It all started with the fish when the innovative shapers and board builders out there decided to revisit the past for some inspiration. In doing so they brought back some lost skills such as resin tints and hand foiled fins.The Fish Fry has been a place for these fine craftsmen to showcase their skills. We have seen some amazing boards as shapers have pushed the boundaries over the last few years. As this new look at the fish has evolved to its many forms, it has influenced other shapes and designs along the way.This has spawned a renewed interest in other board forms by this same group and a wider following.Notably the Mini Simmons, Hulls, old school Logs and Pigs. It is pleasing to note that there are an increasing number of people building their own boards as well.All of this is to be applauded and celebrated as a positive for surfing.So it is only natural that these shapers and board builders continue to share their skills with us and include these other shapes at the Fish Fry.It has truly become a melting pot of ideas for like minded people.

Fish Fry New Zealand at Waipu Cove

Rich Pavel from San Diego, who has been to the 7 fish frys that I have organised on the Gold Coast was at Waipu to support Mike Cunningham and his first one. Rich was looking more like the old man of the sea after 2 months in Japan

Rich with local Ruakaka shaper and great mate Roger hall of Surfline Surfboards. as you can see in the background it was a classic day surf wise waist to shoulder high at times.


Classic Roger Hall craftmanship on one of his modern take on the Hot Curl.


Now that is a coffin box

Von Sol Surfboards by Sean Mattison from San Diego
Back yard shape with lots of stories attached for sure
Classic NZ brand

Great looking Del shapes

These brothers have been surfing and shaping their own boards all their life. Don and Ross Edge , locals from Whangarei know Waipu as well as anyone.They have been surfing for over 50 years.
 Don and Ross after a few waves on their self built boards


Thomas Bauer from the Netherlands was there with some nice hollow wooden boards. He is a furniture maker and looking at staying in New Zealand to work.
Thomas Bauer boards

Justin Tilly form the far North with a great looking board he had just finished building on the farm. Japanese Cedar.
Smithy for down south had a great aray of very different and innovative shapes that he has built himself.




Sean Mattison from California was at Waipu which was great to see. Sean was the guy I contacted about the whole Fish Fry movement prior to going to one in Oceanside California in 2006.When I got home and thought it was a great idea to start one on the Gold Coast he gave me his support and turned up at my first Alley Fish Fry. I have since held 7 of them.He exports his Von Sol brand boards to New Zealand and loves the surf there.
The other connection for me is that I grew up in New Zealand at Dargaville on the west coast within an hours drive of Waipu Cove. When I was a teenager my dad would go deer stalking each Easter and mum would take us to Waipu to stay in a cabin at the beach to go surfing. We surfed the all day and even in the moonlight one time I remember. So this day here was very memorable for me.

Sean with one of his boards.
This guy had a number of nice wooden board , some vac bagged over EPS.
Gold Coast local Jason , an avid body boarder , hand planer and all round fun guy was there as well.
Jay Jackman from Sadhana Surfboards from Christchurch in the South Island on the left with Roger Hall in the middle and Jackie enjoying a catchup on a great day at the beach. Thanks Mike for putting it on.

For more info and pics  thecovefishfry.blogspot.com.au
Posted by Big Fish

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