2025 trip to Torrent Bay

 

In November 2025 twelve wokkers went once again for Torrent Bay in Abel Tasman National Park to stay at Easton’s place. Along with themselves and various necessities (food, drinks, the trusty wok, sleeping bags and good humour etc). A couple of first timers came with us – Jason from Nelson and John A from Kaikoura. Three boats plus fishing gear. Forgotten from the list was zero alcohol beers. Non alcoholic Ginger Beer also featured but was all gone on the first day. It seems that as the members get older that alcohol is less favoured. 

 

Fishing. Lots of snapper were caught – although it was harder to catch them on rods than on a set line. Nearly all wokkers caught a good fish. Jason suggested that all contribute $10 and the prize was to be for the biggest snapper. Jason just happened to win the competition with an eightrn pound brute but failed to collect the prize money. Most of the fish caught was snapper but several gurnard were caught along with a few of other species – a thresher shark, a barracouta, some sharks, crayfish and others. All the fish not eaten with meals was packed in vacuum sealed bags and deep frozen, 

 

 

 

 

Glenn's tiddler

 

 

Food. Our sous chef George excelled himself with an assortment of wok deep fries and our chef had a new recipe assortment but the piece de resistance was the Christmas pudding with Santas, strawberries, ice cream and whipped cream. Other delicacies were scrolls for breakfast instead of bacon – cheese and mustard in bread roll wrapped in bacon. As an apology to the health conscious was green salad to accompany our fish and chips (both deep fried). 

Santas all in rows

 

 

 

Ready to eat,

 

Weather. Last year’s trip featured both wind and rain. This year’s trip was a great improvement. Saturday and Sunday were clear and calm; Monday gave us some rain but didn’t stop the fishing. Tuesday was windy late in the morning and so the boats all headed back to Kaiteri earlier rather than continuing fishing. High tides were in the late morning or early afternoon and so breakfasts were leisurely and the start rather late. 

 

At Falls River

Other events. Lots of kaka came around on Saturday morning – they are amusing and rowdy. They flew past on the next day but did not visit us again. Wayne had an unplanned swim at Falls River but noone had their camera out to record the event. Tom needs to study Maths 101 to sort out the card numbers for Black Bitch

All in all a most enjoyable trip.

Mayday 2025

 This entry should be before the second one but I  am unable to change the order.

  The usual group of wokkers met at Nelson then a quick visit to Rai Valley before heading to French pass.  We enjoyed excellent weather. A wide variety of fish were caught including crayfish. Everybody got to take one home. Many thanks to the divers.

 

 

Joson was a new wokker who provided a most excellent boat. So along with Chris we have very modern and reliable boats.  No dramas this time!  A couple good size rig were caught which provided a lot of take home fish fillets.  Good eating.

 

The new trend of Vacuum packing the fish takes time but the result is well worth it

 he usual political discussions occurred around the dinner table. The “Black Bitch “ card game was also played. A very cut throat game and only played on Flying Wok trips.

  As usual the chef and the Sour Chef did and excellent job. One of the outstanding highlights were the Bumble Bees”  see photo. Chef continues to surprise us. What you can do with Olives, Tomatoes, and almonds. Amazing!”

Bumble bees

 

The Secret Seven

Sorry, but the blog author has lostallthe trip photos and been rather late in publising this account. On Saturday December 30th 2024 the secret seven travelled to Kaiteriteri to start on our adventure at Torrent Bay. Our group had started as eight souls but one had to pull out before the event. Our mentor Tom was in Christchurch so we had no new garments or card games though we were able to keep in touch with him with a few photos. Our chef had a brand new toy in the form of a new drone to carry out fishing line from the shore. The drone worked perfectly but the catch was somewhat poor (or non-existent). However kaka had come to the area and circled around the device, perhaps to attack or to mate. We never did find out their purpose.

Kaka

Weather was brilliant and the sea was calm. The days were hot and sunny and the sea breeze did not eventuate. A lot of pink faces were evident despite lashings of sun block. Perhaps because of advancing years, a lot of zero alcohol and ginger beer was consumed with much more modest consumption of other beers and wines. Most off the red wines were brought home.

Ginger beer

Fishing by rod was not very good despite trying a variety of spots - Bark Bay reef. Pitt Head. Fisherman Island and as far away as the Mussel Farm off Motueka. A few gurnard were caught as well as an assortment of small bait fish to supplement the frozen squid bait. The set lines were a bit luckier but were not easy to find every time. A lot of time and fuel was expended looking for floats. More snapper were caught by set lines than rods although gurnard were mostly caught on rods.

Battery failure on one boat required it to be towed back to the harbour and then to Kaiteriteri. The tow boat then required expert attention to sort out it's starter motor failure. 

Another easier cure took just a few seconds The visiting electrician removed the face plate of the bach shower room and briefly adjusted it then replaced it. The switch then functioned perfectly.