it will have leap clear over the boat.

On another occasion I had on board my Daughter in law (Amber) and her work mates. It was a superb day, one of those that make you feel good to be alive. The fish were coming on board steadily but not real fast. What we were catching how ever, were real beauties.

Amber had already struggled with three monsters in the past hour, when she claimed that she had hooked another one, and it was beyond her capabilities to get it up any further. “Please help me” she pleaded with me, relenting I proceeded to wind in her line. It felt heavy, but there did not seem to be much of a fight being put up. By this time there were a lot of excited onlookers lining the rail peering into the water for their first glimpse of the fish. What actually came up were the remains of what had been a six foot Tope shark only the head was still attached to the hook with entrails hanging out of it. While the spectators were oohing and aahing at the sight, they failed to spot the Great White that was returning to complete the job. As it came rushing out of the depths I yelled at every one to step back from the rail. That shark came out of the water like an express train, half its body came out of the water then falling back with an enormous splash, it then proceeded to circle around the stern of the boat for several minutes looking for the remainder of its dinner. He finally gave up and disappeared. “He’s gone” I said to my badly shaken passengers. When fifty yards behind the boat it leapt clear out of the water completing a perfect barrel roll before entering back into the water never to be seen again. I have had a lot of experience with Great Whites but I had never had the good fortune to witness such behavior before. I believe that for half of the passengers, if they never see another one it will be too soon. While the other half swears that they will never go fishing again.       

Double

Experiences like these are what make my life as a charter fishing skipper worth while. Every day is different I have met some wonderful people, and some not so.

The people I particularly enjoy taking out are the people that go for the experience and not necessarily for the quantity of fish. These are people that are happy just to catch a fish and have a good time. They go home with a little sun tan, and sea air in their lungs.

One such gentleman told me on the way down to the fishing grounds that he did not care if he did not catch a lot of fish. Just one would do, as at the age of eighty he had never had any luck no matter how hard he tried.

I took the elderly gentleman under my wing and set his gear up the best way possible. I lowered the anchor in fairly deep water as I could see some good fish marks on the fish finder, then watched the old chap lower his line. It seemed to take an age for it to hit the bottom. He sat quietly for half an hour occasionally winding up to check his bait, replacing what needed to be replaced then lowering it again. It was plain to see that he was thoroughly enjoying himself, and was at peace with himself, when suddenly he jumped up, and with his rod bending at a steep angle proceeded to wind it in. The old chap was nearly exhausted when the sinker finally appeared. I was already waiting with the landing net and in a second I had two beautiful, huge snapper at his feet. He could not believe his eyes and with a huge smile, said that he had finished fishing for the day.

Later, at the end of the day he was helped off the boat with his prize catch. Then with a tear in his eye, I pretended not to see, he thanked me, saying that it was the best day of his life and could he come again. Alas I heard that he had died sometime later without getting the opportunity to come out again. I like to think that he would have gone with a smile on his face.

I have a lot of fun with most of my regular clients and every Christmas I shout a free trip and BBQ, for the hard working leaders that over twelve months of the year, organize their groups so that they turn up on time, and if one of them has to drop out, organize a replacement. This is my way to show my appreciation. These groups come from all walks of life consisting of church groups, work clubs, Executive groups, RSA (Returned Service Associations) etc etc. 

One of these leaders is Charlotte a 75year old Maori lady, she is a real sweetie, and when ever she is on board I always try to make a fuss of her. On one of these trips I presented her with a little booby prize of a packet of small confectionery fish, while announcing some trivial misdemeanor that had occurred over the past year, this raised a good laugh from every one, and set the tone for the day.

Later that day they were having a great time catching fish and imbibing in the “occasional” beer and wine. All that is, except Charlotte. She did not look happy. I went over to see what the problem was. “It’s this bloody bait, she said. “It’s just not working”. Why what’s wrong with it?” I asked. “I don’t know it keeps falling off the hook” she said. “Let me have a look” I said. She then showed me the half empty packet of the confectionery fish that I had given her. “You are supposed to eat them you silly moo, they aren’t bait”. As fast as she had put them on the hook they dissolved off it. No wonder she was not catching anything. She still gets reminded of that little episode.       

Its times like these, and the people I meet that make my job a wonderful experience I feel blessed and I would not change a thing. 

Ray Scott ( Dream Rider)

New Zealand 

 

Question: At what stage in a fishes life is its period of fastest growth

Answer: The day after it’s caught.