THREE HOURS' FIGHT.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18670, 20 April 1926, Page 7

THREE HOURS' FIGHT.

FISHERMEN'S ADVENTURE.

(special to "the presb.")

AUCKLAND, April 19,

A thrilling experience befel Messrs Bromwich and Ellis, in Mr Eric Sanderson's launch, when fishing for big game near Stephenson Island, Whangaroa. Mr Bromwioh hooked a fine specimen of a kingfish, and in the fight that ensued had the misfortune to break his rod. Such an accident would have ended many an angler's exoursion, but a little ingenuity on the part of his companion fixed the reel to the top half of the broken rod, and Mr Ellis soon had the reward of his skill and patience in hooking a huge swordfish, which at once put up a great fight, and tore off in a northerly direction, with the power-launch following it up, and Mr Ellis doing all he could to hold it with the damaged rod top. The fish soon made frantic efforts to be rid of the hooks in his mouth, and managed to do so, only to find himself engaged by them in his back In the region of the tail.

Feeling the fish still in some way secure, the intrepid fishermen hold on to their prey, and covered about ten sea miles before they were able to tire out the monster and come up with him—a fight that lasted from half past three until nearly half past six. By this time the swordfish was as exhausted as his captors, and was within a short distance of the boat, apparently tired out, when he suddenly revived, and made a bold dart with his pointer sword for-the boat, to the great danger of all therein. Little- short of a miracle caused the sword to glance off the sides instead of penetrating, or all would have been lost. To land a fish of 4281b on half a rod is a remarkably clever performance in any case, but for the fish to unhook itself, and then foul itself so securely as to make capture possible, is still more remarkable. The monster was weighed by the Whangaroa Angling Society's official weigher.