SPLENDID SPORT AT MAYOR ISLAND

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 45, 17 April 1930, Page 8

SPLENDID SPORT AT MAYOR ISLAND

RECORD CATCH BY PETONE

PARTY.

SEVEN SWORDFISH AND A MAKO_

Messrs G> Hartley aund R, Burni, of Petone, returned home from Mayor Is-

land fishing grounds in, the launch Naomi, after making the record catch of the season in those famous water. The party fisheS for six days and landed seven. swordfish and one mako. Mr Hartley captured four swordfish weighing .4101b,. 40141b, 3941b and 3301b.

Mr Burn landed'three swordfish weighing 3751b.-y 2641b, 2681b. •He also, secured a mako of 2201b'.' He hooked anotherswordiish, which was drawn up to thelaunch but escaped after being struck: with the harpoon;.

The fish, were-all excellent specimens--and their period of resistance ranged, from three-quarters-of-an hour to three^ hours five minutes: The-lbngest fight wa» put up by a striped marlin, which weighed 4101b and gave a magnificent i display. It breached a dozen times and? covered about three miles before it waslanded.

One of the swordfish caught by Mr Burn on Monday last1 charged thfr launch as the fish was being worked alongside into position' for1 the harpooner and smashed its sword against the? boat. It was then harpooned and despatched.

On one occasion, on- Monday last Messrs Hartley and Burn each hooked a swordfish simultaneously. This was an. exciting time for the anglers. Both, played their fish steadily, But in, a check M^r Hartley was unfortunate enough to> lose his fish after an- exciting fifteen minutes. Better luck favoured' Mr Burn and he had..the satisfaction of landing his fish after about and' hour- and- threequarters. The party observed dozens of swordfish and repeatedly saw them rising/from the sea and playing on the surface;. Master Garwin Hartley, a lad" of nine years, accompanied his father on the trip and had a great time with" the small fish. He should make an accomplished angler in the days to come. A number of photographs of the- fisfr asthejr rose and., fought out of the* water .were secured by the party. Messrs Hartley and Burn were very pleased, with the result of the excellent manner in which Mr Fletcher handled the launch during the contests with thehig fish. They hope to return next season to give the grounds another test.