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About Us
The Boat
We operate a 11 mtr Hamilton designed Marlborough hull,
she carries 600 ltrs of fuel and 200 ltrs of fresh water,
and is powered by a 420 hp Yanmar marine diesel engine,
giving her a cruise speed of 20 kts.
Originally built in 1989, for Cray fishing in the wild waters around Stewart island.
(hence the name "OBAN COWBOY")
In 2004 she was extended, re powered and then used for Paua diving and Charter
fishing in Cook straight, she has a well proven hull design and we have no trouble
operating in weather up to 40kts.
Your hosts
Chris was born in Thames, and originally lived in Paeroa, attending school and then working in the automotive
machining trade for 12 years. Holidays while growing up were always spent at a friends caravan, or in a tent at
Long bay holiday park in Coromandel township. Hours upon hours were spent fishing from boats, and off the rocks
with Dad and other kids from the holiday park. A tradition that Chris and his wife Caroline, with new daughter
Natalie, carried on with, regularly traveling the coast road with the boat dragging behind the car.
In 1999 Chris having had enough of the grease and oil, moved the family to Coromandel and has been involved
in the aquaculture industry there ever since. Firstly with marine engineering, then in 2003 he started working full time on a mussel barge for Sanfords.
The barge runs two crew of four men, they work 15hrs a day, on a four day on, four day off rotation,
an arrangement that gives four day weekends, perfect for the avid fisherman and family man.
Over the years Chris and Caroline added two more boys to their family, Kyle and Joshua. Chris worked his way
up from "greenhorn" to leading deck hand and 2nd skipper on the barge. But more importantly Chris got to see
year after year how prolific the sea life was around the mussel farms. He was always coming home with stories
of large schools of Snapper on the surface, and Whales, Dolphins and Orca, playing around the barges.
It was stories like these that his friends and family sometimes had trouble believing, until Chris took them out
in his own boat to see for themselves that is !! Sharing the experiences found in this fishing playground became
a passion and in 2007 a dream became a reality when Caroline gave "the nod" and they purchased
"OBAN COWBOY" a charter vessel that had previously been based in Picton.
Chris still works on the barge, he reckons its good fishing research, because if the fish are around, they will
turn it on for a barge. These are the places where he will take you, to make the most of the feeding spots stirred
up by the workings of the barges. The process of harvesting and some line maintenance procedures produce
huge amounts of "over catch" that is washed straight back into the ocean, this is what the fish are there for
"dinner time". They will continue to feed on these morsels for some days, then move on to the next spot.
While Chris runs his charters on his days off, the need to run the boat more often to meet demand has lead to
Chris' dad, Blen, coming on board to help out on the days Chris is unavailable. Blen and Chris are both ticket
holding skippers, and as a requirement of that certification they are both capable seamen and proficient in
first aid, able to handle any unfortunate accident if it arises. They are both committed to making sure you
get the most out of your trip and are both happy to help you in any way you need.
Fish on the surface Chris preparing the next fishing
by the barge spot from the barge .
No events at present