Blake’s Big Bug Bash Cray

A few weeks ago I get an email from Blake Smith 10.

It was one of those emails that’s short but just makes you smile.

“Hi Shrek my name is Blake smith and me and my dad went to The Big Bug Bash in Banks Peninsula where I got my first crayfish I also won your cook book. Thank you”

– Blake Smith 10.

Attached to the email were these pics

These kinds of emails are my fav so I reached out to him and his Dad Ashton.

“G’day Blake!

Bloody legend! – nice Cray mate and well done.

Would it be OK if I shared your pics and story on social media? is there an account I can tag you on?

How old are you? Can you tell me a bit about how you and your Dad go chasing Crays?

Cheers! – Shrek”

Blake wrote me back again saying:

Now, I am 10 years old and my dad before I was born did scuba diving in Australia and around the world and got lots of crays so he has some experience with crayfish. We go hunting for crays at Akaroa harbour in our Hamilton Jet 83 called Big Red.

A bit about my spearfishing journey

“Xmas 2021-2022 when we went to the Marlborough Sounds where we had a big float boat and I would hold onto it and look around at things (see pic above)

January 2023 I got a Wettie wetsuit each piece 5m and a little snorkeling set. Also Dad let me borrow an old weight belt of his and I started diving down and seeing kahawai at the Marine reserve and started getting more interested every dive.

February 2023 started to dive down to two and a half meters and started to listen to your playlist everywhere we went.

December 2023 I got bigger fins and started looking into spearfishing.

Christmas 2023 I got a Wettie Weight belt and a speargun and a few knifes.

January 2024 saw some Crays but couldn’t get them Dad got his first crayfish freediving and also a Paua.

April 2024 speared my first fish it was only a wrasse but it was good.

September 2024 I won composite Ruku fins (see above) for picking up most rubbish in the ocean at the spearfishing club we are a part of.

December 2024 got my first cray and won 99 Spearo Recipes Cook Book.

Yesterday I made the luxury lobster rolls they were so good but when i was making the sauce I put in a bit too much lemon but they were still good. Feel free to share the stories on social media tag Dad’s Instagram @ashtonrsmith.