Fish On Line For 32 Hours

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31584, 23 January 1968, Page 1

Fish On Line For 32 Hours

(N.Z. Press Association) TAURANGA, Jan. 22. After fighting a game fish in Mayor Island waters for nearly 32 hours, Mr D. Heatley, of Taupo, lost his quarry when the double of his tackle broke just short of the trace tonight. The fish was lost at 11.15 p.m. after leading the Tauranga launch Abalone In a fight over many sea miles. The skipper of the Abalone, Mr C. Jack, was disconsolate

when he reported the loss on behalf of an exhausted crew.

He also reported that all stores aboard the Abalone had been consumed during the long battle at sea. ONE SIGHTING Mr Jack said he believed that the fish was a broadbill. The party aboard the Abalone had momentarily seen a “thick sword” as the fish took the bait at 3.20 p.m. on Sunday. He believed that no other billfish would have had the stamina for such a long battle. The fish, lost some miles outside the Aidermen Islands, was hooked north-east of Mayor Island. During its chase after the fish the Abalone travelled on a roundabout route as far as the Aiderman Islands, more than 20 miles from the point where the strike was made.

Although a few times during the marathon battle the fish was brought to within the length of the double tackle—about 20 yards from the boat—it was not identified because it was dark. Each time the fish made a renewed burst and sounded. REST PERIODS

It rested very deep for periods of up to 30 minutes and then renewed the battle fighting in a way that has conserved Mr Heatley’s strength. The continued great strength of the fish led to speculation on its type and where it was hooked. One popular theory was that the fish was foul-hooked, perhaps in a fin or on the tail. Mr Heatley, a solicitor, wore out several pairs of gloves. The progress of the fight, reported each hour by radio from the launch, was followed with considerable interest by other fishermen. Mr T. Aston, secretary of the New Zealand Big Game Fishing Association, said in Auckland today: “No records are kept of the longest time taken to land a fish. “I have heard of anglers taking 12 hours to land a fish, but this long is unheard of

in my experience. It sounds as if he could have a whopper on the end of his line.” NIGHT WATCH At 10.30 p.m. tonight, Mr Jack reported that the fish appeared to be tiring, that the double tackle had been sighted several times, but that the boat crew had not been able to handle the trace. After Mr Jack reported the loss one of the first messages

■of consolation came from the Whitianga-based game fishing launch Yellowfin, which was fighting a broadbill swordfish in the same area. The Yellowfin, with a woman angler, Mrs Lila Langton, of Mount Roskill, in the chair, was settling down for a night watch over its quarry. The Yellowfin advised the Abalone that it was in sight and asked for sea room as its fish headed east-north-east.