For the love of fishing

For Pinesong residents, and good friends, Rob Perry, Dennis Lowe and Yvonne Meister, nothing beats a high tide and a calm day so they can pursue their shared love of fishing.

The trio try to meet once or twice a week when the weather is good, and they don’t have far to venture.

“There’s a native track in the village that leads down to the bay. It’s about a 10-minute walk down, and an hour and a half back up!” jokes Rob, who has been fishing at Pinesong since he moved in with his wife Joan around four years ago.

Their fishing friendship formed by chance in the few months after Rob moved in.

“I was walking down the track one day, and I ran into Yvonne. It turned out that she loves fishing too, so she joined me, and it just started from there.”

It’s easy to see why they’re so keen to spend so much time at their spot – a small, quaint bay surrounded by native trees and bush, with stunning views across the Manukau Harbour.

“We’ve caught snapper, trevally and kahawai. Dennis’ claim to fame is being the only one to have caught a kingfish – which he likes to remind us of!

“But even if we don’t catch anything, we always catch a beautiful view,” says Rob.

Yvonne, who has been fishing there for the 13 years she’s been at Pinesong, says the best thing is that no day is ever the same.

“Some days, the water is calm like a millpond and other days it can be rough and choppy. We spend hours chatting away and being mesmerised by mullet jumping and shags playing in the trees, or we watch fishing ships and aeroplanes coming and going. I’m 83, and it keeps me young!” says Yvonne.