Thanks Marty, Noel and Faye for a great weekend
By Woodsy (Ron Woods)
I organised a Hornby WMC trip to Moeraki on board Sirocco, 55ft Fremantle-built boat, with skipper Martin Finnie. I'm sure it came with a joke book, as Marty knows a lot of yarns about Aussies and sheep. Marty has just done alterations to a house he owns adding a walk-in chiller, new log fire and kitchen, big lounge, multi-toilets and showers so that he can provide accommodation at reasonable cost (take a sleeping bag) as part of the charter.
I recommend people who get seasick, or are not too sure, take motion tablets or it may spoil their day and that of others. Come 7.30am we are onboard for a safety induction that starts with, "If we get into trouble, take a deep breath and when you hit the bottom, run like hell this way," or, "Deckie and I will supervise from the liferaft on the cabin roof'." This is followed by pointing out the life jackets are under the seat and then a demo of how they fit, plus a full course on life rings, raft use and the on-board toilet. Smoking, drinking or being sick in the wheelhouse will see you needing your head sown back on. With a good crew onboard, deckie, Noel's wife Faye, came along to help, thus allowing Noel more time to fillet.
Mooring lines release and Noel is takes orders for coffee, which is available all day. The cooker in the cabin keeps it cosy so anyone getting cold can spend some time there, warming up. Noel cuts up the bait and puts a handful at each rod holder and at 55ft there is plenty of deck space for everyone.
Saturday morning finds an overcast day and a sloppy sea. We arrive at the first spot and a toot on the horn and a 'let them go boys' sees baits head for the bottom. A good selection of fish are caught, mostly blue cod but jocks, red cod, tarakihi, trumpeter, sharks and 'couta make up the catch.
With some of us having just come back from a Wildcat Charter out of Greymouth, fishing 100+ fathoms - see April's issue "When the Bottom Nods Back" - fishing 60 to 70 metres is luxury. Upon landing a fish you swing it to the centre of the boat where Marty, Noel or Faye with the use of a magic wire hook and a flick of the wrist see fish fly through the air to land in the crates. With comments from Marty to 'hit them hard boys, think it's the mother-in-law' and the Aussie jokes, everyone is entertained.
During the morning Marty starts up the onboard barbecue and serves some hot food - anyone warming their hands gets a job. A successful day completed with us bringing ashore two cases of fillets.
Sunday morning finds a one-metre lift and the sun coming out of the sea when we arrive at the first spot. This spot produces three cases of fish and other locations tried during the morning produce good catches. Faye noticed I have the same rod and reel combo that she owns and asked if she could have a fish while I play deckie. When fishing, you don't notice how busy they are as you only see them when you swing a fish onboard. Marty puts us on Spot X and the quantity and quality of the fish keep me busy - I only get to 'rod six' before 'rod one' is back on deck. This location fills our quota.
On the way in with Marty and Noel fillet the fish and some of the boys wash down the boat. We arrive back at the wharf early afternoon with another two cases of fillets and everyone got to take home 10-12kgs of fillets.
Thanks Marty, Noel and Faye for a great weekend.
