Light winds and a long swell made for a very pleasant day.
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First drop came back with a respectable ±6-7kg snap
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Next two drops were both good fish - they went in the boot and with my requirements already filled I spent the rest of the day poking around scouting new spots, generally enjoying the views and rock gardening.
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This fish was solid, taking half a reel before slowing with big heavy nods. Pulling it off the bottom was like lifting a sack of potatoes, then every time it sensed the pressure change it'd head down again in another unstoppable dive. This went on for maybe 20 minutes, with the sleigh ride taking me round the houses and back again.
When I finally started to gain ground I was starting to think shark rather than Snapper due to the weight and the fight. Then a large doormat sized dark brown shape came out of the haze - It was huge! I got the beast to the side and grabbed the tailstock as thick as my forearm. Between 103 and 105cm of big ol' kelpie. No idea of weight but would have been well over 12kg. After a few boatside poses for the video I pointed it head down and let it kick out and away. New PB and absolutely stoked
I slumped in the seat for a few seconds then reached up and turned the GoPro "off" - and proceeded to record another hour of aimless paddling, Kahawai and a pee stop on a nearby rock! I'd probably made the biggest SNAFU ever 
So, officially, all of the above never happened beyond this:
Later in the day, just after I'd taken this
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The northerly picked up on cue, which made for a nice lazy assisted drift home.
On the home stretch I noticed a large launch steaming straight towards me from Russell. It kept coming and with nothing but cliffs on the other side of me I was starting to have doubts about whether anyone was actually at the wheel. Still it came, still on a direct line, still at 20knots.... I switched the GoPro on (properly this time) and nervously watched it get closer...and closer. Finally it throttled back and stopped 30m away. Bizarre. Then a couple of large blue flags went up????? Odd, I thought. Ah well, threat removed I was back into the fishing.
5 minutes later, I glanced back towards the Ninepin and saw to my horror 20-30 very large, very fast spinnakers heading straight towards me. The launch was a bloody marker! I tried not to look too panicked as I bent the paddles to get in behind Howe Rock before the race descended on me
There were fecking boats everywhere! Looking UP at a crew as they go past one storey up at I don't know what speed, is certainly an experience.Having had more excitement in the last 6hrs than the past 6 trips, I stowed the gear and made for home at speed setting 'lazy'.
Back at the beach, a primary school class was splashing around and I came in through the moorings to excited cries of "Pirate!" Always makes me grin when kids react to the flag. Have to get myself an eyepatch and stuffed parrot.
Total distance 31km
Time on water 10hrs
