I was invited to join a 9 person party for a 5-day fishing trip into the Fiordland National Park on the launch Legacy. It was 20 years since I was in the area tramping and shooting and was keen to visit once again and check out the fishing.
We all agreed to meet at Supply Bay and after a one and half hour trip across Lake Manapouri we arrived at West Arm the drop off for a bus ride over to Deep Cove wharf. The weather was fine and calm with blue skies.
I was surprised at the amount of gear we loaded into the 20-seater bus which was full with fishers and trampers. Later I was to learn we were also carrying goods for a tourist boat. As we ground over the Cove track we soon came to the top of the Willmot pass road and there before us was the magnificent scene of Deep Cove arm.
Tom the skipper/owner was waiting for us at the wharf and the crew were washing down the decks. It was around 12.30pm and we were looking forward to a bite. Tom wanted to set sail so lunch was an hour away. We steamed out to the heads of Doubtful Sound eating lunch on the way. We set up in the late afternoon for a few hours fishing. Lunch was fresh crayfish, BBQ groper and top up with salad. A good start to the trip!
The first day came and went quickly. We had caught a few fish, more crayfish and paua. A few of the crew had sore heads the next day and there was plenty of leg-pulling and no sympathy.
On the second day we ventured out to the deep approximately 10klms off the coast. The weather was perfect for Groper fishing. It turned out to be the best day fishing I can remember with plenty of fish of all sizes.
There were some big fish caught with the biggest groper coming in at around 70kg - it was huge! I also had a lucky day catching 4 groper on 3 hooks - the total weight was 107kg. The bait of the third groper floated out the gills and 4 groper scooped it up. It was a big effort to wind in the catch and I had the skipper holding the rod and a helper winding the handle at times. Everyone was guessing what the fish was and when 4 huge groper popped to the surface - we were all astonished.
By the third day we had caught our quota of fish and as the weather was sunny and warm a trip to Pickersgill Harbour was planned. When we arrived at the site where Cook moored the "Bark Resolution” our crew went onto the land where the sailors camped. There is little change to the area since that time and the signs of tree stumps where firewood was cut all those years ago remains.
The fourth day was again bright and sunny and the crew were keen to look around and take in the many wonderful sights and soak up being in this spectacular area. The mountains with shear faces climbing over 1000m rising out of the sea - it one of the standout features of this area. We also searched the hills and mountains for deer and as the sun moved around in the day it became easier to see the deer. Two of the crew were very experienced hunters and in the late afternoon 2 deer were shot from the boat and recovered.
The final day the weather turned wet and wild and it took 4 hours to steam back to Deep Cove. We all enjoyed the experience and I would recommend to anyone who has not been to this part of New Zealand to plan a visit soon.