Managed to get out to the Mokes yesterday with our family friend Nick who was staying at Pakiri with us (slowly turning him to the way of the Axe, watch this space). Sorry Brent it was a touch and go thing we could convince the wives right down to the wire or I would have called you to join us. Conditions were beautiful - vis was 15-20m+ and sun was out most of the day. Dived Navarine (sp?) Rock (saw a couple of 15 pounders together who hadn't seen me but couldn't quite get in the right spot to get a shot at them), then hit the kingie pin on the south end of Fanal which was simply awesome. Even a boatload of young spearos who barrelled in and anchored up next to us (you can see in the photo) and swarmed over our spot (is it just me or is that bad form) didn't spoil some epic diving. My mate Nick got a spear into a monster (he said it was well bigger than the one I eventually got) but it did a massive run and snaped the shooting line or most likely pulled out the crimp. He was using my 1.3m Rob Allen which has no bungy or give except the small one on the shooting line (which it blew up immediately) and I think the shock was too much for the crimp (which had survived 24kg kings before). His fish was in a school of 10 all about the same size (unfortunately I didn't see this school - epic) though a school of 50+ came around me and I nailed what turned out to be a 25.5 kg specimen - there were at least 15-20 fish in that school the same size. One of the young fellas got a spear in what he told me was a "solid 30kg" one that pulled his float under for a good 10 mins before it popped back up (the fish had broken off). Amazing kingy action. We had another look for snapper on burgess but no luck (though vis was amazing - like diving in an aquarium). Hit the kingy pin again but no luck the second time. All in all a great day and my big king lust was satiated ... until the March far north Axetrip at least. - Kingie