DEEP SEA FISHING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 54, 5 March 1937, Page 8

DEEP SEA FISHING.

BEST IN TEN YEARS.

BAY OF ISLANDS SPORT.

FOUR FISH IN ONE BOAT.

Aucklanders have TreeTv participated in excellent sport on the deep *ea fishing grounds at the Bay of Islands, and in the opinion of the boatmen the conditions this season are the best that have been experienced since 1(126. Last Friday a party of three Aucklanders, none of whom had taken a log fish before, arrived at Otehi Bay. the site of the Zane <lrey camp, and were greeted with an encouraging sight at the head of the wharf—seven fish which had been officially weighed. There were five swonllish and two mako sharks, the dav'- catch. Dr. Fen wick, of Auckland, win, had taken two of them, modestly commented that it was just the luck of the frame, and Mr. f. Laffey, also of Auckland, raised a smile on his' sun-tanned face when he admitted that a tyro at the game he, too, had landed two that day. The sport has been exceptionally pood during the past three weeks, the anglers said, and the new arrivals were destined to participate in further good luck. The next dav no less than 12 fish were weighed "in at Otehi Bay, three more were taken to Deep Water Cove, and a similar number to Russell. There were about ten boats out and not one of them was disa-ppointed.

Auckland Men Successful.

On Monday last three Aucklanders, Messrs. ,T. Lister, R. Lewis and T. Brett, got the best bag of the day from the launch Avalon—three swordfisli and a mako shark. The next best bag was that of Mr. D. Simpson, a well-known Dunedin angler, who alone {rot three —a meritorious performance. On the Sunday he had taken a similar bag liack to his headquarters at Deep Water Cove on the launch Ozone. Mr. Simpson's luck was certainly in, for he had taken over the boat from Mr. H. White-Wickham, whose fortune early in the week had not been so favourable. Reports of fine sport have also been received from other grounds in the North.

The English sportswoman. Mrs. Ashley Dodds, who has established a camp on the Cavalli Islands, took 15 fish in a week on the ground of the island, a spot where Mr. H. J. Court, of Auckland, also had much success, taking three fish in one day.

Mr, H. White-Wickkam,

The grounds about Bird Rock and Piercy Island are fishing well. Dr. Fenwick and ilr. Laffey got fish consistently off Rird Rock" mostly raised by trolling, while the other three Aucklanders got their bag of seven fish in three days, all close in to Piercy Island. The shoal lish were about the island in prolific numbers, and consequently no trouble was experienced in obtaining bait. It is of interest to anglers to know that on one day most of the strikes were obtained on the floating line, and the next, when the shoal lish were deeper, on the deep line. Two strikes at the same time was not an uncommon experience, and often when swordlish were struck another appeared on the surface. Mako Charges Boat. The experience of Mr. White Wirkham of a mako charging his boat last I hursday week in not an exceptional one. for both mako and swordfisli have frequently charged a boat, to bury their teeth or swords in its hull. An e.\|K'iience which is equally true befell the [boatman. Mr. Peter Williams, who went to Tahiti with Zane Crev's expeditions. He was endeavouring last Monday to extricate a hook from the throat of a striped inarlin and had thrust his hand down after it. To his surprise, and the consternation of his party, his arm was drawn nearly up to the armpit as the fish closed its mouth. There was a rush [to grab the sword and release the tension by forcing the mouth open. Peter's arm came out without a scratch, but not until lie had secured the hook. It Was a lively indication to the anglers j how sw old fish take a bait by suction, having no teeth with \Vliich to grab it. Overseas sportsmen are impressed by I the improvements which have been made jat Zane Orey Camp. Klectric light [and a refrigerator have been ' ailed. The cottages are linked with sewerage system, and there is an adequate supply of hot water. The transport to Opur. by train, however, still involves the monotonous trip of j near ten hours, and the first class carriage is still a disgrace and a reproach on the travelling facilities on the NewZealand raihvavs.

Among the biggest fisli caught recently were a 3301b striped inarlin by Mr. Alma Baker from the Reliance, a 3131b striped inarlin by Dr. Fenwick from the launch Valhalla, and a 3301b striped niarlin from the Katherine H by Mr. K. C. Bloomfield, of Auckland. Mr. f. LafTey landed a mnko weighing 2721b, and Mr. Lister a striped inarlin of 29J11> from the Avalon.