Paddling Antarctica Be prepared! Speights Coast ... - Canoe & Kayak

Fishing
‘Up the Jolly Roger’
by Martin Rook
A recent fall in the otherwise inclement weather late December
produced a couple of days which saw boaties & kayakers on
the water at day light with VHF’s giving trip reports to the New
Plymouth Taranaki Coastguard.
Come to think of it, not many kayakers are obliging on Ch 61. Come on
paddlers sharpen up! You never know when you’re going to need help.
Anyway, Herb Spannagl and myself, Martin Rook, launched at port New
Plymouth and headed out behind the Sugar Loaf Island saddle-back,
took a right turn and trolled down tuna-ally. We deviated along the way
to poach a G.P.S. way-point from an
anchored boat which just happened
to haul a nice snapper on board as
we passed. Don’t you just hate that?
The sea was calming, temperatures
rising and water colour improved.
Herb is paddling a Prowler 13,
myself a Cobra Marauder. Both
kayaks have been fitted out with
all the mod cons and set up for
serious fishing.
We made the 75/80 metres depth
mark, working more to the north.
The signs looked good with more
birds and more bait fish, so we
eased up and had a launch. We
noticed a sudden increase in bird
activity so we joined the party.
During the next hour, with a
couple of lure changes, we both
landed nice albacore tuna. A
wind shift to the N.E. as expected
would assist us home. Then, the
unthinkable. I’m partly turned in
the seat adjusting a drag, and
then I’m in the water swimming.
WHAT THE! My safety line kept
the kayak where it’s supposed
to be and I clambered back on
board quick smart. Bloody Hell!
I was sitting sideways in the
kayak with my legs in the water,
sorting out my gear: rods-tackle
bag etc, etc – when I noticed
the shark. SHARK? Where’s my
tuna? – Bugger, still in the water
on the stringer. The shark, a
5 ft mako stopped a kick in the
head. I reached for the stringer
to retrieve the tuna. The shark
came in again - rolled and my
tuna was about to be sushified.
I told him his pedigree with a few
choice words about his ancestors
and desperately kicked out
again, forcing it to let go of its
prize. MINE! All this took about
2 minutes. Herb seeing all the
pandemonium closed in to see
if I’d spat the dummy. “Bloody
shark” I retorted and hoisted the
tuna onboard.
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