Always time for a good fishing yarn

A Northland fisherman has hooked up his old watch - four months after losing it overboard.

John Hendriks was fishing 100m off the jetty at McLeod Bay in February when he heard a splash.

"The watch had been on my wrist. The strap needed replacing and I guess the little gizmo that holds the strap together broke."

The watch had been a faithful timekeeper, but he hadn't been able to bring himself to jump in after it. The watch had gone. But not for good.

Mr Hendriks was out fishing again on Wednesday.

"I was at about the same spot, and I hadn't caught much, a few nibbles.

"All of a sudden the line went tight. I knew I had pulled something up, but I thought it was just weeds."

As he raised the "catch" on to the boat, his old watch dangled in front of his nose. "The hook had caught the strap. I couldn't believe it ... I thought,'That's my watch!'."

Remarkably, it has kept perfect time, despite its four-month dunking.

Now Mr Hendriks hopes to fish up his wedding ring. He lost the, about the same spot, three years ago.

"I'm hoping," he said.

"I'll keep you informed."

- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY