DEEP-SEA ANGLING.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 40, 16 February 1929, Page 18

DEEP-SEA ANGLING.

A RAVENOUS MAKO.

CAUGHT BUT NOT HOOKED

UNIQUE CAPTURE

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

RUSSELL, Wednesday

Colonel C. A. K. Johnson, of England, had a somewhat thrilling fight with a monster mako shark to-day while fishing off Cape Brett in the launch Manaaki. It was the fourth drift of the day, and as it was 3 p.m. Colonel Johnson had serious thoughts of leaving the big fish nlone, when suddenly he felt a big tug at his line. Then came another tug, the balloon was under, and the line began to rnu out, somewhat slowly at first, then faster and faster. When about 70 yards distant he struck hard, again he struck, and still a third strike to make sure. The reel "rang' as only a deep-sea angler's Teel can, and the huge mako jumped many feet into the air. Then off it went at a terrific speed, all the while keeping near the surface for a great distance. The engine of the launch was put in motion as the mako by this time had over 200 yds of line out.

The fish, suddenly taking a turn, swam in towards the launch, and the angler had to work hard to enable the slack line to be wound in. The fish, sheering on the surface all the time, had swam on as if nothing was the matter.

It was only a matter of ten minute* or so and the mako was alongside, but the launchman thought it prudent not to harpoon the fish, as it would only cause trouble, and the angler was liable to lose his prize. It was well that this was so, as no sooner did the mako realise its position than it darted off at a great rate, and sounded after going through the process of jumping. Colonel Johnson, after much effort, managed to bring the fish up to the top, during which time the rod was bent in half, and the strain was as much as the lino could endure. No sooner had the mako been brought in when it dived again. However, after a time the fish was brought alongside the launch, and the launchman drove the harpoon well home. Only then did the monster properly wake up. He threshed about with his tail, and everyone on board received a good soaking. It was sometime before a rope was made fast to its tail. The fish, with its mighty jaw wide open, hit at everybody, and even the launch came in for a fair share of its powerful jaw. On one of its lurches the mako very nearly landed into the cockpit head irst. It was eventually tied at the stern of the boat. This was found necessary, •« the shark, showing so much vitality, could not be hauled aboard. Even when the fighter was being weighed it objected most strongly to going through the process, and snapped at everything near at hand. On close examination it was found that the mako had not been actually hooked. It evidently had been unable to swallow the bait, and the Jcahawai was found stuck in its gullet, presumably choking the fish. The hook itself, while being attached to the kahawai, had not even touched the inaide of the mako. CATCHES AT WHAKGAROA.

I» (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) ff WHANGAROA, this day.' Latest deep sea catches are as follows • Mr Charles Hansen (Te Kopuru), mako, ©i.lb, kmgfish 591b; Mr. Eric Lambe (Sydney), swordfish, 2361b;Mr. F. Cliffe ,<Whangarei), mako 1081b; Mr. Morton Anderson (England), mako, 2411b. The leather is very calm.