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.