Bream Bay Charters

Mayday relay,
Mayday relay,
Mayday relay
“There’s a boat sunk & upside down down with two people reported to be struggling in the water at Little Munro bay any vessel able to assist please respond urgently “ comes over the marine radio.
Ohh Crapp we are right there so here we go…..again
Sumo was instantly tasked with a full on emergency response inside the Whangārei Harbour late this afternoon in the middle of our fishing charter, so up comes the anchor and its full noise to the scene.
Jade Coyle bought 5 keen young fishermen “his lads along with four dads”
today for a fantastic father son ( Lads and Dads) fishing experience. Conditions in the harbour were a little choppy at times but excellent fishing with everyone catching some great snapper, so much fish that releasing some of 450 mm or more was prudent, which was neat to see the young lads getting into catch and release
Harris was the young fishing gun for the day with a number of fish measuring 470, 480 & 470 again plus he released numerous over 400 cm

The boat rescue was a full on affair, with shore spotters reporting a boat upside down in Little Munro Bay and two people struggling in the water.
We were the first responders to arrive and secured a rope to the sunk tinny boat & getting it under tow easily enough but the guys refused to come aboard Sumo and then proceeded to swim to & sit on a rock and then swim ashore ( probably in shock I’m thinking ).
Anyway the Coastgaurd boat & then the Ruakaka surf lifesaving jet ski arrived at all speed and took over the long tow back to the marina and eventually uplifted the wet crew standing ashore in some remote rocky spot.
The lesson of the day…don’t stand up on a small tinny and don’t lean over the side to relieve yourself! It just doesn’t work out on a tiny dingy! Seems the boat instantly flipped over and that was that, all their gear floating around and rods etc lost forever. We recovered shoes, crocks, gaffs, fuel drums and orrs for them.
What a dramatic situation and experience plus some fabulous fishing creating some great memory’s for our young fishing team aboard Sumo

Shark attack I’m thinking….
Today’s second charter has been crazy but entertaining with busy moments then no bites but ended with a strong finish with lots of Trevelley and some nice snapper. The best snapper of the day was taken just before the net saved it, inhaled by a Big BIG shark.
The snapper head alone weighed 8.5 lb!! so that was one nice fish most of which is now inside a shark. We are now surfing home at 17 knots with a building sea from behind and the storm not far off it’s due to arrive midnight in three hours time. It should be perfect for giving the boat a good fresh water rinse back at the marina and I’m looking forward to a sleep in tomorrow with rain on the roof and a nasty 45 knots easterly predicted.

Out on my second Pelagic sea bird tour this week we had gannets, Shearwaters, petrels even Whales and Dolphins came alongside with hundreds of birds to admire however Today’s WOW moment for everyone started with this comment…
“Now here’s a different bird and I don’t know what it is” this is exactly what all birder dreams of and just loves to hear from the local bird watching guides.
Turns out it is a “Streaked Petrel” that’s traveled all the way from Japanese waters and is quite possibly one of the rarest bird views in NZ in recent years.
This Petrel stayed around Sumo our boat for 45 minutes or more, a real treat for everyone aboard to have a good view of it up close and personal.
According to today’s birding guides, google and the birding group aboard this species has only been seen in NZ alive once beforehand, so our group are the second group ever to recognise and record this species being here in NZ. Not only this, but it is what the bird watching world call “A LIFER BIRD” this is when it’s the first time you as a bird watcher have seen any particular species.
Only one person aboard had ever seen this species of seabird that’s apparently travelled all the way from Japan.