I'm no fisherman either - I snagged a herring off Petone wharf once - the hook caught in its gills. The cat enjoyed it tho'!
Way back in 1959 we were taken on a fishing trip in the Sounds and someone else put whatever-it-was onto the hooks. Then we just dangled the line over side of the boat. I managed to catch 5 Blue Cod!!! but I don't remember what happened to them.
Robyn