Prodeus' fishing wish granted

There is nothing much more heart-warming than seeing a seven-year-old boy catching his first fish on his first-ever day out boating.

It was a wish come true for Auckland’s Prodeus Edmonds who enjoyed a great day out on the Waitemata Harbour courtesy of Make A Wish NZ, Auckland Outboard Boating Club, Howick Volunteer Coastguard and NZ Fishing News in mid-July.

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Prodeus has had his health issues in recent times but all that was forgotten when he and his mum Caroline arrived at the Outboard Boating Club where they met with Make A Wish NZ volunteer Jacqui Simpson and their hosts Miah and Grant Dixon from NZ Fishing News.

Prodeus and Caroline were given a safety briefing and fitted with their lifejackets before heading out into the Waitemata Harbour. Their trip took them past the container wharf, ferry terminal, viaduct basin, Westhaven, under the bridge to the Chelsea sugar works then back past the Devonport naval base. It was a view of his home city he had never seen before – Prodeus’ eyes wide open with the new sights and sounds.

From there it was time for Prodeus to try his luck fishing. Anchoring up near Rough Rock off Cheltenham Beach (acting on some inside info from Rob at the OBC), the berley and baits were deployed – thanks Top Catch – and it was not long before the fish began to bite.

With the tide carrying his offerings back over a nice piece of foul ground, Prodeus had his first fish on board, but it was a little on the small side, so was carefully released.

It was not long until some bigger snapper showed up and Prodeus landed the first of several keepers to 41cms that graced the ice bin and would be his family’s dinner that night.

Prodeus’ eyes sparkled with every catch, regardless of its size or species, and by the end of the session he was a seasoned veteran, pumping and winding the rod and reel like a champ.

He was intrigued by the two shags that came up the berley trail, and he played a ‘cat and mouse’ (should that be ‘bird and fish’?) game when it came to releasing the undersized fish, trying to prevent the shags from diving down and grabbing them. On the odd occasion when the birds won, Prodeus was amazed with the sight of them swallowing the fish whole!

Unbeknown to Prodeus, the Howick Coastguard unit were in on the proceedings, arriving in their rescue craft Howick Rescue 1 and pulling alongside.

When Prodeus discovered they were there to take him and his mum for a ride, his grin became impossibly wider. An hour later they had circumnavigated Rangitoto and Motutapu Islands, Prodeus having had the opportunity to skipper the boat.

Returning to the OBC, Prodeus and Caroline stepped ashore with their dinner of fresh snapper and kahawai in hand, heads filled with the memories of a great day out on the water where both the weather and fishing gods had smiled on them.

For more information on Make A Wish New Zealand, go to www.makeawish.org.nz

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