After Australia's Big Fish

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 136, 11 June 1938, Page 6 (Supplement)

After Australia's Big Fish

SYDNEY. IN spite of the provision of a number of valuable trophies as prizes, and publicity all over the world, the incredibly large monsters which some world-famous anglers considered to be lurking around the Australian coast, if they do exist, have been proof against all inducements to earn fame for those who have spent months hunting them, and the results achieved have been almost negligible.

ByEdward Samuel

Ae a publicity medium for big-game tingling in Australian waters, the bigjraine competition is likely to do more harm than good. The Preee haa been silent on the subject for months, and no pictures of man-eating slearks or lmge inarlin have been featured. While etill cf the opinion that New Zealand remains and will remain supreme in this branch of eport, there muet ]"• eome reason why the last eeaeon has been so poor in Australia. Many who profess to know consider an offshore cold etream has been the cause. The strange part of it is that competitors have been unusually vociferous iibout "the ones that got awey." In fact, if the estimates even verge on the fringe of accuracy fish of unprecedented r'ize have been eeen—but not caught. There have, of course, been many humorous incidents; for instance, the biggest marlin in the ocean—reported to weigh 12261b—came aehore at Twofold Bay to have a rope tied to hU tail. Evidently he was "the" big fellow that

got away and was tired of being talked iihout. The really interesting feature is the "estimated" weight of this fish. There wi'ii' no weighing facilities available at all. and the ready reckoners were waiting their time. They ehotlld have been at the Kny-al Show, guessing the weight of the fat bullock. Quito the most humorous incident, which is true, is that of an angler iiehinj; off Sydney Heads, near Manly. After trolling for a while the angler got fast to something really big, which fought and rolled and squirmed with incredible vigour. With the gold cup well in sight the angler used all possible caution and skill. The sea was rough and there was .in incoming tide and a strong underlow. The fight lasted an hour, and if it had got away the catch would havegone down in the annals of history However, no such disaster occurred, and finally the captive was landed—an i-nonnoiiK round pumpkin! In spite of the poor record of this year there are many anglere who are still confident that these waters hold tho higgest game fish. They may do, which after Xew Zealand experience in fill weathers I very much doubt, but tliis much is certain: there has been no real movement to organise the sport .is li:»rs been the case in the Dominion. Apart from talk, few facilities have been provided no launches especially equipped for game fwdiing have been built, and there are very few expert liiimtiiien anywhere along the coaet who know the run of the ropes. The main factor against comfortable deep-sea angling oil the Australian •oast is the lack of shelter. There is little or none except the Harrier Reef, and fishing off the coast of New South Waliv means a rough, a very rough time, which only appeals to a very few. A resume indicates that New Zealand has got the "inns on the board," and although it i<? quite possible that with jvneral organisation excellent fishing, sharks in particular, will be i.btaiiiiiblo off the coast, nevertheless as :i world magnet Xew Zealand supremacy v likely to remain unchallenged. Australia, if she desires to feature as •i happy hunting ground for the sportsman in search of good deep-sea fishing, -hoiilil alter her tactics and feature the great Barrier Reef. There is excellent shelter there, numerous islands where good camping facilities are available, a wonderful winter climate and a pl'Mitifnl supply of fish, from the large lighting Spanish mackerel to giant sailllsh. Moreover, the *ca«un in Queensland oilers sport when it is available nowhere At the time of writing there is only one day left to complete the competition. The,nig prize for the largest shark created keen interest, and for several months Mr. K. K. Hullcn was at the head of the poll with a tiger shark weighing S2.">ll>. but within two days of the end of the competition Mr. T. A. Hell, a well-known Melbourne angler. landed a tiger shark oh* P.ennagui weighing 11511b. The tiger, of course, is not a game fish. This specimen was 12ft JSin long, eclipsing by a little over 1001b the specimen captured by Mr. Zane Grey off Sydney Head* in IO.'JO. The results among the marlin have been poor, and the heaviest striped marlin captured to date only weighs 3:501b, the heaviest game fish caught by Mrs. J. Sands, of Ulladulla. It is interesting that a woman should have achieved the distinction of winning this ,f")00 prize against allcomers. If Mrs. Sands wins, Mr. C. Stewart, of Sydney, will win £100 prize for a 2141b striped, as Mrs. Sands can only win one prize. Mr. Clive W. Firth established a new record by his capture of a kingfish weighing BSlb. Thie is the heaviest game fish caught 'in Australian waters on a N'o. 12 cord line, and Mr. Firth therefore led in this section.