LURE OF THE KINGFISH.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 22, 25 January 1913, Page 8

LURE OF THE KINGFISH.

EXCmHG SPOBT AT BTJSSEIi.

FORTY AND FIFTY POtEvDERS.

Each evening for some weeks past a familiar spectacle at Russell has been the return of a small green launch liberally decked with those splendid specimens of the finny tribe, tfce kingnshThey have been captured in the outer waters of the expansive Bay of Islands, and in such quantities as to supply tae whole of the inhabitants. In ract, an imposing part of each day's performance has been the gathering on the wharf or a number of Russellites eager to .participate in the spoil. Some idea of the size of the catches may -be conveyed by the fact that even then a number of these fine fish nave remained unclaimed, and consequently have gone to waste. This is a pHy" but unavoidable, for the reason that once the kingfish have been landed they cannot again be l&erated alive.

FIFTY IN" ONE DAY.

The daily expeditions are still being carried on" with great enthusiasm, but the kingfishing party has dwindled to two—Mr. A. D. Campbell, an English tourist, now spending his eighth fishmg season in New Zealand, and Mr. B. H. Wyman. of Auckland. Others who participated earlier in the holidays were Messrs A. E. Herrold, S. Moore-Jones and W. H. Hazard, of Auckland, and H. J- : Moore-Jones of Matamata. The total ' catch of kingfish, not counting other varieties, which were sometimes hauled in — was 224 tor eleven days' fishing. The record 6izes were "a 48-pounder, a 47-pounder and a 49-<pounder, caught by 'At. Campbell on the 12th, the 18th and the 20th Lnst. respectively. Sir. 'Wyman, who has caught 70 in eleven days, notwithstanding the fact that it is his first season, has handled three fish over 40 pounds. The most numerous catch, occurred on the Bth inst., when 50 were taken. They were small, as kingfish go, the heaviest being 17 Jibs. Another good day's fishing was had on fche 17th, the catch numbering 27 for two rods—l 3 went over 251bs. each, averaging 32R>s, while the remaining 14 averaged 17£ft)s. The aggregate poTtndage "was 664 and the average 24itt>s. FASCINATING PASTIME.

Kingfishing is one of the most exciting forms of angling, and, in the opinion of Mr. Campbell, rivafc even the popular pastime of trout fishing. A representative of this paper chanced to participate in one or two of the expeditions at Russell during the past week, and the experience was most exciting. When the Maoris were wont to shoot out in their canoes from the many kaingas. which formerly dotted the historic shores of this pictnresqne bay, they called the kingfish the "wiarehangas," and sought them with lenraxkaiile zest. Getting in among a sboal, they would suspend made of ffacr, with the object of lasaooing them as they shot past. Elderly Maoris say that they got " plenty wharehangss, too." They must have been exceedingly dexterous.

Modern methods, however, have brought along supple rods with elabo-rately-fitted reels, lines of abotrfc 250 yards in length, and triangular hooks to les<?n the chances af these powerful fish when they fight and keep on fighting long after the deadly books have gripped them. HOW THE FISH ARE CAUGHT.

The kingfish are usuaHy encountered in shoale among the ripples which swirl around the rocky portions of the shore line. The expert boatman (.Mr. Syd. Irving, had ciarge on these occasions) will take his launch, close in to a jutting rock just as a mighty sweil from the outer ocean rolls up, and if the angler's luck is in, trhe chances axe that the receding wash -wiH reveal the object of their search in gratifying numbers. Each fisher has his rod extended from the stern of the boat, with about 30 yarrfe of Hne in play, and on the end of rt is a full-sized piper—a favourite bait for kingfish—the triangular hooks hidden in the tail, and a noose knot round the piper's head for added security. A4l at once a line will go >yiiFiriwg out, making j merry music with its , and this I of course signifies that ttie bait having been swallowed w-hole, has left it 3 threepronged hook fast in the mouth of a powerful fighting fish. For the time being the angler presses his reel-brake— similar to that of a free-wheel bicycle— to prevent the line paying ont too rapidly. Within a few moments other fish will 'have probably hooked on to some of the other Sines, after which the launch will steer out to deeper water. Then commence the exhilaration and the many thrills associated with kittgfishing. It is a famous struggle between ingenious mas and ferocious fish; the former pays out line with all the wiles of 'hia art, what time the latter jumps and davee tenaciously towards seaweed aad rock ;in a desperate struggle fot liberation; inch by inch the line is wound in, and ! after many mimites of determined plavj ing, a shiny, dear-skinned monster, as j big as a shark, but as delectable as a barracoota., is brought within gaffing distance. One after another they are brought in, cleaned, and strung by the gills over the side of the boat, where they remain until at rival in port about the hour of sundown. A humorous touch is sometimes given to the closing scene by the heroic attempts of sundry small boys to carry off some orf the fish, which are as .big or bigger than themselves.

The kingfishing season has been in since the middle of December, and will continue until the end of May. There should be no dea.rth of fish at Russell for many moons yet.