Thread: Boys weekend in the sounds.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

The boy caught one about 20cm long which I managed to roll the hook out without even lifting it out of the water to release and my mate got a decent 45-50cm one on and lost it at the boat would have been good for tea.
I have never really fished the sounds and took no fresh bait only salted and no burly as my intention was to catch a feed only and try and find a legal kingy.
the sign I saw on the sounder in 20-30m I am pretty sure was snapper but they just were not hungry for anything I had to offer, I caught livebaits and sent em down in hope of kings or a big snapper but was rewarded with barracuda after barracuda.
Trolled kingy lures at the most uneconomical speed possible around mussel farms and every point and island in range one evening and got a grand total of nothing.
At least the gurnard were plentiful and easy to catch.
I mostly stayed away from the coast and shallow water to try and avoid blue cod as of course you cant keep them at this time of year but the one time I got a bit close the boy got the biggest blue cod I have seen....even including Fiordland charters!I got it back in as quick as possible but estimate 7-8 pound....it fought like a snapper! and then another two around 45cm and that was it I had to move.

Think you did really well Cam
Considering the Salted Bait - that I have never had luck with - but when shes all on it will catch - but I imagine that is not the case now/yet??
Gurnard are in closer her too. Not plentiful though.
Snapper being caught up Kenepuru from what I have heard.

Cod 7-8 LB and you threw it back
If it had of been late in the day caught (after the Marlborough Mini Mafia gone home) - the bugger wouldn't have gone back from my boat
Especially staying out there.
Mans gotta eat and feed the nippers.

When they put a 100% stop to ALL commercial operating "inside" the Sounds (including Flounder which we can't get anymore) then I might go along with some of their "conservation/restriction" rules.