Student Work

The Fun Weekend

Sophie Year 6

Dad came charging in like a rhino saying “do you want to go fishing, you sleepy heads?” So at that moment, Annabel, James and I jumped out of bed like frogs, threw stuff in our bags and jumped in the car.

We arrived at the wharf at 6.30a.m.with all the other C.C.F. families and set off for our day of fishing, trying to stay awake.

On our way to the spot, the sea got rough as a milk shake getting mixed and we were yelling and screaming with excitement.  At the fishing spot, it was like dogs fighting over meat, to get their line in the water.  As soon as I started, my line was already up with a tiny weenie cat fish on it – I said “there’s no way that would win a prize” so it was back to the sea with that one.

Things only got worse, as my catch got smaller until finally I pulled in a keeper!

A shimmer of gold shot across the water as it tried to escape death. I flicked it up on deck. It flipped about like a butterfly on the floor of the boat. I looked at its teeth which looked like a razor blade munching things up.  When it was dead, I pulled out its heart and it was pumping like a balloon getting blown up.

Meanwhile, James was not having as much luck as me. Annabel was the one who had patience which paid off because she caught a big kahawai.

It was funny because Mum caught this huge giant blind eel and she ran to the front of the boat so she didn’t have to touch it.

I think our family caught the most varieties of fish, like: snapper, tarakihi, kahawai, gurnard, catfish, rockfish, eels and tropical fish.

We all had a go at trawling and everyone caught a playful kahawai. Annabel was unlucky because she waited half an hour with no luck. So she had a turn at driving the boat. As soon as she sat in the skipper’s seat, there was a kahawai on her line!

Once the fishing was over, it was weight–in time at Tatapouri Fishing Club.

I was successful with my gurnard coming second. My prizes were a torch and a bait catcher. My third placing with my snapper was a huge Easter egg, a lantern and a towel. Dad quickly took my Easter egg and has hidden it, I hope.

After the prize giving there was more hilarious activities. Some men had their moustaches and beards shaved, their heads shaved, their legs, chests and tummies waxed.   One man, Spooky, said he’d rather pay $100 than have his hairy tummy waxed but the crowd refused and he ended up screeching like a parrot while he was having it done.

Overall, the money raised was about $13000 for the Gisborne Child Cancer Foundation. It was a great day, awesome fun, lots of laughs and a few sea sick people, including my brother, James!

I hope CCF organises another great fund raiser next year. But, guess what, the best part will be, I’ll be better by then.