Fishing – Learning to fish

‘Give someone a fish and you will feed them for a day, teach them to fish and you feed them for a lifetime.’ Originally attributed to Chinese philosopher Confucius, this truism is just as relative in our century as it was in his. Taking away the politics of recreational fishing – and hasn’t there been a lot confronting us this year – and you are left with a clean palate from which to paint your own angling original.

Teaching someone to fish can be as easy or a complicated as you want to make it. If I chart my fishing history, it came from simple beginnings. As a six-week-old newborn, I was taken on my first fishing ‘trip’ in a bassinette in the cabin of the family’s 16ft cabin boat on Kawhia Harbour. I can’t recall who caught what, but it was my introduction as a ‘brother of the angle.’

I was fortunate, the family had a bach on the harbour’s edge and both my parents fished with snapper being their primary target. No flash harry carbon fibre rods and super smooth reels spooled with braid – it was the good old Penn Seaboy fitted to a short ‘broomstick’ fibreglass rod at best or a handline.

As I got older, I was allowed, initially under supervision, to go fishing on the Kawhia Wharf. This graduated to going by myself, but much to my embarrassment I was made to wear a lifejacket, and it was one of those bulky kapok filled ones. I owe my parents and extended families for sharing their skills and passion for the sport, which kicked off six decades ago and burns just as strongly today as it did them.

Locations like Kawhia Wharf provide great opportunities to introduce youngsters to fishing. You don’t need a lot of extensive tackle – it can be as simple as a small handline, a bait catcher or, if you are really into it, a kids’ fishing outfit and a packet of bait sabikis. Dave Gurr, and his team at Dive and Fish Mangawhai, hosts a three-day TAKF competition in the school holidays every year. The last two years has seen over 800 anglers participate, with $8000 raised for the amazing Mangawhai Activity Zone (MAZ).

There are a few ‘rules or best practice when it comes to taking newbies fishing:

Make the time on the water their time. Talk to them and see what they would like to do or catch. What I enjoy about taking both youngsters and women anglers out is that they don’t have great expectations. Anything that ‘pulls string’ is fine.

Take newbies out on the water when conditions are benign. They won’t thank you if they are confronted by choppy seas. Let them decide when ‘last baits’ are called when they have had enough.

Involve the youngsters in all facets of the game if possible. Let them steer the boat, net the catch, and teach them respectful fish handling techniques such is iki jimi and the use of ice. Primarily, follow the mantra of KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid.

The summer issue of NZ Fishing News has a great article by Mangawhai’s own Nicki Wilson who runs the Kids Fishing Workshop, which expands on the points raised in this column and lots more. The Blue Light organisation offers a similar course that runs over two days so there are plenty of opportunities to introduce kids to the sport, even if you’re not a fishing family.