While Michael has journeyed to Samoa with Dennis, Peter and Bernie, I have headed off to Italy. My first stop is Rome, via Singapore and Dubai. I had a massage and a shower at Dubai so when I arrive I am feeling quiet alright although a bit tired. I check into the 'Babuino 181', in Via Babuino in the centre of old historic Rome, ( Centro Storico ). Babuino means Baboon and relates to a statue located in the street of a half God half man reclining over a water tr...

Thursday 15th May. MB up at 5.30am to get the fishing gear ready for our cruise to Savai'i leaving at 6am. Just as the full moon goes down and the sun comes up, looks like a nice day. 9am first hook up lots of line taken out nothing jumps. MB is the only one up so he is on the rod for a good work out. Its a Masi Masi about 12kg, sam gaffs the fish expertly and it is in the esky. 2 hours after, another hook up, Dennis is in the chair. Good long stand up fight a...

Saturday 10th May. Samoa Up at 4am to fly Emirates from Tulamarine to Auckland. We had no idea who Peter Burke was flying with and as he did not show up at Emirates, we were worried that he may not be coming. In Auckland Dennis Roche scammed our way into the Qantas lounge, we could not get into Virgin Lounge. Dennis has a chairmans's lounge membership, Bernie Woodland and I were very grateful, although Auckland airport facilities are so good, you don't need to ...

We are up early for yoga and a swim. We went ashore to 'Rotoava" to get some last minuet provisions. JB and Sam wanted some Black Pearl jewelry but the owner was not there and the shop closed. We are leaving at 10 am and cannot wait. The sea is calm and we troll three rods. An hour into the voyage we have a massive strike, screaming reel. A large Marlin leaps several times taking huge amounts of line. MB takes around 20 minuets to get half of the line back and t...

The weather is now beautiful as we leave for Fakarava Atoll. This is the second largest Atoll in the Tuamotu group being 48 kms long 16 kms wide. It is about 50 nautical miles north to the southern entrance, 'Tamakohua Pass'. We leave at 6am traveling at 8 knots so we can fish along the way. We have four rods out and we manage to hook a beautiful 10kg Mahi Mahi, using a red and black squid lure. There are no other fish caught but we are thrilled with the prize ...