New Launch To Be Based In Tauranga For Big Game Fishing At Mayor Island

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 14883, 21 January 1949, Page 3

New Launch To Be Based In Tauranga For Big Game Fishing At Mayor Island

ADOPTION of AMERICAN FEATURES IN SPECIAL DESIGN BY OWNER

Considerable interest is being’ shown in a new launch, fitted with American type outriggers, which is moored to Peroration Pier, This launch, the Sou-East, is the property of Mr P. Wilkins, of Tauranga. The beat, the hull of wh.' the Lane Motor Boat Co. to IV on his previous experience wh completed and internally ntte

ich was built in Auckland by [r Wilkins’ own design, based ih big-game fishing boats, was I by the owner.

The Sou-East is 37 ft. 6 ins. in . has an 11 ft. 4 in. beam and jeng h has . g fitted with twin screws and rudders and has tW inn h d St. Lawrence Mercury Sine" The engines, which are nSdm the stern in fire and soundEroofed compartments are mounted SJ rubber to reduce vibration. Mr wit kins thinks that his is the first boat of any size in New Zealand to have these features. With plenty of head space below Jcl the Sou-East will s eep seven, ? e very comfortably set out and incorporates such facilities as refrigerator and venet.un blinds in the day cabin. This arrangement enures that those oi the party who wish to stay in the cabin do net miss anything that may happen at th TheSou-East has done some fishing in Bay oi Islands and Barrier waters recently but she is registered fm and will operate from Tauranga A the remainder of the season. American game fishing launches have been usi'ng the outi iggei svstem for some years past but it has only comparatively recently been adopted by Australian and New Zealand fishermen. The outriggers were tried in the Bay of Plenty by Michael Berner’s expedition but as they met with little success they were abandoned; however Mr Wilkins has evo.ved a system of baiting-up which makes a considerable difference to the success of the scheme. A Temporary Fitting

The outriggers on the Sou-East were said Mr Wilkins, a temporary fitting ror trial in these waters. Thevhad been installed by himself at an approximate cost of £2O. When fishing with ■ outriggers the line is fastened with a very L'ght cord and run to the top of the outrigger which can be adjusted to. any angle up to 40 degrees. When the fish takes the bait the light cord breaks and the fish can be played in the usual manner. In describing the system Mr Wilkins said that this method of fishing did not detract in any way from the pleasure or skill involved, in fact, he remarked, the fisherman could watch in comfort from the interior of the cabin on an excessively hot or co d day and on a strike could go out and take the line in a state worthy to meet the combat with the fish. While the fisherman was in the cabin, said Mr Wilkins, a light drag

could be placed cn the line so that there was no danger of losing the equipment in the event of a fish taking the line. With this method there was no need to stike the fish, commented Mr Wilkins and two men could fish in comfort at the same time. He also remarked that where other boats fished with the intention cf making one catch at a time he fished to take two at a time where possible. This he said was made more possible because the twin screws and rudders made the boat extremely manoeuverable and it was therefore easier to follow the runs of the fish. Touris; Trade

Mr Wilkins pointed out that the fitting of the outriggers did not necessarily interfere with the old type of fishing which had been used for so long in New Zealand but, he said, this country had fishing grounds equal to those anywhere in the world and while American trade was a profitable project, boats, equipment and all-round service must be J sf the standards that the tc m ist was accustomed to in his own country. The Americans, he pointed cut, paid good money but in return expected the best service.

That the Americans were becoming interested fn New Zealand fishing was proved by the Anderson expedition and the coming of other m.a’iOs to rms country. h !j s-ucl but the excessive ccst of bringing out their own tackle was proving a discouraging factor. When he Questioned the American tourists he said they had told him that the Sou-East compared favourably with any boat of the same size operating in American waters. He had, stated Mr Wilkins, incorporated in the, design cf the SouEast many features for the increase of the comfort of the fishermen. These included wAe --tight compartments around the fuel tanks to prevent fumes in case of leakage, nd me installation of small pumps to pass cold water through the bait boxes, which were set in the stern c f the boat, keeping the bait fresh and the smell down.

For this season, during which he intends to fish Mayor Island waters, Mr Wilkins has about £SOO worth of tackle, including a reel of his own design. At fhe conclusion of the season it i’s his intention to return to Auckland to refit the outriggers and to complete the fitting of the interior of the boat in preparation for next season. .