Date: 28 - 29/03/2009
Trip leader: Joe McDowell / Bill Knowles
Trip report: Ken
 
We left Fernside, North Canterbury for French Pass at 10.00am Friday, checked the dogs into puppy prison and away heading for Blenheim. For lunch we made Kaikoura and stopped at New World in Blenheim for some supplies. We had been told 60km and 2 hours from Rai Valley. Surely its faster by Ford, yes only 1hour 45min. French Pass blowing like hell but fine. The last time I was in here was in the late 1970s. We were told it’s the last house under the hill, yep there they were. Well most of the twelve from Nelson. After the odd comment about the blue Ford ute we were given a grand tour of the Webber house and shown to our room. Our room very nice and comfortable. Friday night consisted of dinner, anything from cooked fish of the day, meat etc. Dare I say takeaways, Subway with beer, a few stories from other years, more beer and then sleep.

Saturday dawned sunny with light winds. After a quick breakfast we knocked up a packed lunch, picked up the fishing gear and boarded Captain Joe and first mate Jayne’s boat, Freedom. Down to the water and then we headed for the rock where the big fish live. On arrival it was time for the fishing. Being well prepared I had to make a trace two hooks and sinker, the way I thought it works in the Sounds. The other three were already fishing with the first haul landing six cod in one lift, not bad for a cheap six hook Warehouse trace. This was the place to be. More cod, gurnard, terakihi, an octopus, a dog shark and snapper, one being my first. There were some very big fish caught on our boat with the biggest fish being caught by a person whose name starts with J and ends with E.

A total of three Barracuda were caught, all receiving brain surgery from Captain Joe. Time for a look around the other side of the island but a bit rough so back into the shelter and some early lunch, then through the pass to a groper hole. We tried but no fish at all.

It was back through the pass, boat on to the trailer. Over by the shed it was fish filleting and beer time with the stories from the day on the water. The ones we put back not to mention the ones that got away and the sizes, on and on it went. Over at the house head cook Bill had the barbeque going and the sweet smell of lamb and pork was in the air. Meanwhile inside the women were cooking the spuds and veges that had been prepared that day. With the catch of the day in the freezer it was time to join in with the other thirteen people on the deck for pre- dinner nibbles with wine and to compare stories, of which some were damn good and others not quite so good. The evening meal was served in the dining hall and enjoyed by all with more beer and wine, gin, beer and more gin. The stories were getting better and better by the minute which made a great ending to a day to remember.

Sunday was also fine. For some it was back out on the water to catch the one that got away but for us it was home time. Six hours in the Ford.
Thanks to Joe and Jayne for their kind invitation and all that made the weekend what it was, a truly wonderful weekend in a great place.