Kaimoana Tales - RNZN occupational hazard.

I was born into a family who harvested Kaimoana, predominantly at Mataikona (north of Castlepoint)  Dad was a keen harvester of Kaimoana having had a fisherman Father (RIP Walther Ludwig August.  I soon learned what it was like to be a matua of Tangaroa's realm. Dad had a karakia to King Neptune when he went fishing.  I used the mantra for the next 20 years of my realm.

Memories:-  Fishing for Paua.
Dad catching 25 Kahawai off the Reef at Castlepoint with a Kontiki.  Many given away to locals.
Fishing off the Hightop.

In 1976 I joined the SML Tarapunga

Memories:-

Bought two handlines and wherever we anchored was fair game.  Mainly Snapper and Kahawai but did get the occasional Kingfish with lines deployed down aft (trolling with handlines and 2 boathook staves outrigged.)

Surveying around the coasts on all survey vessels - Kaimoana gifted by fishing boats.  OMD113 was treasured for Kai Koha.  Crays mainly.

1978 - 1991 - On Monowai

Memories

1988  On SMB Seagull surveying lines off East Cape and my stoker  (Tarps Tapara) had a handline.  He got a few, but next day we got hold of extra meat (pressed Ham) and with both of us armed with our lines we stopped on the south west and drifted over the current and caught 2 kleensaks of very good sized Snapper. It was here I ditched the Neptune mantra and adopted Tangaroa.

in 1990 once again on Monowai I had three events.  The first was catching (still on landlines) my first Conger Eel (off Russell).  The beast was minimum 6 metres long and a very tough catch (on the AX)  Spent about 20 minutes reeling it in and unwinding from the hook (had to ditch 10 metres of my line as eels are slimy and other fish shy away from the line.

At the same time ish I had both lines deployed and one of my fellow fisherfolk was piped elsewhere and asked me to mind his line.  He had his rod woven in the guardrails.  For me it was safe.  I was attending to my lines and out of the corner of my eye I saw his rod bend suddenly and before I could stop it, it went overboard and went underwater about 15-20 metres astern.  Thankfully a few guys saw it happen. As far as we all were aware it was gone for good. We up anchored and set out to the BOI survey ground and later that day we anchored back off Russell but in a different anchorage.  As usual all us Fisherfolk  aft and set about having a beer, smoke, and  korero.  My first "cast" I hooked onto something big and fought  a great fight until I saw what I had caught.  My mates fishing rod.

1979 - 1984  Foveaux Strait on all Survey vessels.

 Oyster fishing.  When the ISC's (TP/TK) were in Bluff  and Engineering issues.  What to do??  Ok this is cool.  At the Bayview Hotel the then Owner (Beanpole) put is onto a possible day run getting Oysters.  This was about 2200 and the Golden Maude (with myself and ABS Moggy Johnson boarded the vessel at 0200 and off we went.

Turned out I would be that hardest days work I had experienced (nor experienced)  Twelve hours on your feet and the Strait wasn't calm (but not too rough). However - the real bonus happened when we berthed and they started to offload the "catch" and the skippered gave me and Moggy a sack (35 doz) each.  Was the best payday in ages.  Took all afternoon shucking the shells. In those days a dozen oysters was $1.60.  We also scored Muttonbirds (the owner of the land out from Riverton was the matua for the  Iwi with access rights) and we had a station on his hill.

Another feast from te moana down south was Blue Cod and Crayfish.  One event that I missed out on was LS Jim Minty and LWTR Gary Blue who convinced the then CO to close in on a small fishing vessel on the starboard side.  The fisherman gave us a heads upon the rock we were approaching and join the "party" 2 kleensaacs later!!

In the mid nineties I was stationed at MCM  (Mine Counter Measures) and deployed our Mine Warfare Container (MCM 01) on HMNZS Manawanui.  We were stationed at Marsden Point and participating in an exercise with VR (Moa Class)  One of the bonuses operating Side Scan Sonar was seeing where all the school fish were.  If you ever get there 2km south south west from Taranga Island (Hen and Chooks) school snapper in abundance.

I also participated in the great art of Fishing at night (on any platforms) (sometimes until past midnight) Got two catches never scored before, a very angry Barracuda and a large and equally angry Octopus.

2000.

My last catch, now armed with a Boat Rod and 3 Bar 0 reel.  Managed to get my heaviest catch on Resolution my last Sea Draft.  A 25kg Pacific Bluefin Tuna.  I have mentioned this in another blog but nice way to finish this blog.  The Tuna fed ships co Raw Fish (Lunch) and Tuna Steaks (BBQ Dinner)  What away to go.





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