LUCKY THIRTEENTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 849, 18 December 1929, Page 11

LUCKY THIRTEENTH

MAKOS CAUGHT ON FRIDAY ENGLISH ANGLERS’ SUCCESS From Our Own Correspondent RUSSELL, Tuesday. While some people may be inclined to the opinion that Friday, the 13th is unlucky, Mr. and ]Vlrs. H. C. Parr’ of England, at least, do not consider that December 13 has been an unlucky day for them on the famous fishing grounds off Cape Brett. On Friday Mr. and Mrs. Parr left the deep sea anglers’ base shortly after breakfast in the launch Zane Grey, in charge of Mr. Francis Arlidge, and after catching sufficient bait for the day commenced fishing alongside Bird Rock. No sooner had the lines been cast over the side of the launch than Mrs Parr descried the dorsal fin of a huge mako about 60 yards distant. The launchman quickly brought his launch near enough to enable the bait to be smelled by the monster. The fin disappeared, and after a few moments of intense suspense the fish was again noticed some ten yards away from the bait. Suddenly the mako made a dart at the bait and the line reeled off at a terrific rate. The angler struck hard to ensure that the monster was securely hooked. The reel sang only as a deep-sea angler’s reel can, and the fight commenced in earnest. The mako put up a hard fight, and the angler found the fish a stubborn one, and it took Mr. Parr all his time to hold him. The fish was played for an hour before he could be brought alongside the launch. The mako, which was a fine specimen, turned the scales at 3501 b. After safely hauling this prize aboard the launch, another drift was commenced. Soon after lunch it was Mrs. Parr’s turn to hook a mako. Feeling a decided tug at her line she allowed the fish to take the line out for some distance, then she struck several times, and the mako leaped as only a mako can. Its leaps were prodigious, and the fish, in its frantic endeavour to evade capture, gave the angler all the thrills she desired. Mrs. Parr played her first fish with dexterity, and it took her half an hour before the mako was brought alongside and dealt with in accordance with the rules of the club. The fish weighed no fewer than 2371 b. When the anglers arrived back at Otehei Bay they were warmly congratulated on their splendid catch. The jaws, which are fine specimens, will be mounted and shipped to England. Mrs. Parr is having the skins preserved, and it is her intention to have shoes and other useful articles made from them.