Wriggly Gig
Oamaru Jacqui Bodvin Oamaru Jacqui Bodvin

Wriggly Gig

There’s a photo of me
at age all of four
driving the wriggly gig
at Hamewith in Herbert -
my grandparents’ farm -
in a paddock kept barley-free
for the sheep.

Unusual maybe
for a little girl then
to be at the controls
of a diesel-powered gig
but you’ll see me pictured -
determined as ever -
grandad, brother and cousin
behind me on deck.

And one other small boy
stands behind too
but with hands clamped over his eyes
unused perhaps to a family
where gender didn’t dictate
chance or right.

She can do it, let her do it -
a mantra ingrained
that set the scene of my life.

Read More
Fishing the Space Coast
Jacqui Bodvin Jacqui Bodvin

Fishing the Space Coast

Today, we dropped anchor off Cocoa Beach to enjoy some great fishing and a history lesson about Florida’s incredible Space Coast.

Read More
The Captain's Hat
Jacqui Bodvin Jacqui Bodvin

The Captain's Hat

Being the captain of a fishing charter is my dream job, but that doesn’t mean it’s always easy.

Read More
The Art of Lures
Jacqui Bodvin Jacqui Bodvin

The Art of Lures

I’ve never been much of a fly fisherman, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the work of art that is a well tied lure.

Read More
Dock Talk
Jacqui Bodvin Jacqui Bodvin

Dock Talk

We charter captains like to think of ourselves as a different breed, with a whole vocabulary of our own.

Read More
Big Snook Fishing
Jacqui Bodvin Jacqui Bodvin

Big Snook Fishing

Snook is always a fun fish to go after and we spent the day visiting a few of the locations it likes best.

Read More
Trophies
Jacqui Bodvin Jacqui Bodvin

Trophies

What do you do with a big catch? Mount it? Eat it? Take a photo and throw it back? It all depends, I think, on why you fish in the first place.

Read More
The Luckiest Man Alive
Jacqui Bodvin Jacqui Bodvin

The Luckiest Man Alive

I always say that every day spent on the water is the best day of my life. Here’s why I do what I do.

Read More
Sailing Out
Jacqui Bodvin Jacqui Bodvin

Sailing Out

Today, I found myself in a strange position: as a passenger on someone else’s boat.

Read More
Casting at Sunset
Jacqui Bodvin Jacqui Bodvin

Casting at Sunset

After a few days of challenging weather, there’s nothing better than a beautiful sunset fishing expedition.

Read More
Every Catch Is a Good Catch
Jacqui Bodvin Jacqui Bodvin

Every Catch Is a Good Catch

Landing a big one will always have its place, but a true fisherman or fisherwoman loves the joy of the chase more than the size of the catch.

Read More

The Weekly Catch