Hemingway Thought He Had Trouble

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30499, 22 July 1964, Page 8

Hemingway Thought He Had Trouble

(New Zealand Press Association)

WHANGAREI, July 20. For boating a 3731 b black marlin in difficult circumstances Mr F. Cotterill, of Whangarei, has been awarded the famous fishing trophy, the Old Man and the Sea Cup. The Whangarei Deep Sea Angler’s Club recommendation on which the New Zealand Big Game Fishing Council made the award, reads: “On Febrary 29, Mr Cotterill was fishing from his launch Jeanette in the vicinity of the Pinnacles. With him were two women and a boy. About 3.30 p.m. a black marlin struck and almost im-

mediately the launch engine stalled. “While the women attempted to start the engine the marlin continued to take line. Other boats, unaware of the strike, ran over the line adding to the difficulties. When eventually the engine was started almost all line was out and it was necessary to work extremely close to rocks to recover the line. With some line back on the spool an attempt was made to manoeuvre to play the fish. At this stage the steering chain broke. “The women steered with an improvised tiller about four inches long. To do this they were constantly in the way of the angler. Meanwhile the throttle was controlled by the boy, who also gave steering instructions to the women. After a fight lasting over four hours the fish was brought to gaff after dark and in a lumpy sea. The launch had been pierced by the black marlin’s spear. “The fish was taken on an 80-pound line.” Boy’s Big Catch Yesterday, 15-year-old John Price, of Kama, landed an 801 b kingfish in the Tutukaka harbour. John, the son of J. Price, first holder of the Old Man and the Sea Cup, took the fish on 50-pound line and landed it in a six-foot pram dinghy after a 45-minute struggle that took him and his friend, Alan Going, round the harbour. The big yellowtail is certainly a junior national record catch and probably an open one.