Thread: First Groper/Hapuka

Gday guys.
It is not very often if at all i would post in the fishing section of any forum so today you get lucky.

Awhile ago a plan was hatched to do a trip to North and South Pegasus on the 3rd of December but because people kept pulling out i cancelled the trip.
So with that idea down the gurgler i hatched another less complicated plan, (Groper Fishing).
I made contact with a local charter boat operator Brian Smith who runs out of Waikawa. (www.catlinsmarineencounters.co.nz)
With a run down of what we could catch and that was a reasonable chance of a Groper the deal was done, after rounding up 8 people we finalized the date and waited for our chance to come around.

Saturday finally arrived and we were off at the crack of dawn to our destination Waikawa, the morning was slightly overcast which for us was a blessing as the day before was a scorcher and it would of been hard work on a boat for 8 hrs in 24+ deg heat.
Once at Waikawa we boarded the boat and were given a quick run down on safety and how to drive the boat in the event of a Disaster,(Skipper carking it).
We set off steaming around the channel and within half an hour we were at our chosen spot, skip started setting all of the gear up whilst drifting over spot x the idea is we are told to get a handle on the drift so on first drop we are ahead of the game a plan that proves fruitful.

Once fishing it was proving very hard to get past the masses of Jock Stewarts (Sea Perch) to get to the Blue Cod which was the way it swas all day but no one was complaining as we were catching fish and drinking a few ales at the same time, Heaven.
After a while and a few more drifts i hear from the other side of the boat "boy this is heavy" were on! Steve has hooked into the first Groper of the day, whilst not the biggest fish it was the first for him and it came in at a respectable 11lb which resulted in a very happy fisherman.

After some more time and yet more drifts and inevitably more beer i had finished a can and went to put it into the rubbish bin, when i turned to come back my rod had snagged up and was bending under the strain i quickly shoot back to release the drag but notice a THUMP THUMP on the rod, this is no snag this is a fish of conciderable proportion.
Slowly pulling up and winding down i cant help but wonder if i have caught the second Groper of the day but then i get nothing from down below and wonder if it is just 2 bigger Jocks, winding up to about half depth i get the THUMP THUMP again and this time skipper confirms that this is a Groper.
Steadily winding down and pulling up i finally see some colour from below, a Groper and a good sized one too when it hits the surface we are quick to drag it on board and skip shakes my hand. 18lb of fish for my first Groper, I'm stoked and pics are taken before i have a congradutory beer.

So far things had got far better than expected and it wasn't long before Steve had hooked into his second Groper, again thinking he was fouled on the bottom after some fine work on the rod he manages to land an 18lber as well.
It wasn't long before the wind came up so we headed into shore a bit to have a look at Trumpeter, 9 caught all up nothing huge but great fun none the less, some time goes by and we pull the pin heading for home whilst checking out some spots on the way and having a trawl for Salmon.
We were back in the dock fish filleted as required by 4.30pm. Everyone had an absolute ball and are lining up to do it again, the only complaint we had was the beer didn't quite get us home even after stopping at the Tokonui pup.

If any one is after a trip like this and you are locally based i would have to recommend Brian Smith for a trip you will remember.

There are probably spelling mistakes in this so if you find them go tell someone who gives a shit!

Not a bad way to spend a Saturday. Good weather, good fishing...

Congrats on your first Hapuka Malhunter.

Thanks for the write up.

My phone must of been off that day..........:shocked...again:

I'll keep you in mind for the next one shall i.

Good fish there Mal looks like a good day out

Nice write up MH.

Definetly sounds like a great day out. I would have been doing the same thing Sunday had I not cracked so many Woodies:lll._.:

great day out