MIGHTY MARLIN CAUGHT AT RUSSELL

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 278, 14 February 1928, Page 13

MIGHTY MARLIN CAUGHT AT RUSSELL

A STRENUOUS FIGHT FISHERMAN VICTORIOUS RUSSELL, To-day. Mr. N. E. Bartleet, of Auckland, while fishing off Cape Brett on Friday, caught a black marlin which, on being brought into Otehei Bay camp, on Urupukapuka Island, turned tthe scales at 8611 b. Mr. Bartleet hooked this monster at 11.15 a.m., and it took four and ahalf hours to bring the fish alongside the launch. The black marlin showed himself during the first 20 minutes of the fight, and carried Che launch five miles out to sea in a northerly direction. During this time the fish breached four times, and the sight was magnificent. A number of anglers in the vicinity were much interested in the thrilling sport. After a particularly fierce run the rod snapped in two, and Mr. Bartleet had to play the fish with only the butt of the rod, with the reel still intact. Holding on to the prize like grim death, the angler, feeling the great strain all the time, was in this way able to bring the huge monster up to the launch, where it was gaffed and securely fastened. The enormous size of the fish made it impossible to haul it aboard the small boat, and it had to be towed to Otehei Bay. Mr. Bartleet and Mr. X. E. Blomfield, who accompanied him, were completely done up after their thrilling experience with the monster. The black marlin measured l?.ft Sin. and was clean-hooked. The girth was no less than 6ft 2in. 'this catch easily constitutes the season's record, and has only once been beaten, and that was by Captain J. D. Mitchell.