An Introduction to a lifetime Family Affair with the Sea
and a passion for boating & fishing
in the Hauraki Gulf of Auckland New Zealand
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| And It all started
for me at the age of 25 when my brother-in-law one day invited
me to go Deap Sea fishing. Having never done any fishing of any
kind before and knowing even less about deep sea fishing, I more
or less went along for the ride. This first fishing trip fired
me up with such excitement that I determinedone day to build
my own boat. Mean time, for the next 15 years, every year around
easter, we travelled north to the Bay of Islands for 10 days
of Deap Sea Fishing, the primary target was Striped Marlin, Black
Marlin, Kingfish & Mako Shark. In those days most of the
catches were smoked and what we didn't want for our own consumption
was distributed to the locals. Today most of the Marlin caught
are tagged and released for scientific research. The Kingfish
above are superb eating fresh as steaks and when smoked .The
smoking process, usually done ashore in the evenings and overnite,
preserves the flesh for up to 10 days, but normally eaten well
before then. Of the 8 Boats I built Aquilla is my favourite. She has twin Volvo engines with Duoprop outdrives, sleeps 7 and cruises at 28 Knots. From the day my first boat (the yacht Rubicon) was launched in 1968 and for the next 30 years, as a family we spent all the weekends possible and holidays living and sleeping on the sea. Each Xmas holidays, for 4 weeks we cruise north 200 miles up the coast, each nite anchoring in safe shelter in one of the hundreds of sandy bays and coves on the way up and through the Bay of Islands, and enevitably back home through Great Barrier Island. The area to this day still abounds with fish of such variety and plenty, the most common and most favoured for eating and for export to Japan is the Snapper ( Also known as Bream ). It has been a life of wonder and excitement , much pleasure & joy to experience with a growing family and friends over the 45 years. |