WITH THE "FIGHTING FINS."

Shannon News, 8 April 1927, Page 3

WITH THE "FIGHTING FINS."

THE FISHERMEN'S EL DORADO. (From the Foxton Herald). A representative of the Foxton Herald has been visiting the sword-fishing grounds and writes the following interesting account of the sport: Much has boen written about the charm of the Bay of Islands and the , thrills of deep sea fishing which obtains in the locality but pen and paper cannot adequately describe the exquisite beauty of Russell and the surrounding coast, nor picture vividly enough the thrilling sport of deep sea angling. Prior to 1908 very little was known of the sport of deep sea fishing and it was not until 1909 when Mr. A. D. Campbell landed the first swordfish that any attention was given to the possibilities of the sport by anglers. Since then the sport has assumed great proportions, and people have visited the Bay of Islands from all parts of .the world to try their skill at big game fishing. Credit for the world-wide publicity given the sport must unquestiom ably go to Mr. Zane Grey. It was not until last year that Mr. Grey visited New Zealand in search of the fighting fins, as he aptly termed them, and his visit was then made at the invitation of the New Zealand Government. As a result of that visit it can truly be said that he has" placed New Zealand "on the map" with regard to deep sea fishing by means of his film descriptive of the whole business, entitled " Fight-, ing Fins" and also per medium of his book, "The Fisherman's Eldorado/ which created quite a furore the world over. As a result of this publicity enquiries were received in New Zealand from England and elsewhere as to places of accommodation, requirements, ■tc, in connection with the sport. It was as a result of these enquiries that a company wa.i forrr.ed in New Zealand to afford visitors from overseas up-to-date launches, accommodation, etc. The company so formed placed matters on a very satisfactory basis and on the 3rd November last year a commencement was made with the erection of suitable buildings on the beautiful island of Urupukapuka, a short distance from historical Russell. By Christmas time the buildings were complete and ready for occupation and comprised a particularly fine clubhouse and a number of up-to-date ai d exceedingly comfortable bungalows This company, it might be stated, is purely New Zealand and Mr Zane Grey is Lot financially interested in any way. It was purely out of sentiment for the excellent pioneering work he had done in connection with advertising deep sea fishing in New Zealand that the rendezvous was named after him. The company also provided fast launches for the use of the visitors and these in themselves are most up-to-date vessels. They have been constructed especially for deep sea fishing and equipped with 110 h.p,. engines. Two swivel chairs are provided, one fore and one aft, for the anglers, and each chair is fitted with a holder for the rod. It is not considered advisable for more than two people to be fishing at the one time from one launch owing to the danger of lines becoming fouled in the event of a big fish being hooked, and even so, it is the practice of the unsuccessful fisherman to immediately haul in his line when his companion has hooked a fish, and so give him complete freedom to play the monster. ABOUT THE TACKLE. The rods used for angling are be-1 tween 6ft. 6in. and 7ft. in length and are of split cane, hickory, or tanekaka, the last named being a rod of New Zealand wood, taken from the native ■free of the same name and is particularly suited for the use to which it is put, besides being much cheaper than the imported article. These rods are very strong and pliable and when in action, with one of the big fiish hooked bend until they almost touch ths* water. The line used is a 36 thread, about the thickness of ordinary shop string and it is marvellous that a huge fish can be landed on such a fine line. The line is on a reel which is aonstructed of either wood or metal, the latter, or course being preferable. The reel is fitted with two brakes to regulatf the speed at which the line runs out, one being a mechanical arrangement for lightening up the spool, which can he set, the other being a leather pad covering portion of the wound line, which can be pressed down by the thumb or fingers as the line whirls out. Tin.- line itself is generally about 500 vards in length.. The hook, strange tc "iay is not very largo, being only about four inches in length, and is attached to the line by a steel wire trace thirty feet in. length, this, of course, being necessary, to prevent the fish frcm biting off the hook. THE BAIT. The principal bait used to catch the big fish is kawhai whi.'h abounds in these waters. No difficulty is encountered in securing bait. As the launch sets out for the fishing grounds, linesare trailed behind the vessel and the kawhai secured by this means. The bait is usually alive, but as the season draws to a close this not absolutely necessary and dead bait can be used quit successfully. When hve bait is to be used the kawhai are kept alive after being caught by being placed in a box J attach 3d to the stern of the launch,) which is kept flooded .with water by I the propellors. When the fishing ground is reached the bait is attached to the line by inserting the hook in the lip or back of the fish and it is, then released and allowed to swim about. The kawhai being the natural food of the swordfish and mako, is snapped up by the big game and swallowed whole. ' Another method of catching the monster is to tow behind the. boat, abtut 10 to 15 yards from the steam, what is commonly called a '• teaser." A teaser is a small piece of wood about a foot long and an inch in diameter, painted a bright colour and provided with two slots which cause it to rotate and dive about in the water like a live fish. As soon as a fin is sighted near the teaser it is immediately hauled aboard and a proper b.iit cast overboard. This is promptly snapped up by the monster and then the fun begins. , Landing a swordfish or other deep sea denizen is no mean feat and re-

