Fishing charter relocates to the Bay
Wildcat Charters. Photo: supplied.
Golden Bay has been described as an amazing holiday destination but one that can be frustrating for fishers who don’t own their own boat, or have access to one. That has now changed, with the relocation in December of Wildcat Charters from Greymouth to Port Tarakohe.
Leigh and Michelle Kelly operate the 12m fibreglass Mistral. Leigh is not short of experience, having fished commercially for over 25 years off the West Coast as a long-liner (for mainly ling and groper) and run chartered fishing trips out of Greymouth for a further 10. He says one of the main reasons for coming here was that to get in more days fishing.
“Off the West Coast you just can’t get out sometimes, whereas here there’s usually a few sheltered places to go when it’s rough.”
This summer, Wildcat Charters will focus largely on inshore fishing, targeting snapper, blue cod, kingfish and scallops. After that, Leigh intends developing overnight charters to D’Urville Island, and to Kahurangi Shoals off the West Coast. “We imagine many people will get fired up about being able to fish Kahurangi. In terms of pristine fishing, this is one of the ‘last frontiers’ outside of Fiordland, and until now has only been accessible by adventurous trailer boaties prepared to tackle the Westhaven bar.”
Once notorious with mariners, and the reason Kahurangi Lighthouse was built in 1903, Kahurangi Shoals lies eight kilometres NNW of Kahurangi Lighthouse and was once referred to as Stewarts Breaker. The very lowest of spring tides doesn’t expose this extensive rocky rise, but bring at least one section known as Stewart Rock dangerously close to the surface (to around seven metres).
Adventure fishers have long appreciated that a diverse range of species can be caught here, including groper, blue cod, snapper, trumpeter, and kingfish in summer. Crayfish are plentiful for scuba divers.
Leigh says that children usually provide him with the best reaction on his trips. “Kids who come along have often just caught small fish, so you should see their faces when they catch something real big. It’s a real buzz for everyone aboard.”
Along with relocating their fishing charters, Leigh and Michelle have also purchased the six-unit Bay Country Lodge in Abel Tasman Drive, Pohara, with a view to extending the fishing opportunities for visitors by offering complete tour packages. For information, ph 525 9438 or 027 613 6873.
Gerard Hindmarsh
