PRICE – RRP typically in the $120 – $130 range

WHERE TO GET ONE – Most sports/outdoor stores

PRO’s - Light (no pun intended), discrete, well balanced, water resistant, variable light intensity with infinite dimmer, variable beam from flood to spot. Brighter than my 3x D cell maglight with a spotlight beam that seems to be capable of starting fires! In my normal operation I find the dimmest setting is on a par with my other LED headlamp and is more than adequate for general use.

CON’s – Not waterproof, but would suit most kayaking conditions except rain or a dunking. The 3x AAA’s would have been better as AA’s for longer life

SUMMARY – I went into the store to evaluate this beastie on behalf of a friend who wanted to use it for floundering. As soon as I saw the performance, I bought one on the spot. I have since used it on search and rescue operations and night abseils and has been examined and commented on favourably by those peer groups. I honestly think you’ll want one too as soon as you see the punch this thing packs.

Cheers
HLD

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Hairy Little Dwarf wrote:
Spotties still allowed?

Quote:

Mental replied
With only 2 votes in June I’d strongly suggest something different – one of those “big northern fish” might be the go…

Fish Type: Snapper (Chrysophrys auratus)
Length: 68cm (27″ – Tad shorter than the Prowler well, and longer than a baby)
Weight: Heavier than a baby 13lb gutted
Date/Time of Capture: 1000Hrs 17/07/09
Location of Capture: Spot X, somewhere north of Whangarei
Type of Lure/Bait used: Pillie cube
Comments (optional): It was cold and miserable, but I had to get the new yak wet.

Here comes the rain, again.

Name / Hairy Little Dwarf
Fish Type: Pseudolabrus celidotus
Length:About 25cm
Date/Time of Capture: 06/06/09 0946Hrs
Location of Capture: Kerikeri Inlet
Type of Lure/Bait used: Well chewed Pink Shine on 1/4oz head
Comments: Exposure Time: 1/200th sec. ISO Speed Rating: 80

Tagged and Released

The snotty weather forecast hadn’t arrived by this morning with the exception of a few skiffs of rain, but definitely wasn’t far away, so a hasty pack ‘n go tactical strike trip out to the Keri Inlet was in order. Surprisingly few trailers at the ramp given the long weekend, but the fact the the western half of the North island appeared to have vanished into a wall of cold-looking grey water may have had something to do with it

Was greeted by a couple of pairs of bleary eyes at the window of a Hiace camper next to me as I thumped and crashed around setting up the yak Well, it was after seven anyway – ’bout time they got up and admired the view before it disappeared…

I still had the kingy rig setup from Toots, so snaffled a wee KY as I went out through the moorings – whacked a deepish-running bridle onto it and started to troll out to where a couple of terns and gannets were having a scoff in the channel. Plenty of sign on the sounder, but the only things down there seemed to be tail nipper goldfish, so continued across the inlet to where the current runs on the incoming tide.

Passing through a gap in the reefs in about 1m of water, I spooked something that took off with a couple of big tail beats, dunno what it was as I was looking the other way at the time, but was a promising sign – lots of baitfish and bigger things a-lurking.

Got away from the reef and into a shallow sandy bay and flicked the SP out to bottom bounce while I checked and setup the trolling rig for a shallow run along the edge of the ecklonia reef – First snapper of the day took the blood shad and was soon heading back to tell his mates about his latest adventure

By now the wind was just starting to pickup in front of the rain, and for once it coincided with my intended drift line past Slaines and out to the Brothers (although I was fairly sure I would have to pull the pin before I reached there) Casting back onto the edge of the Ecklonia gave a steady stream of 35 – 40cm pannies, with this many at my usual cutoff, I decided to up the limit after the first two to 40cm as there must be better fish given the numbers on the feed.

A few minutes later, and another cast onto the edge of the current, flicked the bail arm as soon as the SP hit the water and take up the slack – solid! Bugger! Must’ve cast straight onto the surface raft of weed! Leaned into the rod…it was moving. No resistance at all, but a definite weight No fishy moves, nothing… Branch maybe? Kept working it back towards the yak against the current, the little SP noodle at a full 90 degree bend, but still no fight and no action at all…

After a minute or so I saw a flash of orange, good sized snapper, but the complete lack of fight was puzzling – The it saw the yak, or maybe just woke up and took off like a steamtrain If I had accepted it was a branch and locked up the drag it would have all been over on the 8lb mono, but fortunately I had been clamping the drag with my finger as I heaved it in – So there I was with the wee drag whistling away as Muggins tried to get back to the weed – THIS was more like it A touch and go battle followed for the next 5 minutes or so until he was at grabbing distance, then, I don’t know why, I decided to get an “arty” shot of him underwater.

The flash went off, and so did he…Another two minutes before he was once again within reach – no messing around and I had a nice 60-odd cm Snapper in my lap.

So, with a nice few snaps in the bag, and the wind going around to push me home, I just drifted back up the channel dabbling the SP on the way. Picked up another couple of 40′s to repay some debts then as the COLD rain and southerly arrived, I pulled the kit in and headed home.

On arrival back at the beach an hour and a half after I left, the tourists had finally woken up and were sorting out what to have for breakfast as they sheltered under the tailgate of their Hiace – at least I think that’s what they were discussing as the frying pan was sitting empty on the cooker and I don’t speak whatever middle European language they did What the heck, it’s persisting down, and I enjoy the expressions on tourists faces so I offer them a (smaller) snapper. Blank faces. Universal sign language comes into play which they probably interpreted as ” I have a broken wrist and am very wet, would you take this dead animal from me?” but the smiles make me think they understood what to do with it . As I was driving away, they were taking a photo of it!

Debts and favours have been repaid in fresh fillets, and I still have the big fella (which clocked in at a smidge over 11lb) brining down for the smoker tomorrow.

Mojo replenished

The predawn was still and clear, but not too nippy, as I met up with Mental and New2Yaking at Pacific Bay in Tutukaka Harbour. Didn’t take long before we were on the beach for final preflights, and away into the sunrise…

Mental heading towards the entrance

Unfortunately, the forecast swell was a tad bigger than expected, and although not rough, the reflection off the cliffs made it too dicey to have a serious attempt at the intended quarry with the occasional big roller cruising through – not the sort of thing you want to find barrelling down on you as you negotiate the wash

The washing machine was a little too much for N2Y, and he opted to stay in the harbour area, whilst Mental and I headed off towards our possie, a nice pin that regularly holds kings.

…They were probably there today as well, just that we couldn’t get within about 30m of it without turning into flotsam. So we turned our sights to good old trusty Snaps (although I spent a fair bit of time dragging various plastic articles along the edge of the aerated water in the hope that something was that far away from the reef – they weren’t) and apart from a couple of throwback snaps averaging about 6lb, I came home empty handed. I couldn’t have kept them anyway as I was banking on picking up some salt ice at one of the service stations in Whangarei on my way through – NOTE: NONE of the eight service stations that were open at 0500 in Whangarei stock salt ice. I won’t make that mistake again!

With fishing being fairly slow (possibly due to the small pod of young female Orcinus orca that appeared between Mental and myself – and just as quickly disappeared – leaving me doubting if I had actually seen them ) I took a bit of time out to tease a small hammerhead with a pink shine, he wasn’t playing though (spoilsport ) and carried on cruising south.

So in the end, we drifted back down towards Toots, and met up with N2Y again for a quick bash around the entrance reef, but not too much was happening there and we pulled the pin about 1300Hrs

Oh, there were a couple of breakfasts spilt, and other fish caught, but I’ll let the others tell that tale

A great morning, just a shame we couldn’t get serious with the torpedos….Next time maybe