An early start, Noel got up at 0600 to be ready in time for Gary to meet him. Jennifer decided to have an early morning sort and cleaned the floors.
We left Taipa boat ramp around 0655 and headed out into the bay. There was another boat that sort of joined up with us they were two guys that Gary knows who were staying almost next door to the boat ramp.
We started fishing around 0715 and it was pretty quiet for most of the first couple of hours, Noel caught a 10 pound Red Snapper but most of the others were too small to keep. We moved position a couple more times and eventually found a location, using the fish finder, where we had far more success. Gary caught about five or six fish and Noel about eight and so with the icebox full and also the bait bucket full of fish we headed back to Taipa at around 12.30 pm. When catching the larger fish it can be a little tiring lifting and winding, lifting and winding etc. but very good fun.
On the way out and in to the bay we were joined by a pod of dolphins, I tried taking a picture but as I only has my little Casio digital the pictures are not very clear. On a couple of occasions cormorants sat by the boat waiting for you to drop the line with bait and hook
and try to go after it and so we had to shoe them away for their own safety.
A very quiet afternoon was had by all and in the early evening we delivered some fish to
Gary Holding the fish
our friends Robin and Lorraine,and then headed of to Valda’s to meet Gary & Jean before heading off to the yacht club for dinner. Earlier in the day we had noticed that the Police had arrived in Taipa with their booze testing van and so Jennifer said she would drive, just in case we got caught.
We had a nice Burger and chips followed by Christmas pudding and were looking out over Mill Bay when the Coastguard pulled in and went to the jetty where a few minutes later a black hearse turned up. A few minutes more and a body bag was handed over to the attendants who took the deceased away. Looks like some family will have a poor Christmas.
Discussions in club ranged from, who was the person in the hearse? to travel in Latin America and living in Kerikeri which apparently has the highest cancer rate in New Zealand.
Ironically they say it’s most likely due to all the chemicals they put on the Orchards. So if you want fresh fruit and vegetables and don’t mind getting cancer, here is an ideal place to live.There is also a thriving green economy in
Mangonui, so I will cut your grass if you can mend my window. Or I can give you some of the fish I caught in exchange for some of your fresh garden vegetables. It’s a good idea and a very strong process being used here.
Mill Bay view from the Clubhouse
On the way home we expected to see the Police lined up in Cable Bay with their meters but no such luck.
Just before going to bed had a look at the BBC news and noted that the pound is almost the same value as the exican Peso. What does young Gordon and his mate Alice think they are playing at??
Perhaps we should stay here rather than come home?
