9 Day Kayak Mothership Trip @ Great Barrier Island

This trip is one of the top kayak fishing adventures available anywhere on the the planet. This trip has been built from the ground up with the leadership of Martyn Gittens of BerleyPro and continued partnership of Aaron Covacich (Owner, Captain) of Bounty Hunter Charters.

Join us and Robert Field for a nine (9) day adventure on the North Island of New Zealand. This trip offers at least five (5) days aboard the mothership with potential for additional days if weather permits.

$3,999
Great Barrier Island, New Zealand
9 days
Kayak Mothership Trip
Book Now
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Trip Details

Booking & Deposit Info

$3,999 per person

The 2023 dates for this trip are:

  • February 10, 2023 – February 19, 2023 SOLD OUT
  • April 8, 2023 – April 16, 2023

These days listed above are the dates that you will be in New Zealand. These dates do not include the travel time required to get to New Zealand. For American travelers, you will most likely leave 1.5-2 days BEFORE the trip start date to account for flight time + 16 hour time zone difference between Los Angeles (US) and Auckland (New Zealand)

Deposit Policy

If you are booking…

  • 120+ days ahead of your trip date, then you can book with a deposit of $1,000 (USD) per person.
  • 90+ days ahead of your trip date, then you can book with a deposit of $2,000 (USD) per person.
  • Within 90 days of your trip date, full payment is required to secure your spot.
Field Trips w/Robert Field

We are thrilled to announce that Robert Field will be joining us on our first trip back to New Zealand since 2020. This means that you will have an opportunity to be in the videos that we all love to watch. Another Field Trips w/Fish Village series is coming to YouTube! This only applies to February 2023 trip.

Refund Policy

Refunds are not available for this trip after the cancellation period expires.

Cancellation Period: Once the cancellation period has passed, no refunds will be offered.

  • If you are booking at least 120 days out, then you have seven (7) days from your initial payment to cancel.
  • If you are booking within 120 days of trip departure, then there is no cancellation period. Cancelled spots have huge downstream implications.

Weather Exception: If we need to move your date as a result of weather, we will attempt to find a date that works for you. If we cannot arrive on a date, we will offer a full refund.

Travel Insurance: We highly recommend that you protect yourself in the event that you cannot go on our trip as expected.

What is included?

The following is included in the trip price:

  • Up to four (4) nights hotel/bunkhouse
  • Group transfers to Leigh
  • Mothership charter fees
  • Mothership charter meals & bottled water
  • Catch fishing Tackle sampler pack
  • BerleyPro rigged Hobie kayaks
  • PFDs
What is NOT included?

The following is NOT included in the trip price:

  • Alcohol
  • Airfare
  • Transportation to your hotel (first night)
  • Meals (when not away at sea)
  • Rods/reels
  • Terminal tackle
  • VHF radio
About Great Barrier Island

Great Barrier Island sits in the outer Hauraki Gulf, off of the North Island of New Zealand, 100 kilometers northeast of central Auckland. With an area of 285 square kilometers it is the sixth-largest island of New Zealand.

Target Species

  • Kingfish yellowtail (kingies)
  • Australasian snapper
New Zealand Entry Requirements (COVID Policy)

New Zealand used to have one of the strictest COVID policies out there when measured against all other countries, however their tune has changed as the COVID situation continues to be dynamic. New Zealand no longer requires proof of COVID vaccination to obtain a travel visa or to enter the country for US based travelers.

For the latest policy, please refer to the How to Prepare to Fly to New Zealand site provided by the New Zealand government.

American travelers need to secure their NZeTA before flying to New Zealand.

Mothership Living (Living Aboard the Bounty Hunter)

You will live aboard the Bounty Hunter for at least five (5) nights.

  • Bed (bring your own linens)
  • Open air bunk room + below deck bunk racks
  • 1 full bathroom with shower
  • Meals are provided while onboard
  • Batteries can be charged onboard
  • No consistent WiFi or cell service. If connected, service will be intermittent
Do you need a New Zealand fishing license for this trip?

Short answer is no. When fishing the North Island, there are no fishing license requirements for \’sea\’ based fishing.

New Zealand Fishing Regulations

Packing List (Gear)

Our first tip to everyone on every trip… don’t over pack. You need to be strategic about what really needs to come with you. Our second tip… PUT YOUR NAME ON EVERYTHING!

