Let's hope they reel in a few prizes today too

Richie McCaw snapper fishing on the Hauraki Gulf. Picture / Paul Thomas

Being a national hero can take it out of an All Black, and sometimes all a boy wants to do is spend a little time mucking about in boats.

So this week four ABs headed to Auckland's Westhaven Marina for a spot of fishing.

Captain Richie McCaw, Ali Williams, Andrew Hore and Carl Hayman joined TV fisherman and Gulf Harbour Outdoors host Geoff Thomas on a four-hour excursion across the Waitemata to Waiheke Island and back.

Though rugby was a taboo topic - "We never talk about the footie," Thomas said - McCaw appeared to have the odd reservation about tonight's match.

"McCaw was looking forward to the game, but was not taking the Aussies lightly."

Appropriately enough, the All Black captain had the day's first catch, landing a "respectable" 3kg snapper.

Hayman struck soon after, hooking a 3.5kg fish.

Hore and Williams had to make do with catches "under the three-kilo mark".

By day's end the party had a box full of fish which found its way back to the team's hotel.