My husband hook, line and sinker

Wife of Riley

by Paula Trubshaw, Fat Cat Promotions, $24.90

Gazing into his eyes as the sun set over a pile of bonito guts wasn't exactly how I'd imagined the evening panning out. But it could have been worse - he could have taken me pig-hunting.
That quote describes the first date for Riley and his date, who later became his fishwife.
Wife of Riley, by Waihi author Paula Trubshaw and illustrated by Graeme Leitch, is her story about the adventures of her fishing-obsessed husband. You can almost smell the clothes she describes him wearing.
Fishermen would enjoy the book for the true-to-life fishing tips, adventures and blunders and their wives would like it because they will realise they are not alone. But it will also appeal to would-be fishers and even non-fishers who crave adventure on the high seas.
The book is a collection of the best of a series of humorous monthly columns written by Paula for Bay Fisher Magazine. Although fictional, it is inspired by real events.
"Riley is a stereotypical Kiwi fisher bloke, burning sausages on the barbecue, skiving off work to go fishing, and forgetting wedding anniversaries. I saw three of him buying meat pies while filling up a boat at a service station in Thames just the other day," she says.
Having been married to an obsessive Kiwi fisher for 12 years she decided she couldn't beat him, so she joined him.
"For me fishing is as much about getting out on the water, or hiking into remote rock-fishing spots and enjoying nature as it is about catching fish, although putting dinner on the table is definitely an added bonus. I've seen some awesome things, orcas, flying-fish, sharks, and parts of the coastline I would never have otherwise experienced."
On the flip side she has experienced her share of the frustration that comes with being married to someone who can recall GPS co-ordinates for every snapper hangout in the country, but draws a blank when it comes to the age of his children.
One of Paula's earliest fishing memories is a trip to Matata, "where dad entered a local surfcasting competition. The fishing was slow and he only caught one small snapper all morning.
"We lived inland at the time and didn't often eat fresh salt water fish. Deciding the snapper was unlikely to win any prizes he agreed to let us cook it up for lunch - only to discover later that it was the only snapper caught by anyone all day".