EASILY DONE

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30365, 14 February 1964, Page 2

EASILY DONE

The 1964 “Coral Queen” of the Great Barrier Reef, Miss Denise Flockhart, aged 19, yesterday caught an 181 b salmon in the sui’f near the mouth of the Rakaia river. The salmon is being smoked in a Christchurch smokehouse. Miiss Flockhart hopes to collect it to take home to Brisbane when she passes' through Christchurch on her return trip from Queenstown. She beached the salmon with little assistance from a friend ait 8.20 a.m. after a 20-tmiinu'te tussle with a borrowed rod.

In Queensland Miiss Flockhart had confined her fishing to sea-angling for sweet-lip-ped coral trout and red emperor which abound in the tropical waters. “I had heard so much about South Island quinruat salmon and the fight they put up, I

was determined to catch one,” she said. _____ “I dodged my chaperon at the hotel at 4 am. yesterday. “Someone told me about one-diay visitors’ licences-, so I armed myself with one of these to keep on the right side of the law. “I borrowed one of your big cane rods and headed off for the Rakaia. “The catch made the happiest morning’s fishing of my life.” Miss Flockharfs salmon was one of 10 caught at or near the Rakaia mouth in two hours soon after daybreak. When she obtained her strike the salmon ran for about 70 yards with her line before she gained control. On her return to Australia she hopes to induce her family and friends to come to New Zealand on a salmon fishing holiday. “I’ll convince them of the wonders of Rakaia salmon fishing when I give them some of. my smoked 18pounder to eat,” she said.