Each week we’ll talk to people in the know about the things that make life richer. This week, fishing, of which Herbert Hoover said “Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers.”

A WELLINGTON fisherman says that when he was young, Pete Lamb “was like the Michael Jackson of fishing”.
Pete cracks up when I tell him this. “Well, maybe more like a Peter Jackson of fishing,” he laughs.
Either way, Pete Lamb is an institution when it comes to collecting kaimoana from Wellington seas. He’s been fishing these parts for more than 35 years, and helping others experience the joy of a great catch through Wellington Fishing Charters since it was founded in 2002 with fellow fisherman John Fargher. When we track him down for a chat he’s sitting in his boat at the north end of Mana Island halfway through a great day’s fishing, despite the freezing cold.
What’s the best thing about fishing at this time of year?
It’s a great time for it. The hapuka have just come back from spawn so there’s a lot around. A lot of the summer species like snapper and kingfish are appearing. It’s really starting to come on in the deep-water, at around 200 metres.
We know exact locations are top secret, but what’s your favourite area to fish this time of year?
Pukerua Bay is great. The big snapper start to turn up there before anywhere else. Fitzroy Bay is great for blue moki and surfcasting.
What do you think is the tastiest possible catch? What’s the best way to eat it?
Once or twice a year we head to the Marlborough Sounds and have a crayfish and scallop mornay with blue cod fillets. We make the cheese sauce; add 150 scallops, six cray tails and 10 fillets of blue cod, then white wine and cheese. [mmmmmmmmmmmm…]
My tastiest fish is John Dory. It’s quite common if you know how to catch it. You’ve got to use live bait, you’ve got to know the spots and you’ve got to have patience.
We eat a bit of fish but I always want more. It’s so good for you, and so tasty.
Finish these sentences:
As much as it’s about catching a feed, fishing is also about…
Having fun, which is usually when you’re catching fish! People who know what they’re doing go to a spot where there’s lots of fish, you learn that through experience. We also teach three day fishing seminars where I tell you where to fish and how.
A good fisherman always…
Uses burley. It’s gotta be fresh, good quality stuff. Old or off fish won’t work.