NZ Fishing Trip - Feb 25-29 2020 (It's a Leap Year)

[Wally15]

Let's get this party started!!!!
Alan has asked me to sort of be the point man for this NZ trip. He's busy with reels and the SoA trip.
This is NOT a Three Kings trip. So don't expect to latch onto a 100 lb Kingie. Should be plenty of 40+ though.
This is a "Cedros on steroids" trip out of Whitianga on the Coromandel Peninsula on the east side of the North Island. Day trips only, back in port by 4 PM or so. Sleep in a bed. Several "hook and cook" restaurants close by. Mostly big YT's and some bottom fish. Side trips for snapper and other species also available.
Epic Adventures has 3 boats available for the 5 days Feb 25-29 2020. 4 people per boat for 5 days is roughly $1,400 US per person. Very favorable exchange rate. A max of $200 US a day for "room and board" and incidentals brings it to $2,400 US per person plus a plane ticket. A flight from Atlanta to Auckland is $1,400 and takes 17 hours (NOT counting a 5 hour layover in LAX). West Coast (LAX SFO) is about $1,000.
Here's a link to the Epic Adventures website:
https://www.epicadventures.co.nz/
You'll need a tourist visa that costs about $50 US. Take about 10 minutes to fill out the form online and I got approval back in about an hour. Here's the link:
https://www.etanewzealand.com/tourist-visa/
Justin Walsh lives in Auckland and has graciously offered to assist as necessary with accommodations and other trip details.
Biggest short term issues are finalizing the 12 people and paying a 25% deposit to reserve the boats. 25% is $350 at current exchange rates.
The folks who have committed so far are:
Alan Tani
Peter Young
Craig Arsell
Rich Gunderson
Mike Pate
Mark Thomann
Todd Johansen - maybe
Justin Walsh
Rich Beilfuss - maybe
Rich -Rogan??
Col-milne - maybe

That's 11 with a couple of maybe's. Did I miss anyone who committed to go to NZ when this was discussed at Cedros? Anybody else want to jump into the deep end of the pool? Need at least 3-4 standbys to cover for the maybes and people who only wanted a Three Kings trip.
I'm planning on sending the deposit by 9/20. Call me at (229) 344-1973 or email at wmpate15@gmail.com for add'l info or questions.
Please send $350 for a deposit to:
Mike Pate
112 Gaman Ct
Leesburg, GA 31763
A LOT more info will be forthcoming. But this should be an epic trip! Bucket list for sure!
GA Mike

[Keta]

Are you trying to keep me poor Mike.... ;O)

[Wally15]

Email from Shay at Epic Adventures. Note: I didn't have a lot of info on the Bay of Islands charters so I opted to stay with the much larger city Whitianga with better accommodations for 12 people.

Hi Mike,
It'd be great to get you out water with us, our charters that depart from Whitianga (Eastern Coromandel) they are all full day kingfish trips!
So early you head out to catch your live bait and then its out deep to the action hauling in massive kingfish! These depart at 7am and return between 3-4pm, you are also likely to catch other species such as hapuka, snapper and bass. Full boat bookings cost $1600. Single seats cost $415.
Our charters departing out of Russel/Paihia in the Bay of Islands, can be full day kingfish charters ($285pp) they depart at 7.30am and return between 3-4pm. We also operate 4hr morning or afternoon snapper trips single seats are $150pp.
Both locations get good fish, if you want to target both kingfish and snapper I'd advise bay of islands and if you predominantly want to target kingfish or then I'd advise Whitianga.
We do have accommodation options in Whitianga, we can offer self contained apartment options 500m from the wharf, highly rated by our customers, cost $170-220 per night depending on season, there are also similar options in Russell/Amodeo bay.
With regard to other accommodation we do have a nice house that can cater for your group at a cost of $250 for 4x people (additional $20pp) per night. There is a one off linen and cleaning fee of $250. This house is 1km from the wharf and you can see the water! It is also in close proximity to all amenities.
There are plenty of other accommodation options available so just let me know if you need details or other recommendations.
For snapper we can book you in over at Amodeo bay (Western Coromandel), They operate a 4hr morning or afternoon snapper trips $150 per seat, or full day snapper trip for $300 per person. (They do require 4 seats to be sold for the full day trip to go ahead, and payment for 3 or 3 people booked for the half day trips).
The skippers are all heavily involved in helping you get your personal best and they are all very talented at what they do! We provide top of the line gear, rods & reels, bait, ice etc...We can also provide a very nice cafe style lunch for $25 per person per day.
Departing Whitianga the skipper can also take them down the coast a bit to check out places such as Cathedral Cove, Hahei marine reserve etc. We even have arrangements with bars and restaurants. A popular choice is to get off the boat and head to the Mercury Bay Fishing club where they will cook up your days catch, and you get battered fish, chips and salad for NZ$5!!! And beers are NZ$5.50!
You can either book online at: http://www.epicadventures.co.nz/locations/ (choose "Location" '"Book Now" "Whole boat/Single seats") or give me a call in the office and I can lock it in over the phone. We take a 25% deposit to secure all bookings.

