On our recent trip to Hellsgate, Graeme was defintely the angler of the trip... he put in so many hard hours both on the boat, where he was sea sick as a dog, and on land where the conditions kicked our butts, Graeme fished his butt off, putting in long hard hours, and got just rewards on the fish front... I certainly take my hat off to him, for his hard efforts...
Anyway, one of his captures while swimming livebaits off the point at Hells Gate was pretty damn memorable...
What started off as a hopefull big GT, then became a big Johnny in our minds, actually ended up as this Monster Loggerhead Turtle which gave him the fight of his life in the hectic swell and currents of the Hells Gate point and Channel...
Thankfully the Turtle was not actually hooked, the leader was wrapped around his front right flipper, and no damage to him was caused whasoever...
I'd guess the weight as 100 plus kilos as it took 4 of us straining to move him...
Unfortunately not the GT or Johnny we were looking for, but great to see such a beautiful creature up close without causing him any damage...
And Graeme enjoyed the fight, and of course swam another bait almost immediately afterwards!
Anyway, one of his captures while swimming livebaits off the point at Hells Gate was pretty damn memorable...
What started off as a hopefull big GT, then became a big Johnny in our minds, actually ended up as this Monster Loggerhead Turtle which gave him the fight of his life in the hectic swell and currents of the Hells Gate point and Channel...
Thankfully the Turtle was not actually hooked, the leader was wrapped around his front right flipper, and no damage to him was caused whasoever...
I'd guess the weight as 100 plus kilos as it took 4 of us straining to move him...
Unfortunately not the GT or Johnny we were looking for, but great to see such a beautiful creature up close without causing him any damage...
And Graeme enjoyed the fight, and of course swam another bait almost immediately afterwards!