quiies a considerable amount of skill on the part of the angler. It is very advisable, when on a fishing expedition, to secure the services of some experienced fisherman who owns a launch and then the chances of losing a fish are reduced to a minimum. As previously stated, two chairs are provided on the launch for the anglers, who, as a rule, are strapped into their seats. The liaes are rigged and the bait liberated. When a bait is snapped by a swordfish it makes a rush in most cases due north and the reel whirls merrily. After the monster has gone about two or three hundred yards it rises and literally dances on its tail on the surface. In some instances the fish has been known to charge the boat but whether it does this or not it provides ample'thrills for the angler with its ducking and dashing around, and it is at this time that a competent helmsman is required to manage the boat. The fifrh is then played carefully, and eventually, generally after some hours have elapsed, worked alongside the vessel where it is harpooned and hauled aboard. The vital part of the whole business is to know just when to •'strike," or hook the fish after it has taken the bait. Swordfish and sharkhave a habit of either gulping the bait straight down or else dashing off with it in their mouths. Ample time has to be alloAved for the fish to swallow the bait. A monster correctly hooked should have the bait and hook in its stomach but numerous fish have been .-.aught "foul-hooked" or with the hook in the side of the jaw and in some instances in the body itself. The roof jf Ihe mouth of a swordfish is particularly hard and will'not take a hook. The largest swordfish caught registered on the scales a day after it was landed, 976 lbs. This monster was landed by Captain Mitchell, of England, a member of the Zane Grey expedition, and constitutes a world record. The party did not have scales large enough to weigh the huge fish, and had to bring it in to Russell where it tipped the scales at the above mentioned weight. When hung up by the tail for weighing three kawhai fell from the monster's mouth and it is considered that if it had been weighed when first caught it would have .ipped the scales at 1000 lbs.

The season's largest catch was recorded by an overseas gentleman, and not landed until after several hours' struggle and after having expended 470 vards of line.

Most of the fishing is done from the Zane Grey Sporting Club's camp which is beautifully situated amid rugged grandeur and charmir-g native bush in Otehei Bay on Urupukapuka Island. This locality was specially selected by Mr Zane Grey on his first visit to New Zealand and* is sheltered from every wind that blows. It is a most eharm-■'ng-locality and an ideal holiday spot, not only for fishermen but for anyone desirous of a quiet rest. The Club has had erected a fine up-to-date clubhouse and a number of bungalows. The clubhouse is a most comfortable establishment with hot and cold watet and all conveniences, Avhile hot meals can always be obtained. A fine verandah 75 feet by 16 feet, looks out on the harbour where a jetty runs out some distance, and where the club's two launches, the Otehei and Monaaki may be seen at anchorage when not out on the fishing grounds. The harbour itself is an aquarium and all sorts of fishes may be seen swimming around beneath the jetty. The island abounds with delightful walks and the scenery is one of magnificent grandeur. At the clubhouse one meets visitors from all parts of the world. A glance at the club's books show reservations for accommodation for as far ahead as 1929 when an English party who fished from Otehei Bay this season intend to return and again try their .skill with the fighting fins.