LANDED!

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 300, 18 December 1926, Page 11

LANDED!

SEASON'S FIRST SWORDFISH.

TAKEN OFF BIBS BOCK.

ENGLISH SPORTSMAN'S SUCCESS

The first swordfish of the new season has been caught at the Bay of Islands. A telegram from Russell states that the catch was made yesterday in the vicinity of Bird Rock, the successful angler being Mr. H. White-Wickham, of London, England. The weight of the fish is not mentioned.

Mr. White-Wickham's success can hardly be attributed to "beginner's luck," for the angler has already had considerable experience in this particular branch of sport. He visited New Zealand last season and was so delighted with the results of his fishing that he returned somewhat earlier this year, being one ot the first enthusiasts to try the new season's sport. He left Auckland for Deep Water Cove on Monday of the present week. The first mako shark of the 1926-27 season was landed a week or so ago. Mr. White-Wickham's capture is the earliest December catch on record, and the majority of fishermen are only now making preparations for the new season. However, if further catches are reported in the near future it is likely that many enthusiasts will make an earlier start. With the increasing popularity of the North, not only for. deep sea fishing, but also as a holiday resort, Russell should be particularly gay over the approaching holiday period. The best fishing, however, is not expected to be obtained until some weeks later, early in the New Year.

The big game fishing season last year at Cape Brett and Whangaroa constituted a -world's record, no less than 375 fish being caught on rod and line. The total weight of the fish landed was 42 tons, II cwt 0 qrs 201b, the fish being officially weighed by the Bay of Islands Swordfish and Mako Shark Club. Following is a summary of last season's fishing: — Name of Fish. Number. Total weight. Swordfish 281 72,000 Mako Shark ..... <9 I S'S^ Black Marlin 8 3,989 Hammerhead Shark 4 BroadbiU 2 500 Thresher Shark 1 4-0 Totals 375 95,332 RECORDS FOR SEASON. Date. Fish. lbs Caught by Feb. 25 Black Marlin 976 Captain Mitchell Mar. 21 Swordfish 450 Zane Grey Feb. 20 BroadbiU 400 Zane Grey Mar. 23 Mako 434 M. W. A. Home Feb. 22 Thresher 420 G. H. Deaton Mar. 23 Hammerhead 395 Captain Mitchell The 976 Black Marlin was caught at Whangaroa. It was a world's record and took three hours forty-five minutes to land, towing the launch ten miles to sea. A kingfish weighing 1111b, a world's record, was also caught at Whangaroa. A FINE CATCH. fßy Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) RUSSELL, this day. Mr. White-Wickham, who has made his headquarters at Deep Water Cove for this season's deep-sea fishing, yesterday caught a fine 3101b mako shark, after a hard fight of seventy minutes.