New Zealand report (broke a world record, pic heavy)

My girlfriend, Jason O, and I flew to New Zealand last week where we met up with Greg G from Alaska. The first day way pretty terrible as my girlfriend was battling a cold and Greg showed up with what appeared to be the last stages of AIDS.


The second day Jason and I went out on our charter but the other two were too sick to even give it a shot. At the first spot we saw a few kingfish, but nothing big. Right before we left Jason had two giant black marlin swim by him but didn't feel like taking one. At the second spot Jason shot two kingfish.



The kingis were out in numbers at this spot. I did a drop and nailed my first yellowtail (and first pelagic period) on my pole spear.




We hit another spot where we shot some kahawai and pinkies and then went in.


The second day the others were able to give the charter a try but were both still pretty messed up from being sick. I woke up and felt like I had strep throat. We stopped at a giant cut back into a cliff that was only maybe 50-100' wide, but a quarter mile long and a couple hundred feet deep.




At another spot there were a dozen giant fish swarming the pinnacle. I did a drop and over my shoulder a big 40+ pound fish swims right into range and I let my pole spear fly and see an excellent shot with great penetration.



 At first I thought I stoned it because it sank almost motionlessly to the bottom. As I start yarding it in the thing comes to life and tows me around. I end up right next to Jason who has one on the line as well, and a 10'+ bronze whaler shark is coming up towards us. After some fighting I get it up, brain it, and take it to the boat.

It weighed out at 41 pounds and some change, beating the current pole spear world record of 34.5 pounds.



On the third day I'm feeling like garbage but the other two sick people are feeling much better. I swim around buddied up with my girlfriend. She takes a couple drops and misses a few shots, but eventually lines up and gets one.



Greg gets a nice sized one, Jason gets another one or two, and we head in to a scallop bed. We spent about 20 minutes pulling up 30-40 scallops, which are free swimmers in NZ, and head in.



All in all a fun dive trip.


Here is a short teaser video of the pole speared yellowtail

Awesome! Congrats on the WR YT Tuna    Thanks for the report, pictures, and video Gio.

Looks like an Epic trip!!!! Congrats on the YT kingfish!!!!!

Awesome! Congrats on the WR YT Tuna    Thanks for the report, pictures, and video Gio.

Just a little FYI Yellowtail are part of the Amberjack family and not a tuna. I think people get confused because of the yellowfin tuna being so close in name.

Awesome! Congrats on the WR YT Tuna    Thanks for the report, pictures, and video Gio.

Just a little FYI Yellowtail are part of the Amberjack family and not a tuna. I think people get confused because of the yellowfin tuna being so close in name.

I think you mean yellowfin amberjack. Otherwise known as the yellowtail Tuna.

CREDIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nice going with the pole spear! Hamachi chow down!! That reminds me of diving the pacific side of Baja. We caught scallops like those in Ireland, it is cool how they swim away from you...good fun! Thanks for bringing back some memories.

HELL YEAH!  CONGRATS ON SLAYFEST!!! 

Awesome! Congrats on the WR YT Tuna    Thanks for the report, pictures, and video Gio.

Just a little FYI Yellowtail are part of the Amberjack family and not a tuna. I think people get confused because of the yellowfin tuna being so close in name.

Amberjack like trevally....?  Papio...Ulua....Giant Trevally...

Oh man that looks like an amazing trip!! Thanks for sharing and congrats on the yellowtail!

What part of New Zealand was this? Looks like a really beautiful spot.

-Eliot

Awesome! Congrats on the WR YT Tuna    Thanks for the report, pictures, and video Gio.

Just a little FYI Yellowtail are part of the Amberjack family and not a tuna. I think people get confused because of the yellowfin tuna being so close in name.

Amberjack like trevally....?  Papio...Ulua....Giant Trevally...

Same family different genus. Seriola lalandi grandis. S. pacific yellowtail amberjack.

Oh man that looks like an amazing trip!! Thanks for sharing and congrats on the yellowtail!

What part of New Zealand was this? Looks like a really beautiful spot.

-Eliot

Whangarei. North part of the north island.

Wow, that was awesome.  How deep were you?  With the GoPro wide angle, it's very hard to tell how long the pole and shot were, can you share that too?

Wow, that was awesome.  How deep were you?  With the GoPro wide angle, it's very hard to tell how long the pole and shot were, can you share that too?

Only 30/35’.

Here’s some perspective on my bluewater pole. It is not an easy thing to dive with, pull back, or hold.


Not sure why this site is flipping my picture...

Maybe this one will work.

EPIC!!!!!