15 March 2007
Contrary to most charter vessels we have had and are still having an outstanding season with YELLOWFIN TUNA.They were late to arrive with our first two y/fin of 51.90 & 45.25kg being caught in the last week of February near Tolaga Reef on the east coast of New Zealand.Several more were caught on our next charter with Tony Condon of Lake Paringa, Sth Westland catching one of 61.7kg near the Ranfurly Bank and Tim Rhodes of Gisborne catching one of 52.90kg near Tolaga
During the Gisborne Hunting & Fishing Tournament of the 10th & 11th of March we landed our best ever YELLOWFIN TUNA of 65.70kg and the largest caught out of Gisborne for some years, to Gisborne farmer Rob Faulkner.We arrived at the weigh station with 4 minutes to spare having travelled the last few miles at 29knots.Fast boats do come in handy for such occasions.On the previous day of the tournament we landed a triple strike of Y/Fin with the heaviest at 45.6kg going to John Osborne of Gisborne.This gave us first & third place with 2nd going to a Bigeye tuna of 63kg from the vessel Annabelle.Work commitments in the Wairarapa have prevented any further forays in search of these great gamefish since March 11th but we are hoping to do one more trip before the end of March as El Nino does seem to provide late seasons with larger fish. It truly is a wonderful priveledge to see big tuna crashing bait on the surface in this day and age when the tuna stocks in the Pacific are under immense pressure from long liners and purse seiners