So we actually did it! This Thursday I took my wife and daughter on my first ever boat fishing trip. I’ve fished from shore plenty of times, but being out on the ocean? That’s a whole different experience.
7 AM Wake Up Call
Getting up at 6 AM on a weekend is not my favorite thing, but the excitement got us all out of bed. We arrived at the harbor just in time to board. There were about 20 people on the boat - a mix of experienced anglers and first-timers like us.
The morning air was crisp and salty. My daughter was bouncing with excitement while my wife looked… let’s say cautiously optimistic.
Out on the Water
It took about an hour to get to the fishing spot. The boat cut through the water smoothly, heading further and further from Auckland. The waves weren’t too bad that day, thankfully.
But here’s the thing - my wife started feeling seasick pretty early on. She spent most of the trip trying to find a comfortable spot and not looking at the horizon too much 😅. I felt bad for her, but there wasn’t much we could do except wait it out.
There was another Chinese couple on board, and the woman had it even worse. She started throwing up as soon as the boat left the harbor and basically didn’t stop until we got back. My wife felt a bit better knowing she wasn’t the only one suffering!
My daughter though? Completely fine. Not even a hint of nausea. She was running around, asking questions, watching everyone prepare their fishing rods. I was honestly amazed - and maybe a little jealous of her sea legs!
The Fishing Part
I won’t pretend I knew what I was doing. The crew helped us set up our lines, and then it was just… waiting. And waiting some more. Occasionally someone would shout that they got a bite, and there’d be this flurry of activity.
We ended up catching 10 fish total that met the size requirements - mostly Snapper. I managed to reel in two myself, which felt pretty great. There’s something satisfying about the tug on the line, even though I had no idea what I was doing half the time.
My daughter was fascinated by the whole process. Every time someone caught a fish, she’d run over to see it. She even helped me with one of mine (well, she held the rod for about 5 seconds before getting distracted, but still).
Heading Back
By 1:30 PM we were heading back to shore. My wife immediately perked up once the boat started moving toward land. She swore she’d never go on a boat again, but I’m pretty sure she’ll change her mind eventually. Maybe.
The ride back felt faster. Everyone was tired but in good spirits. We had our catch, some sunburn despite the sunscreen, and plenty of stories.
Worth It?
Yeah, definitely. It’s not every day you get to spend hours on the ocean with your family. Seeing my daughter so brave and excited made the whole thing special. And despite the seasickness drama, I think even my wife had some fun (she won’t admit it yet).
Plus, we brought home fresh Snapper for dinner. Can’t beat that.
Already thinking about the next trip… maybe in a few months when my wife has forgotten how sick she felt 😄
First times are always memorable.