The reason – Bounty Hunter’s Epicness Not Stag Do Dive Trip. Ademant, Bounty didn’t want a Stag-do, so we ignored him and organised a dream trip to the Far Far North. We Headed up to Houhoura Wednesday night, about 5 hours, towing the boat using the silver XR bullet. Managed to drive past the only takeaways, unload the boat, got to the pub (it was closed), double track to Houhoura, the takeways was closed, another hour back to Kaitaia and MacDonalds and no breakie organised. I’d hidden a half pizza but my six pack of beers got exposed before I could hide them – breakie sorted. Off to Tom Bowling Bay (top of North Island) – some of the most stunning scenery I’ve ever seen. Blue blue water and awesome white beaches, past many minties spots to get to the top while the weather held. Bounty Hunter landed an 8.6kg snap after we gave him the honour of first dive. Surge was pretty strong, headed back to the tip of North Cape before the lighthouse. Plenty of dumb snapper – the boys loaded up. Ants & Crockett landed some nice models. My crowning achievement was holding down the hidden pizza until just after lunch when I simultaneously hurled over the side while planning – and got smacked in the head a couple of beauties by passing waves. Crockett died laughing – sympathy short on supply. I slept like a baby using Bounty Hunter’s poor excuse for a half inflated condom dive plat as a pillow. The boys were sympathetic and allowed me to be their sickly boatman, collect their catches, pick them up, drop them off, gather toilet paper. Crockett landed an 8.6kg that lost 300grams when weighed on land – I boated it for him so he could return to spearfishing - joy Slept in the car – too hot in the cabins and mozzies everywhere. Glad I’m a short ass. Day two, still no breakfast organised, chips and biscuits at the petrol station. Off to Cape Kari Kari. Dived a pin before the first islands at the Northern end. Plenty of baitfish – no big kingies, only up to 16kg ish. Moved to the islands of Kari Kari. I was given the honour of first drop after missing half of day one. I tangled my floatline, lost my temper, and then promptly nearly lost my lunch again before having it fighting sea sickness and current. Lost three nice snapper. The boys didn’t. Crockett got an 8.1kg. Ants fish to 6.5kg. Bounty Hunter dragged another nice taker on his limp condom float. He is soooo predictable. Crockett also had the boat drag anchor when the wind and current blew up and the skeg got a little banged up before he rescued the boat from a rocky disaster. Lesson learned, keep closer to the boat. Sand and anchors just don’t work well. Nothing big landed over the trip and proof that definitely a 10kg snapper is a huge fish because the ones BH and Crockett landed had big frames but were pretty light on the bulk and didn’t push 9kg. The fish were pretty dumb and would sweep around after being approached. I pretty much sucked on the dive front and missed my Takapuna Torpedos (seasickness pills). The guys did well. Weedlines were just stunning. Blue water on day two at the top of Kari Kari was wicked. I spent a couple of hours working a line about 400m off an island but despite all the good signs nothing to report. Snapper snapper snapper was the order of the trip. Fish life was really enjoyable, plenty of fish to see and great scenery, didn’t really stop to look for crays Houhoura Pub for Stag-do. Was going off. Well, by that, I mean, three dogs cruised past and a couple of over 60s ordered a couple of plastic jugs. Liked the selection of snaps to 33lbs on the wall and the 1380kg GWS caught on long line off North Cape where we’d just dived. The 4 foot baby caught by the publican on long line in the harbour was pretty cool. Takeway/restaurant/centre of town – does great burgers. Fuel up before you get to Houhoura as the petrol station only opens at 9am. Take breakfast and remember everything closes at 7.30pm. Trust me. Gonna go back - Snoop