Ron Aitken fought with a broadbill marlin for 6 1/2 hours and still lost it.
Our series on popular summer sports ends with a man who loves his deep-sea fishing.
Ron Aitken, 40, Auckland
How did you get into deep-sea fishing?
I got into open-sea fishing simply because I wanted to catch bigger fish. I fished since I was a child. I bought a boat before I bought a car, and gradually upsized. About 15 years
ago I saw a marlin on a weigh station in the Bay of Islands and decided I should aim for bigger catch. I went on a charter boat and caught a marlin first try. I've had the bug ever since.
What's a typical day out?
We usually head out from Tutukaka to about 25km offshore, where the water is warm. From January through to March you can catch marlin as close as 10km out. We fish eight or 10 hours a day, chasing marlin, but getting some yellowfin as well. We would catch on average about five marlin a year, but we would see at least 100 a year. There are three people on board most of the time, but four is ideal because you don't have to run around so much.
What's your favourite part?
The whole game - the teamwork between the deckhand, the angler and the skipper. You can usually bring in a marlin in 30 minutes. But just recently I fought a broadbill marlin for 6 1/2 hours, and still lost it.
What's the worst part?
The price of the sport. Diesel is very expensive. Then you have marina fees, and lures as well. I have a boat which has set me back about $400,000. Also, if you lose your line, which I did twice last year, you're losing about $400 of equipment.
What gear and training do you need to get started?
It is an expensive sport if you are serious about it. I use four rods and reels worth $2500 each. So your best bet is to go on a charter boat, and ask the skipper and anglers all the questions you can.
Can us give us an inside tip?
For all the bad days, there are always, always the good days.
