Headed across on the Black Scallop a 6m Bayliner and accommodation for four intrepid Axemen, Ants, Matt, Brent and Dono. Anchored on the eastern side of Great Barrier and worked the coast on the first morning - snapper plentiful. I then worked a thread along Arid, and toward the end noticed about 10m away a very large head and body of a big thumper snapper moving slowly against a kelp way above gravel. Too much open ground so stayed tucked in behind a ledge obscuring my shape, ever so gently extending the spear tip through the kelp and toggling the flopper in the light. The snapper noticed this and gently, slowly, turned... then moved away from my position. I launched from my ambush position and swam the 10m under water directly behind the snapper as it calmy finned away, tail fin down and relaxed. Got to within two metres, and fired a shot directly down it's spine. Bingo - she's on. After a solid run I managed to breath up and dive down and drive the spear through. It sounded to the gravel base of a boulder and went nuts. Out of breath - I watched and was about to dive down when - off... she went. The spear had entered along the top of the back and out and just not held. Gutted. I followed her as she made her way - but couldn't find her while struggling to reset the reel gun. Stink. A solid double digit fish and one of the best I've seen. Anyhow, managed to a few smaller models at Katherine Bay before Black Scallops electrics gave out. Fortunately the boys from "Payback" kindly gave us a tow, fed us dinner and applied a few beverages to boot. Thanks to the owner of the dairy at Fitzroy for organising a great sparky, and boat repaired in the morning - alternator stuffed - we headed back home, 72 hours of trip for one solid unforgettable days diving. Awesome - Snoop