Fur, Fish and Phantom Reds
A West Coaster's introduction to hunting and fishing
Set in the rural heart of New Zealand's South Island West Coast, Fur, Fish and Phantom Reds is a true story about one boy's quest to become a real man. Enticed by the lifestyle of his master-bushman brother, and encouraged by his father, Phil signs up to an extensive training regime that is set to instil a life-altering association with the outdoors. Horror, hard graft and humour lurk at every bend on this twisted path to manhood and a couple of hard-case mates ensure the merriment never wanes as the boys go about cultivating their own brand of bush doctrine.
Iconic West Coast settings are beautifully illustrated throughout the book
‘…as he settles into the role of raconteur and spins lively yarns about simple childhood rural adventures, such as eeling with mum’s pantyhose, tussles with “giant killer coons” and a decrepit old three-oh-three that has magical powers. He displays wonderful word power and some of his descriptions are a pure delight – “the shot rang out, concussing the tranquillity of the morning”…’
“…the author has clearly undertaken a lot of preparation, with in-depth details and rich personal stories that come together to provide an informative read intermixed with interesting side stories. Certainly, anyone with Westport family history or an interest in coal mining in that area will find this a good read and reference.”
‘Here is a great book on New Zealand Culture. The culture of the West Coast to be exact. Written by someone who grew up on the coast and who experienced all the facets of sport available…’