"There was no refrigeration - in fact I don't think there was power at Raglan - the bait was cows' liver and to preserve it, it was soaked in kerosene.
"Dad used to take me fishing before breakfast, and in those days you could guarantee you would get a couple of snapper for breakfast."
Before he married Joan, Fred spent four years in Australian - mostly inland, and at times just about as far from the sea as it was possible to be. When he returned to New Zealand he fulfilled a promise to himself that he would live close to the sea, and he and Joan have lived at Mount Maunganui for the past 56 years.
Before he was married Fred was a marine engineer on coastal ship - one of which was the MV Tuhoe, which had to be broken up recently after running aground near Kaiapoi.
He has owned boats in the past, but now relies on his son Brian to take him out fishing, although he vividly recalls when the roles were reversed.
"When Brian was four or five years old I took him out towards Mayor Island and he hooked a 23lb snapper. I had to hang onto him.
Fred also has one particular fish he still remembers. "I once caught one off Orewa - it was about 18lb, a young fish, but it had grown quickly and was absolutely beautiful -I let it go.
I'm so pleased that I let it go, even today, after all these years
Fred was an enthusiastic surfcaster and spent many years as a member of the Mount Maunganui club, but it is a method of fishing he can no longer take part in.
Fred and Brian try and fish once a week, usually for half a day, and sometimes take Fred's grandson Nate with them.
