but they didn't care, they just wanted a day out on the water ...... So we went.

We headed for the same spot as yesterday as it's the only area that has shown any promise (yesterday excluded) and dropped anchor. The first fish were small and the biggest only just measured in at 30cms however the frequency of the catching was far higher than yesterday so we held out for better fish.

After a while we got a couple measuring 32cms so we kept them just so that we could ensure that my clients would have some fish to take home. However, within half an hour we were catching much much better fish so the minimum size went up to around 40cms.

I'd started to use the softbait and today the Snapper really responded. Gary the Gay Lizard was snatched each and everytime before he got to the bottom by Snapper measuring up to 45cms. We he was destroyed I started to use a jigging grub and this was being snatched by big Snapper repeatedly. I kept trying to entice my clients into having a go with the softbait but they were happy to try the straylines as they were getting results themselves. Young Angela had caught the biggest Kahawai of the day and not long after that she caught a large John Dory with a tiny bit of squid (amazing!)

The largest Snapper measured 52cms and we had five more between 40and 52cms so we were absolutely wrapped. The final count meant that my clients took all they wanted, and there was enough for Terry and I as well. Today we truly underpromised and over delivered.
May 2011
Bay of Islands Fishing Report
Previous Reports
I wasn't keen to go out at all today after yesterday's trip. I spoke to my clients and warned them that it probably wasn't going to be great
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Right: Colleen Cameron has our five biggest Snapper on display. All the rest are in the yellow bins in the background.

All in all a great days fishing.
May 23 - Angela Cameron with her John Dory
May 23 - Colleen Cameron with five of our best Snapper
Left: Angela Cameron specialised in "other species" with this great John Dory and her very large Kahawai (which slipped out of my grasp and fell back over board - whoops.) I'm glad that in the end we had so much Snapper we didn't have to resort to Kahawai because otherwise I'd be very embarrassed.