WORLD'S BEST FISHING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 121, 25 May 1927, Page 13

WORLD'S BEST FISHING.

IN SALT WATER ANO FRESH.

ZAHS GMT WILL RETURN.

HOPES FOR 'A 100QLB MAKO. 1,

(By Telegraph.— Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON", this day. "Without question you have the finest salt water and fresh water fishing in tbe world, and that is the reason why w« are coming back to New Zealand," declared Captain Mitchell, of Mr. Zane Grey'B party, to an audience of Wellington Rotarians to-day. The visitors are on a world's fishing trip, so varied that it astonished the listeners with its variety. The party are endeavouring to make a film entitled "Fishing in the Seven Seas," and they have 68,000 ft in hand. Starting with Nova Scotia, with big tuna, they proceeded to Panama, Galapagos Islands, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico and Catalina Islands. After New Zealand they propose visiting tbe west coast of South America. "We dont •» W . w . hat ** *** P° in P to find - but we will look," commented Captain Mitchell. are dne in the West Indies bow, but we came here instead." Betara ia November, 1994. Their next trip, in IJSB, would be to New Zealand, from November till February, and thence to Australia, New Guinea, the Gulf of Carpentaria. Malaya, and on to Madagascar, where they had authentic records of sail fish running to 20ft long, and they intended going after the Nile perch in Lake Tanganyika, and' to prospect in the Persian Gulf ."following up tome vague letters from British officers who had fished there excitingly. ] Captain Mitchell added that the Black Sea will receive attention, for he has seen enormous quantities of tuna, averaging from 801b to 901b, and in a market at Batum was exhibited a large broadbill swordfish. Norway will be visited for salmon and broadbill, while salmon and tuna will eventually draw these enthusiastic fishermen back across the Atlantic to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Pithing Methods Under Fire. With the recollection of lively controversy over his party's fishing method*. Captain Mitchell remarked that he was not going to say theirs were better than anyone else's, but they had had success and considered they used .sportsmanlike tackle. They had been accused *>f using unbreakable lines, but one of their critics who overhauled their tackle in Auckland had to admit he could break It without a tremendous muscular effort. His conclusion was that the line used was not so strong a.« that of New* Zealand fishermen. "That is so, our line* are no stronger, but they are longer." continued Captain Mitchell, who said they carried 600 yards on the reel l*cause they never knew what they would pet. A swordfijh fought on top Inn tuna foujrM deep. Mr. Grcv and ' himself used lislf-and-half British and

American tackle. Hβ bad persuaded Mr. Grvjr to uce British tackle and he was deligfeted with it. Hew to Catch SwDitiah. "\\ hen you go after swordnah you must hare a fairly fast launch, with as engineer quick as a flash," said Captain Mitchell. "We use kahawhai bait for bwordfish and we hare been catching mullet for tbe sane purpose with great success. Most fish are caught trolling a small mullet or kingfish, one foot long being the beet bait. We put out two cylindrical pieces of wood, brightly coloured, called teasers' which twist around and attract the fish from below and they go for it as mad as a hatter. One is trolled 40 feet out. aad another 50 feet out, with the real bait between. When the fish arrive we take in the 'teasers' and Uie big fish then snaps at the bait, which is swimming along the top. The fish takes it sideways, and we give him time to get it, say ten seconds, during which he has run off with 150 feet of line. Then be strikes, and. being hooked on one side or other of the jaw, you will get a fighting fi»h fighting on top all the time and you will get all the thrill you want." Old Method Sickened Fish. Referring to the former method of fishing. Captain Mitchell said that a triangular hook was used, drifting with a live kahawhai. When there was-a bite the engine was started aad the fisherman paid out the line to let the fish gorge the bait. Tbe triangular hook got down j into the stomach and it sickened tbe fish and he went to the bottom. Then he had to be* pulled tip. "I took photographs of one gentleman pitting in a comfortable armchair smoking a cigarette, with a beautiful smile on his face while the boatman was hand-hauling the fi.«h. Our plan is to light a fi*h to a finish, bring him alongside ami gaff. A mako ohark 4001b or over is as gnod, fighting fish as I have ever tackled. One of them almost cleaned me out last year, but I am coming hack in 192S to land a 10001b mako. Yon have them here. I hooked one, but he got away after cleaning me out."