All onboard, we motor out in the harbour with 13 others including the skipper. I'm the only female on board, and almost feel like I'm trespassing until I see women on other charter boats heading out.
The ham and cheese, bacon and eggs croissants we've bought from the cafe next to the pier go down a treat and Danny says he'll pop the kettle on so we can make tea and coffee once we drop anchor at our first fishing spot off Rangitoto.
We're fishing on a king tide and this affects which areas Danny chooses for us to cast our lines.
We have to work around the changing tide and currents as we target snapper, kahawai and gurnard.
Danny says the fish are soft on the bite at the moment and, although he'll aim to have everyone take home a snapper, he can't guarantee anything.
Just before 8am we start fishing. Slowly we start to get bites but most are littlies that we throw back before waiting shags can swoop and snap them up.
First to nab a legal-sized snapper is Aaron from Te Atatu - perhaps that means he won't have to sneak into a fish shop on the way home. Eldest son Nick is the first in our group to reel in a legal-sized snapper as his dad and brothers watch on enviously. I seem to be running a takeaway service for the fish below as each time I wind up, the bait is gone.
The takings are thin but it's pleasant being out on the water with the family, shooting the breeze and watching on anytime someone gets a bite.
Danny says the season has been difficult, and the fishers on the boat all have their own theories.
He subscribes to the theory that fish go in cycles, kind of like the property market, and that we're at the bottom of the fishing seven-year cycle.
By 10.15am between us all we have only five snapper and Danny suggests we motor on to another spot.
"Now that we have attracted blowflies [other fishing boats] we'll leave them behind and go somewhere else. They think I know what I'm doing, the fools!"
The time seems to pass quickly and by 3pm with about 11 keepers in our chilly bin, it's time to head back so Danny can unload and prep the boat for the evening.
Scott from Te Atatu has caught the biggest fish, a 54cm snapper. And me? I return empty-handed but I know we have enough for a decent feed and that I'll be head cook to the hunter-gathering role of the males in my family.
And as Nick says, even though we didn't catch our full quota, it's been a great family day on the water. And you can't ask for more than that.
Fishers' Tales
MV Joy and MC Ocean Spirit (both 14m launches) leave from Westhaven's Pier Z.
Take warm clothes, a chilly bin and something to eat and drink. You can pre-purchase bait and hire rods from Red Boats, or bring your own. Day and evening fishing trips for up to 20 people from $65.
The Red Boats, ph 0800 RED BOATS or (09) 834 7337 theredboats.co.nz
And the winners are...
Fishing competitions
Tomorrow:
More than 1000 catchable rainbow and brown trout were released in Takapuna's Lake Pupuke on Wednesday by Fish and Game, so nabbing a trout in North Shore Fly Fishers's fishing competition should be like, erm, catching fish in a barrel. With spot prizes and special prizes for the kids, this is a great way to help monitor the lake. Participants must have a current Fish and Game licence (pick up from Hunts Sports, Milford or online at fishandgame.org.nz).
Tomorrow, 7am-3pm. Free. Weigh in at Sylvan Park Reserve, 3.30pm.
Next Sunday:
Always fancied fishing but don't have a boat? No worries, in the inaugural Z Pier Auckland Fishing Classic entrants can fish from the breakwater areas under the harbour bridge, from a charter boat (including Red Boats) or off their own boat.
Fishing veteran and co-organiser for the Waterfront Auckland competition, Joe Dennehy says great prizes worth more than $30,000 are up for grabs on the day.
Joe hopes the competition will become as well known for fishing as Round the Bays is for runners. "The good thing is absolutely no boat is required," he says, "you can catch from the wharf and the snapper are still in nice and close."
Sunday, May 11, from 5am. Fish weigh-in at Westhaven's Z Pier, 3-5pm. Entry fee, kids $10, adults $60. All snapper caught must be between 35 and 60cm long.
Enter online aucklandfishingclassic.co.nz
Donna was a guest of The Red Boats.
