ANGLING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 205, 18 January 1913, Page 7

ANGLING.

i (By "Ripple.") ] December and January are usually slack months from an angler's point of I view, and it is not surprising that fish have been fairly I scarce. Most of our rivers contain large j deposits of stone, and the sun striking r on the stones heats the water to a dej gree that keeps the trout in the most se- * eluded spots, under the banks and large boulders. Anglers who have tried for J fish at sunrise report that at that time there are plenty of fish to be seen on the ; feed. J In the Waiwakaiho the fish are not responding quite so readily to the lly, but several anglers have been successful with the cicada. Good reports come from Stony River, where Williams and Rae landed a decent basket of rainbow trout up to 4y 2 lbs. An Ofoito angler had a good day's sport on the upper reaches of the Stony and landed six beauties, all rainbows. I This proves that the river is well adapted for the species. Mr. C. M. Hill had a couple of hours' good angling on New Year's Day on the Waingongoro River, and landed three nice brown trout. Two of the fish weighed Gib apiece. Messrs. T. Whittle and Birch (2) each secured good specimens of fish, ranging from 2 to olbs on the Waiwakaiho early this week. A good deal of excellent sport has been secured at the mouths of Taranaki riv- ' erS with the kahawai. On a still' rod and reel this excellent lighting fish offers a determined tussle. As in all other kinds of fishing, the Maori is fast becoming an adept in the use of the rod and reel. He can spin a I minnow with accuracy, and when he J hooks into a kahawai handles his gear ] with admirable skill. The writer recently saw a catch of over 140 of these fish taken by five Maori rods at the mouth of the Waingongoro River. The tish were all in big condition and weighed up to lOlbs. When a native gets his catch well hooked he directs the line seaward and dearly loves to play his lish in the surf. He will give his capture up to' lso yards of line and play him to the last ounce of fightng power. 'At the conclusion of the fight it is a (ine sight to see these native fishermen land their take high and dry on the beach on the summit of a big wave. With the prolonged spell of dry v.father 'the Taranaki Acclimatisation Society has experienced much difficulty in liberating the fry in the coastal streams. lfo\fever,' by picking the' coolest days and making early morning starts tiie caretaker informs me that he has iecently been 'able to safely transput I, 10,000 browns at Opunake for the W.iinn and 5000 each for the Warea a'i .1 V aiweranui streams. The fry are fun.. Dusty Mlows", pleasuring up to Ko iwlies in length, and in perfect condition. There are still some 50,000 fry in the hatcheries to go out. These will be liberated' in the Stony and Waiwakaiho Rivers and in the streams around Tariki and Jnglewood. In fact it is safe to ~ay that a more healthy lot of (isli has never been available for Taranaki rivers. This speaks volumes for the excellent attention the Society's caretaker has shown in rearing and feeding the ! fish.

A local party of four gentlemen had a very enjoyable holidays in the "Bay of Islands district during the holidays. They inform me that the sea fishing (here is exceptionally good. Til addition to bounteous hauls of schnapper, gurnet, hluc cod, they secured specimens of hapuka weighing up to 1201bs. Tn these waters the king fish also has his home, and with a rod and reel thrilling sport may he obtained. A short' rod of about four feet is used, while the reel is a hucre affair, taking up to 300 yards of line. The pipe fish (or "piper")') is used for bait, and should a king fish be hooked the pace in very rapid. Should the specimen secured be a large one a three or four hours' fight, is sometimes before the fish can be brought to the boatside and gaffed.