DEEP-SEA ANGLERS WORRIED OVER TUNA

Press, Volume C, Issue 29436, 11 February 1961, Page 10

DEEP-SEA ANGLERS WORRIED OVER TUNA

The Press” Special Service

AUCKLAND, February 10. Deep-sea anglers who fish at Mercury Bay are concerned at the commercial interest being taken in tuna fishing. They have been approached by a canning company wishing to buy samples of tuna for canning experiments. Tuna fishing this year in particular has become a feature of Mercury Bay fishing. Sportsmen say that where there may not be marlin about there is usually a chance to pick up a tuna. One prominent angler from

Palmerston North said yesterday that, pound for pound, tuna gave as exciting fishing as the larger fish.

He said that it has not yet been definitely established whether the tuna have always been present in Mercury Bay waters and were not caught because the wrong lure and tackle were being used, or whether they have come into the area in greater numbers in recent months.

Since January 2 this year, 92 tuna totalling 5375 lb have been caught at Mercury Bay. The largest, caught by Mr L R. Dale, of Whitianga, weighed

77 lb. The average weight was more than 58 lb.

In the same period last year five tuna were caught and 111 were caught in the whole season.

The president of the Mercury Bay Game Fishing Club, Mr A. Black, and other resident deep sea anglers, believes that additional knowledge regarding lures and light tackle is responsible for the large increase.

Most of the tuna caught this year has been smoked. It is regarded as a delicacy. Sportsmen would not like to see the tuna being caught by trawlers which, they believe, would soon deplete the area and would djvest New Zealand of an overseas tourist attraction.