b'HOOKED Mary is well hooked on fishingknow. Anyway, before this trip, I made here in Godzone! him aware that I have never held or used fishing gear in my entire life. Knowing what I know now, these tools are a fishermans most beloved treasures. WAIHEKE TREVWe were out fishing near Waiheke Island. My date tied me some knots and attached a tungsten micro jig to the combo I was using.A few minutes later, working the jig, I felt a strong tug and pull from the line. My first reaction was panic of course, to which my partner said, Wind, keep winding! I didnt know fishing came with its own lingo, so I didnt understand what he meant.Then suddenly, the reel just started making this weird screaming sound.It made me panic even more! I even asked him to take the rod and bring the fish into the boat himself!He calmly (I mean the best way an angler can tell you to man up and get going) said, Its your fish, you have to bring it in. So, I mustered up enough courage and kept going. Then came the most exciting 15 minutes of that trip with me cussing like a sailor in front of his dad and with a very sore arm later, I successfully landed a 67cm trevally.From that day on and a few more snappers later, I am officially hooked!Four years later and still learning with plenty of Joshs help, here are a few tips Ive learned since that day for anyone who is new to this great hobby or thinking of exploring fishing.Ensure good sun protection when on the F ishing is one of thosefriends, trying to get to know new streetswater with sunnies, cap, sun block and fishing buff.activities that if someoneand places, and finding interesting things told me to start as a hobbyto do, but I didnt have anyone to explore four years ago and thatwith. Being a foreigner in this lovely Ill be hooked on it, Idcountry Godzone, I was a long way out probably laugh and walkof my comfort zone.away! Not because Im aFishing was an idea of my now partner snob, but because I knewfor an activity for our third date. To top nothing about it. I do eatit off, his dad was with us on this said fish and love other kindsfishing trip. To say it was awkward is a bit of seafood and when Im feeling fishy,of an understatement!He then trusted the supermarket is not far. The onlyme with a fishing rod and reel (which time Ive ever looked in awe at a live fishI came to discover later was his prized was when I was a kid admiring my petnew set). The man was gutsy, trusting goldfish. But fishing? I never knew aboutsomeone who doesnt know how to it until I met my partner. fish with his new set of toys and not to Like a fish out of water with no familymention in front of his dad. I thought close by, a new career, still making newhe was just trying to impress me, I dont 52FISHING IN GODZONE SEP/OCT 2021'