Three mates on a fishing trip got more than the snapper they had come out for when they snagged a close encounter with a pod of orca.
Gareth Pritchard and friends Glen Toms and Garry Toms were out for a spot of fishing near Wellington at the weekend when they stopped behind Mana Island.
"All of a sudden, as I get the rod up, I hear the noise - the blowhole 'psshh!'.
"We all kind of look up at the same time and we're like: 'Holy crap! There's a whole bunch of fins coming towards us'.
![Gareth Pritchard (pictured) is a keen fisherman. Photo / Supplied](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/D5VO5ZYY5HVQDGISBFEJ2Z4AVU.jpg?auth=fdcad859f5f7cb6137e009449a0d1871fd45a86fba96b07c25f305bc32187dba&width=16&height=10&quality=70&smart=true)