Thread: Fishing tomorrow!

Out to check the carrot patch today with @stingray.
Conditions were fantastic no wind at all and a wee lazy swell.
I had considered chucking the 223 in for some pest control but didn't and what do ya know here's some goats right on the beach.

Fishing was a little slow but at least we we not catching lots of spiky dogs.
The gurnard we did get were Fantastic size with 2 being just shy of the magic 50cm mark


Came in to find @Pengy and freind going to have a flounder drag so stuck around to add kind words of encouragement for a bit.

New species for me.

Originally Posted by MB

New species for me.

Have caught a few of these at various times over the years, all diving for scallops. They were hiding just under the sand with eyes just visible. Dive knife between eyes and into the catch bag. First time I thought it was a flounder so got a hell of a shock when it appeared out of the sand. Had to look up what it was.

They have very slimy skin but are tasty.

Originally Posted by Got-ya

Have caught a few of these at various times over the years, all diving for scallops. They were hiding just under the sand with eyes just visible. Dive knife between eyes and into the catch bag. First time I thought it was a flounder so got a hell of a shock when it appeared out of the sand. Had to look up what it was.

Been there, but no as succesfully.

Originally Posted by Got-ya

Have caught a few of these at various times over the years, all diving for scallops. They were hiding just under the sand with eyes just visible. Dive knife between eyes and into the catch bag. First time I thought it was a flounder so got a hell of a shock when it appeared out of the sand. Had to look up what it was.

They have very slimy skin but are tasty.

Ha, same surprise here, thought I was stabbing a big flounder or sole, and this frickin great fat thing erupts out of the sand!

Monkfish/Angler fish ? Very highly rated in other parts of the world.

Originally Posted by Pengy

Monkfish/Angler fish ? Very highly rated in other parts of the world.

Yes, but more correctly, stargazer. It came home for dinner

I have caught a couple over the years (on lures of course) and found the flesh to be quite rubbery but good flavor. Ideal for a curry.

Originally Posted by Shearer

I have caught a couple over the years (on lures of course) and found the flesh to be quite rubbery but good flavor. Ideal for a curry.

I'm going with the "tastes like crayfish" vibe

OK, so took advice and didn't overcook it. Very lightly poached in butter in the oven. Definitely nothing like crayfish. Just like blue cod.

8kg Pollock and it's little mate.
Caught down the hill from my house.

Originally Posted by norsk

8kg Pollock and it's little mate.
Caught down the hill from my house.

Machines I work with to fillet Hoki were originally designed to process them and other northern hemisphere whitefish.
I have never seen one...do they quickly go soft like a hoki or snapper or are they more robust like a orange roughy or Ling?

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Machines I work with to fillet Hoki were originally designed to process them and other northern hemisphere whitefish.
I have never seen one...do they quickly go soft like a hoki or snapper or are they more robust like a orange roughy or Ling?

Well it's been many years since I spent MONTHS filleting them,and the ones we had were less than a kg. I guess a mullet would be nearest I can compare them to.

Took a couple of old blokes out for a flounder drag this afternoon.

We did alright but less than half as many as last time...water Temps and salinity are down so always get a few less this time of year.

At last a weekend of epic weather, down to okiwi Thursday night, lost dog wandering past our place decided that we were friendly and house was warm so invited himself in much to Rouge displeasure , My lass checked the Ōkiwi Bay notice board on line , owners posted , we contacted them , little bugger had done 20 kms, broke his link on his chain…owners picked him …fantastic result …the internet being used to good value!

Team in the boat wrapped up for a chilly trip to the Island, boats everywhere and I mean everywhere out at the 40 meter mark, stacked 3 deep on hope(less) rock, it was a flat arse calm day.

We hit big cod rock for the first time this year and well they were mid size cod but fat and delicious, big cod for us are 45cm + , mid size are 35 /38, but they were hungry and in my experience cod don’t like being handled so we binned our two each , then went exploring with 5 meter vis we hunted around the coast and bays hunting out weed beds and reef looking for new free dive spots.

That done and the tide flooding we heading for a carrot patch, down went the lines and as I was setting up my rig up came 3 spikey dogs on the three ladies rigs , as I set to clearing the gear we were surrounded but 6 more of their mates surface swimming from 30 meters.

That was my warning so I binned the burley took off the traces and took the team for a ticky tour or the surrounding area (yes more prospecting) !

Home by 2 boat cleaned and fish sorted by 3, a cold beer in the winter sun watching the world by. Priceless!