DEEP SEA FISHING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 April 1939, Page 4

DEEP SEA FISHING

MASTERTON PARTY’S SUCCESS. LONG BATTLE WITH STRIPED MARLIN. Just as dawn was breaking on Good Friday a party of Mastertonians commenced a 400-mile journey to Tauranga to experience for themselves the often vaunted thrills and successes which have made the deep-sea fishing grounds of the Bay of Plenty almost world famous The party comprised Messrs Frank Williams, Fred Lusty (Masterton), Maurice Gray (Greytown), Alan Gray, Ivan Gray, W. Meads (Masterion) and W. Taggart and E. Tomlin (Homewood). As several of the party were expert drivers the trip of 400 miles was safely and quickly covered and Tauranga was reached early on Friday evening.

The next day, all arrangements having been made by Mr Thomas McCord, of Tauranga, who was until recently a most popular Masterton sportsman, the party embarked on Messrs E. and R. Chadban's wellequipped launch. The object was to try out Tuhua for snapper and to proceed thence to Mayor' Island' (28 miles from the mainland) where the night would be spent.

The launch had not left the pier at Tauranga more than an hour and a-half when Messrs Chadban (the launch proprietors) heightened the interest of their guests by asking: "What about having a try for a 'Swordy’? We have the gear here, and one never know’s one luck” The idea was quickly adopted. First a sizeable kahawai was landed by a running troll, and expert fingers were busy setting the lure on a special line, rod and reel. Incidentally, the correct kind of lines, traces, rods and reels involved in this type of fishing are expensive.

The party had been informed that many well equipped fishermen from overseas had often tried for some days or weeks to hook a fish in the Bay, but no such disappointment was in store on this occasion. Not fifteen minutes after the first attempt to hook a fish the dorsal fin and then the shapely sword of a fine specimen of striped marlin passed near the boat. The fish followed the bait for a trice and then turned away. In a flash the lure was given more line until it sank far astern, and the “Swordy” was tricked into taking what must have seemed an easy lunch. Then followed a great fight as the marlin struggled to break free. One minute it was diving deep in the water and the next cruising at tremendous speed on the surface, and between these movements it was leaping many feet out of the water. The battle lasted for exactly an hour and thirty-five minutes. The chief actor in this drama of sport fell to the lot of Mr Maurice Gray, who occupied the “chair” when the strike was made. It must be said that he showed remarkable skill in playing his first big fish and obeying the staccato orders of the experienced fishermen. Spent after its effort for freedom the marlin was brought within striking distance of the gaff. This was driven in about half-way from the tail to mid-centre of the back and the conquest was at an end. Weighed later at Tauranga the

swordfish turned the scale at 2Golbs. In addition about 50 fish of edible kinds were caught and brought back, to be distributed later, to friends and relatives in Masterton.