Ocean Fishing...In a canoe!

Kahawai (note "proper bloke hat" compliments of my first host) 

A grey mist hung low over the glassy bay as we shoved off the beach.  Even with four of us paddling the family’s new 18 foot aluminum canoe, weighed down with passengers and gear, took some time to gain momentum on its maiden voyage.  Fifteen minutes of paddling took us out around the rocky point where we were met by some larger swells, “sea’s a bit lumpy but nothing to worry about,” Mike proclaimed from the rear as we paddled on. Fifteen minutes later we had reached the fishing grounds about a half mile off the shore of the next bay to the east, we dropped anchor and the boat spun as the rope came under tension in the current. A mesh bag of frozen burly (chum) was hung overboard and hooks were baited. We cast our offerings into the drift line down-current of the boat and after about 15 minutes they were yielding snapper, small ones at first but their size grew with the increased presence of the burly.  It didn’t take long to boat enough snapper for a couple meals and we began turning back the smaller fish. Danny and I got into a double hook-up on Kahawai whose beastly fight put the snapper of the morning to shame. Kahawai aren’t great eating, but their tough oily meat makes topnotch bait, so in the cooler they went.  In less than two hours we had all the fish we could eat, the mission was deemed a success and the anchor was pulled. The timing was good, the boys and I were feeling a bit woozy from the waves rolling the boat on anchor, forward motion was much appreciated. The wind and swell were on our side for the paddle in so we were back at the house fileting fish in no time. We enjoyed the white flaky snapper meat prepared in various ways the next three nights….tasty tasty!

Mike readying our vessel 

Dinner