In the Autumn 2025 Issue of Seafood magazine, we caught up with Dave Brosnahan who, along with his fiancée, Kelly, is the new owner of Paraparaumu-based Reel Seafoods (formerly Waikanae Crab). It's been a busy nine months for the couple but they're loving the challenge of providing Kāpiti Coast locals with top-quality, locally caught seafood.
How did you first get into commercial fishing/the seafood business?
I pretty much grew up rec fishing. I worked on a few charter boats on Lake Taupō as a real young fella. Fast forward to 2019 and I brought a charter boat that runs out of Waikanae - Reel Charters - and also worked as a deckie for the old owners of this company. Then, almost a year ago, when the owners decided it was time to move on, we just decided to bite the bullet. Kelly quit her job and I moved the charter business down the listof importance and here we are.
What does a typical week look like for you both?
Each week, I head out on Seahorse three to four times. Depends on weather, really. Sometimes Kelly comes too. We do a mix of set netting, potting and longlining and try to bring in whatever is in season - blue cod in winter, tuna in summer and butterfish year-round. Kelly runs the shop. She's a great cook, turning some of our fresh catch into smoked fish pies, chowders, curries and more.
What do you love about the job/business?
Probably the challenge, I'd say. The challenge and the satisfaction of feeding Kāpiti locals high-quality fish. Just because our fish is so fresh. And the utilisation of our fish, nothing ever goes to waste. Even the framesare turned into burley that we then sell.
What's the best piece of fishing/business advice you've received?
The main one would be that hard work always pays off in some way or another. And then trust that what you know is right. Because some days you have bad days, especially when it comes to fishing. When you have bad days you want to blame things on your gear or the tide or whatever, but in the end you've just got to trust that you know what you're doing. It's simply that some days the fish aren't going to be there - that's life.
Is there a common fishing misconception that you'd love to help set the record straight on?
Easy: it's that fishermen aren't getting rich very fast. You have all the levies and the red tape and the rules and the regulations; it's not cheap. I just don't think people realise this when they see the price of our fish. In our shop, when we hear, "Whoa, that's expensive!" we try our hardest to educate customers. Most don't realise that we have to pay for every kilo that we take out of the ocean. Or the fact that you must be a registered skipper, have a Licensed Fish Receiver licence, a permit and all the rest.
What's your most memorable day on the water so far?
It was a few years ago now, when me and Kelly went out in the afternoon after work to have dinner on the boat. And as soon as we launched, there were like 10 orcas hanging around the boat. Even going underneath the boat. They followed us for a bit, too. But every day,every day is a good day out there. I'd much rather the sea than the land.
What's the coolest piece of fishing gear/business gear you can't live without?
We definitely can't live without our chiller. But there are actually lots of things we can't live without. Our boat is small, only six metres, so it's very busy gear-wise. When we bought the boat off the previous owners, the first thing I did was change the sounder and it has changed the whole way that we fish on that boat. It's made it easier to target certain species - as we try to get a variety of fish over the week. So now I can say: tarakihi on that reef, and then butterfish over there and then warehou over here. Without that piece of equipment, it makes things very difficult - you don't know what you're going to get when you pull up your gear.
If you weren't in the seafood business, what would you be doing?
I'd be on the charter or farming. I was a farmer before, many, many years ago. I'm very connected to the land and the sea.
Tell us about life outside of work.
We're a very busy family - we've got four kids combined. We like to go to the beach and the river. But fishing and this business pretty much consumes our time. And we're
not kidding about it. All of our kids know what hard work looks like because they're in here with us. They help out by cleaning bins or grabbing me this or that. They might
help Kelly do the cooking too. Our son, who is 10, can already fillet fish. He's learning to smoke the fish too.
What is your favourite music when out on the water or in the shop/factory?
Kelly is a hard rock girl. Some days I come in and she's cooking, she's got all the doors locked in the factory and I can't get in if I don't have my key. The music's so loud, I'm left banging on the door. For me on the boat, it depends on what we're fishing for, anything from Metallica to Bob Marley to house music.
What is your favourite kaimoana?
Mine's creamed pāua and Kelly loves smoked tuna belly.
Anything else you'd like to add?
Since we've owned the business, it's been pretty up and down fishing-wise and customer-wise but overall it's a feel-good industry to be in. There's a lot of genuine people who are willing to help. And probably worth mentioning that working together as a couple has also been challenging but rewarding, too. We're lucky because we make a great team.
Keen to share your story in "Catchin' up with"? Email us at [email protected]