[Wally15]

Couple of things:
We'll be fishing Tuesday Feb 25th - Saturday 29th.
You will need to arrive by Monday 24th early afternoon. You lose a day flying over from the US so you need to LEAVE the US on Saturday 22nd. There's a shuttle from Auckland (AKL) to Whitianga. Couple of hour trip. We'll be staying 6 nights (Monday-Saturday) in Whitianga and fishing 5 consecutive days. I'll see if I can find and post the shuttle schedule to-from Whitianga.
Your flight back needs to leave AKL on March 1st in the PM to allow shuttle pickup, travel time to AKL, security, etc.
February is the middle of SUMMER over there, so plan just like it was Cedros two weeks ago.
Hope this helps.
Mike

[MarkT]

I'm thinking real hard and penciling some dates into my calendar.  Do we need to bring any fishing gear or do they provide it all?

[Wally15]

I'm thinking real hard and penciling some dates into my calendar.  Do we need to bring any fishing gear or do they provide it all?

They provide it all. Not sure about the small stuff like sabiki's. But that should be readily available locally.
MP

[steelfish]

you guys are living the dream

this should be an epic trip

[roosterfish]

Hi MIKE, as I mentioned in our phone call, will have to pass on this trip as I will be fishing in NZ feb13-feb 20 in Tiaura just down the coast. Would be open to a 3 Kings trip in 2021 but we need 6 guys---8 is toooo many on the boat. I can post pics of the boats if you guys need to see them.  Rick

[roosterfish]

The shuttle service from Auckland to Whitianga is called---GO KIWI----. They have a website but the shuttle leaves Auckland @2pm and gets you back to Auckland from Whitianga @10.30am

[scrinch]

I'll look into these dates. My daughter has invited us to Baltimore over leap year weekend next February to babysit our grandson while she is in a wedding. Let me see how firm our commitment is on that weekend. Maybe I can convince my wife to come to NZ to visit relatives and do some hiking in coordination with the fishing trip. I'll get back to you in a day or two.

[boon]

What's the price in NZD? Roughly $2200? I'm pretty keen to visit Whitianga again and fish with Epic; at the same time this is our "local" fishery that we have access to year-round and I wouldn't want to take a spot that could be enjoyed by an international visitor.

[p-deverett]

If possible it would be good to arrange an Ohana dinner while you guys are here in Auckland as there are a few members here.

Thoughts?

Cheers Peter

[Wally15]

What's the price in NZD? Roughly $2200? I'm pretty keen to visit Whitianga again and fish with Epic; at the same time this is our "local" fishery that we have access to year-round and I wouldn't want to take a spot that could be enjoyed by an international visitor.

Boat is $1600NZ per day. 5 days / 4 people = $2000NZ per person. I've had a couple of "maybes" decline so I don't see a problem if you want to sign up. In fact, your local knowledge and prior experience would be welcomed.
Mike Pate

[ldoret94]

As much as it pains me, I am going to have forgo this fabulous bucket list trip.  Hope those that can make it have a great trip!

Pete

[boon]

I'm thinking real hard and penciling some dates into my calendar.  Do we need to bring any fishing gear or do they provide it all?

The boat provides it all. Mostly it's Maxel Transformer reels on Jigstar Twisted Sister rods. These are premium gear, but it's the short parabolic pump-and-wind standup setup that is preferred locally; the rail isn't really a thing. Recommend a couple of visits to the gym beforehand....

If I jump on board I'll be bringing rods and reels, but I have much less distance to travel.