Fishing - Nelson October 21- Dolphins & Blue Cod

Barracuda mind the teeth

What a beautiful Richmond morning, just a little cloud, thinking of the Coast Guard, the weather was going to be good and life jackets were on. The water was so calm at the Nelson boat ramp, but there was a bit of anticipation for Captain Stevan while the new boat was slowly backed into the crystal clear water of the Nelson Harbour. Captain was on board to take control once René had gently driven the boat and trailer into the water. Would René stop and not sink the New Electric Car in the water? No, he backed into the water perfectly and was able to unhook the boat from the trailer without getting wet and slowly Captain Stevan slid the boat into the water, cruised slowly along to the side of the wharf while René parked the new car.

They were off slowly cruising out of the beautiful harbour through the Boulder Bank out into Tasman Bay, the sea was calm.

Started fishing out from the Boulder Bank, time went by then a few nibbles, twang does one rod, in it comes just a baby Shark, back it goes.

Wait, wait, wait, the twang again two rods go, another baby Shark and a Barracuda large jaw and teeth. Back goes the shark, the Barracuda (it’s an oily fish with lots of large bones but can be grilled, fried or smoked) let it go. Wait, wait.

They shifted further down the coast and more catches, baby Sharks, undersized Snappers, then some Spiny Dogfish a firm, white flesh fish that is moist and boneless, (probably the Northern Spiny Dogfish that are around the Cook Strait, the North Island coast, and the Chatham Islands, not the closely related species that are found in colder waters off the south and east coasts of the South Island at depths of 250 to 200 metres.)

As time went on more catches of undersized Snapper, then a pod of Korero / Dolphins, (the short-beaked common dolphins have buff-yellow patches on their sides and a tall dorsal fin) went flying by (see below.)Then a shoal of Blue Cod / Raawaru, things went mad, rods going left and right, quite a few were caught but only three to size. (They are a bottom-dwelling fish, mostly caught in pots.) It was a wonder any were caught at all, but Captain and René had to leave gliding back gently through Nelson Harbour thinking of the day they had.

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