Keen fishers share their skill and adventures | Bay of Plenty Lifestyle News | Health, Fashion, Food and Wine in Bay of Plenty

Fishing the Remote Coast
by Andy Macleod
Bateman, $29.99

There are lots of great places to fish around New Zealand's coast, either close to home or somewhere more remote.

The best thing is that you don't need a boat to catch a nice fish for dinner or to have an unforgettable fishing experience. The rewards of fishing from land certainly hooked Andy Macleod, who shares the enjoyment of catching tasty trevally and snapper for the table, as well as the buzz of landing kingfish - and the utter frustration of losing them. He and his fishing mates travel the country to places as far from civilisation as they can get in pursuit of their target species, from Spirits Bay in the far north to Cape Saunders on the Otago Peninsula, and even out to the Chatham Islands. This is a book of fishing stories and experiences which challenges fishers to take their fishing skills to new places and new levels.

The Trout Diaries
by Derek Grzelewski
Bateman, $39.99

This author has his eye on larger, more elusive quarry than just fish. These pages are a salute to the joy of wild encounters and a call to protect the rivers and the trout that make our country so special.

With honesty and freshness, Grzelewski has written a highly readable account of his year dedicated to fly-fishing in New Zealand, relating the highs and lows, and the intricacies and finesse, of pursuing trout in the wild places and pristine waters he loves so much.

The thrill of close encounters with his quarry is mirrored by the pleasure he takes in the companionship of his dogs, his friends and the many others he happens across in often secret fly-fishing locations.

Each month in the diary - illustrated with sketches of flies by passionate fellow angler Johnny Groome - covers aspects of fly-fishing relevant to that time of year. Along the way we meet many of the author's friends and clients, including top professional guides and trout scientists, and share his insights into the art of fly-fishing.

He also considers techniques and equipment and the pros and cons of catch-and-release. He also ponders on our relationship with the natural world and environmental factors affecting our waterways.

The book contains a wealth of captivating and often amusing anecdotes plus useful technical information, making it a true angler's companion in both the literary and practical sense.