CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The humble banded wrasse. In another life these fish would be considered a nuisance, but here on the Chathams they seemed bigger than normal and prettier too. It’s funny how perspective shifts. Liam is a true-blue Chatham Islander: he loves a good chat, loves going fishing and loves when peculiar visitors like us come to stay in his parents’ guesthouse. Blue cod are a coveted table fish only found in New Zealand waters. Stocks are most prolific around the South Island and the Chathams. They are often considered a deepwater fish and regularly targeted with bait, so catching them on the fly was a novel experience. Stan Rodgers and his wife, Martha, were our hosts during our stay in Kaingaroa. Stan has a commercial crayfishing boat that is moored within sight of his front porch. We shared crayfish, cups of tea, lots of laughs and a few beers with Stan at the social club. Nick Reygaert with his first blue moki of the trip. We searched far and wide for these fish, but ended up catching this first one from the jetty less than half a mile from our accommodation. Troy Rodgers is Liam’s younger brother and right-hand man. I think he was probably more interested in my drone than going fishing, but was happy to be there, nonetheless. THE FLYFISH JOURNAL 067
The Flyfish Journal The Flyfish Journal 13.4: Page 67
