Bream Bay Charters

Sam had two good mates over from Brisbane for two Casuals fishing trips aboard Sumo.
Saturday was a hard days fishing with South East winds so few keeper snapper were caught
For me it was two hard difficult winter days fishing trying to get fish for all the clients aboard
For the Ozy guys it was
“The best two days fishing EVER” and then
“We caught more fish in two days here than we get in a whole year back in Queensland”
The breakdown
Murray Hinton landed the best fish on Saturday a fantastic 12lber Snapper.
Most of Saturdays group threw back one or two dozen small to tiny undersized snaps but most landed many good Trevelley, Golden snapper, some XOX Porae and XXOX Grandfather Harpuka so it was a busy productive day but with few snapper Saturday.
Today’s trip Sam and the Ozy team returned to try again
Sam’s 570 Cm snapper was the fish of the day today
Will from Brisbane landed a lovely 520 snapper along with another six keeper snapper and a six pack of good trevs so he was wrapped with his results
Bazza of Brisbane landed a few good keeper Snapper plus a few nice trevs so he was a happy Ozy chap too

So there you go, seems I just need to be happy with what we have and appreciate it all the more….

Jerry and his NZ partner Mako (Finn) Kairau they have Jerry’s brother Ronald Thompson over from Minnesota USA and also his cousin Keith and his wife Joy Thompson were aboard Sumo once again on a repeat charter along with Jerry’s other cousin Kath and hubby Mike. Their friends Big Chris and wife the tiny Carolyn they all came on vacation all the way from Chicago USA
Everyone caught many fish and kept a few snapper, Trevelley and a few Kahawai and Mau Mau making it quite a productive & fun trip had by all
I cooked up some trevelley for a tasting which thet all enjoyed along with some smoked Tuna.
I found them a very interesting group on board Sumo today with Jerry being a Whangarei doctor whom regularly works in the Ozzy outback, his partner Mako runs a local guided tourism business and the Americans….three of them being retired Senior detectives and their partners all from the Chicago Police department. Crikey I’d love to sit down and have a listen to some work scenarios and stories of this lot!!
Yes Sir, that would be interesting to hear over a long cold Burbon or three.
One conversation I did overhear today was “loving retirement, it’s great to not have to carry a PIECE anymore “
My mind boggles at what it would be like to complete a full 30-40 years police career working as a cop in Chicago and then also become a Senior Detective.
Especially so for Joy as a Female African American Mother, working as a Senior Detective alongside her husband also on the force I bet she would have some hair razing and amazing stories to tell.
And who would argue with big Chris? Yes Sir !!! Right away Sir

Mayday relay,
Mayday relay,
Mayday relay
“There’s a boat sunk & upside down down with two people reported to be struggling in the water at Little Munro bay any vessel able to assist please respond urgently “ comes over the marine radio.
Ohh Crapp we are right there so here we go…..again
Sumo was instantly tasked with a full on emergency response inside the Whangārei Harbour late this afternoon in the middle of our fishing charter, so up comes the anchor and its full noise to the scene.
Jade Coyle bought 5 keen young fishermen “his lads along with four dads”
today for a fantastic father son ( Lads and Dads) fishing experience. Conditions in the harbour were a little choppy at times but excellent fishing with everyone catching some great snapper, so much fish that releasing some of 450 mm or more was prudent, which was neat to see the young lads getting into catch and release
Harris was the young fishing gun for the day with a number of fish measuring 470, 480 & 470 again plus he released numerous over 400 cm

The boat rescue was a full on affair, with shore spotters reporting a boat upside down in Little Munro Bay and two people struggling in the water.
We were the first responders to arrive and secured a rope to the sunk tinny boat & getting it under tow easily enough but the guys refused to come aboard Sumo and then proceeded to swim to & sit on a rock and then swim ashore ( probably in shock I’m thinking ).
Anyway the Coastgaurd boat & then the Ruakaka surf lifesaving jet ski arrived at all speed and took over the long tow back to the marina and eventually uplifted the wet crew standing ashore in some remote rocky spot.
The lesson of the day…don’t stand up on a small tinny and don’t lean over the side to relieve yourself! It just doesn’t work out on a tiny dingy! Seems the boat instantly flipped over and that was that, all their gear floating around and rods etc lost forever. We recovered shoes, crocks, gaffs, fuel drums and orrs for them.
What a dramatic situation and experience plus some fabulous fishing creating some great memory’s for our young fishing team aboard Sumo

Slow fishing today with full moon, but still the best catch on Sumo for the 2026 season…..so far
HAPPY NEW YEAR to Young Teddy he had a ball fishing on Sumo today with his Dad. Teddy landed a few fish including two good Trevelley and a few decent Snaps.
Devon got the snapper of the day along with a big Pig fish and few others.
Sam scored a solid Porae along with a few Trevs and Snapper.