NZ Fishing World

Fishing jargon busted

Softies Plastic fish used to catch real fish – don’t mix them up. Hint: real fish are generally not glittery or pink.

Livies Small real live fish used to catch other bigger fish. It’s a fish eat fish world out there.

Berley Tiny bits of bait to attract fish. Think: the opposite of burley (big, strong man).

Straylining Using bait with little weight.

Screaming off This doesn’t mean make a noise – you’ll startle the work ups (see below). This refers to your fishing line running off the reel as your fish attempts an escape. This is not good news.

Bust offs Don’t even think about it. Eyes on the fish, now.

Tight lines Good luck in angler-speak. Won’t catch anything with a slack line, will you?

Unsinkable What the Titanic was.

Iki This method of stabbing is apparently the most humane way to kill a fish. Just as its name sounds, boy, is it icky.

Pannie A snapper that fits in a frying pan, because you’re always thinking about dinner.

The West Coast Supermarket A chock-a-block fishery out west. It’s conveniently named – say “picked it up at the supermarket” enough times and your family will never know the difference.

What’s that got to do with the price of fish? What to say when avoiding telling your wife where you picked up today’s “catch”.

...AND WHATNOT

·      A snood is not a woman’s hairnet;

·      Stickbaiting does not involve prodding a fish with a stick;

·      Epoxy is not smallpox for fish;

·      Hooking up is not the same as making out;

·      A work up doesn’t happen at a gym