Rod/Reel Setups

  • 20 lb. live bait
  • 30-40 lb. live bait, jigging, surface
  • 40-60 lb. jigging

Fishing Gear (Tackle)

  • Poppers
  • Jigs (Vertical, slow-pitch, surface, etc.)
  • Plastic swimbaits
  • Hardbaits (stick baits, Rapalas, etc.)
  • 1/0 – 5/0 circle hooks for live bait
  • 20, 30, 40, 60 lb. fluoro leader
  • 2-9 oz weights (torpedo, egg)
  • VHF radio + charger
Packing List (Clothes, Linens & Electronics)

Our first tip to everyone on every trip… don’t over pack. You need to be strategic about what really needs to come with you. Our second tip… PUT YOUR NAME ON EVERYTHING!

  • Sunblock
  • Hat(s)
  • Polarized sunglasses
  • Long sleeve fishing tech shirts (lightweight)
  • Fishing tech pants (lightweight)
  • Fishing shoes, water shoes
  • Windbreaker/rain jacket (lightweight)
  • Electronics powerstrip
  • Power converter (NZ electric standard)
  • Towel for bathing and swimming
  • Pillow
  • Sleeping bag
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Itinerary

The following itinerary is based off of an example of how we like to see these trips run. Sometimes we have weather windows that allow for MORE fishing than originally scheduled… when this opportunity presents itself, we take advantage of it and provide you with even more fishing at no additional cost.

Arrival (Day 1)

In most cases, people will be arriving at different times depending on where they care coming from. When we can, we will work with our groups to get people to book their flights so that all or most arrive around the same time. It is super helpful when we can arrange that… however it won\’t always work out that way.

This trip assumes a full day of nothing up-front due to the fact that most people are coming from America and will have massive travel hangovers. 13 hour flights with a 19 hour time difference (from Los Angeles) make for a rough first day.

When traveling with a buddy or small group, the first night is perfect for a night on the town in Auckland before getting picked up by team BerleyPro.

Day 2 (Leigh transfer)

Marty or Stephen will meet you all on day 2 to take you shopping (for booze, snacks) before heading to Leigh. Fortunately Leigh is not too far away. You will check-in at the bunkhouse and prepare for departure the next day.

This is the time that everyone gets fired up for the big adventure, the time where you will see the Catch tackle samplers, the time where you will prepare your weapons and tune them for battle. You will want to breakdown your gear to the smallest and lightest form possible. All excess gear and luggage will be stored safely at the Captain\’s personal property. This allows for everyone to have piece of mind.

[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps?q=Ti%20Point%20Wharf%2C%20Ti%20Point%20Road%2C%20Leigh&output=embed&hl=en-US&z=12&w=425&h=350]

Day 3 (Get on the mothership)

A very short drive from the bunkhouse to the landing gets you fired up for the adventure ahead. You will jump out of the van and start loading your gear onto the Bounty Hunter. Most of the hard work will have been done already… your part is minimal. From here you will make a quick stop and drop so that you can hit some schoolies of kingies to get the blood flowing. Remember… this is only the beginning.

Day 4 – 7 (Kayak fish until you drop)

[googlemaps https://www.google.com/maps?q=Great%20Barrier%20Island%20New%20Zealand&output=embed&hl=en-US&z=12&w=425&h=350]

The Bounty Hunter will move multiple times throughout the trip. Weather (winds and swell) play a big role in where the boat can go and how long we stay there. The good news is… the surrounding waters are stuffed with snappah and kingies.

Rise, eat, fish, eat, fish, eat, share stories, libations, sleep and repeat for five (5) + days. Sometimes weather windows allow us to extend the time on the water… we will be prepared to take full advantage of weather windows when they present themselves.

Day 8 (Return to land, confirm that you can still walk on steady land)

Land return times vary depending on weather windows. We figure that you would want the most time possible on the water chasing New Zealand fish species on a kayak.

Upon departing the Bounty Hunter you will be re-unite with your remaining luggage/bigger bags back at the Leigh bunkhouse. You will have the afternoon/night to re-pack and prepare for the journey back home.

Day 9 (Return to Auckland/depart)

The BerleyPro team will get you back safely to Auckland International Airport. The team will do one (1) drop-off based on the earliest flight(s) in the group.

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