“Meet at 8:30 if you want to go out and collect some crayfish” says Graeme, our host here in Kaikoura.

OK, we’re game.  It had been raining all night but morning dawned with clearing skies and more important – no wind.  Crayfish gathering it would be!

Bob down at the dock.

Graeme has a 18 foot “aluminium” skiff with a 40 horsepower outboard.  I initially mistook it for a RIB, but it’s actually not inflatable – it’s all aluminum.

Once the sun came up the skies started clearing nicely.

Not a very big boat, but it gets the job done and Graeme is an expert pilot.

Pulling the trap which is set in about 30 meters depth.

Yup, there's crayfish in there (lobsters to the Yanks - the only difference is no claws)

Check the size and the little ones get thrown back.

So there you have it.  A fun way to start the day.  The only unfortunate part is that Graeme does this for fun now that he’s retired from commercial fishing, so he can’t sell them to us.  He can’t even give them to us since we’re paying to stay at his cabin.  Oh well, we’re going to hike across the hill into town to get groceries.  Maybe we’ll find some crays in town!