LURE OF THE KINGFISH

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1941, 26 December 1913, Page 7

LURE OF THE KINGFISH

-•&— — A POPULAR SPORT. BRITISH ANGLERS AT BAY OF ISLANDS. (By Telegraph— Special Correspondent.) Auckland, December 25. The lure of the kinglish, the most sporting of all fish in Australasia, is upon many anglers, and they are off to the Bay of Islands, whero tho kingfisli Hashes from below rooks to chase tho hapless piner and occasionally swallows a hook or'an artificial bait by mistake. Kingfishing grips anglers so much that, a number of gentlemen como annually from England for lore of this fish "alone.- Most of tho tourists spend tho early weeks of tho year at Russell, and betako themselves to Taupo about March. To have a good on tho lino means anything up to an hour's sport, and tho habits of tho fish, enhance tho pleasure of contriving his destruction, lie lies under tho rocky shelves of islands, and tho sportsman cruises round tho islands in a launch and in and out of bays. Russell,is a specially delightful spot for tho angler, for not only is the kingfish found thero as plentifully as any- • whero, but trevalli and almost all other fish abound. Other grounds for r.ho kincrfish are tho Hen and Chickens, the Great Barrier, tho Mercuries, and the Poor Knights (off Whangaruni). _ Kingfishing is becoming increasingly popular, and the.ro has been a very brisk sale in Auckland this year of-the necessary tackle. The season is from Christmas till the end of June. It is an excellent table fish, it varies in length from 2ft. to 4ft. Gin., and in weight from lolb. to 701b. Tho record catch last vcar was 721b., and catches of up to 40lb. have been reported this year. ■ A heavy line "baited with a fish sprat was tho accepted method of catching the kingfish for many years, then came English sportsmen with a light line, that looked liko a thread and a long flexible rod, and they wont out on the water around Capo Brett, near Nmopm Rock, or off the Black Rocks, seeking kingfish. Tho knowing ones smiled, their surmises were correct, the reels broke, anil tho fish got away. Nothing daunted, other tacklo was selected by the sportsmen, a tarpon lino took the placo of tho silk line, reels measuring Biin. replaced others, traces of pianc-wirc wcro fitted, and then the knowing ones gradually acknowledged the success of the tactics. ' , , Stories were told m New Zealand, 'Australia, and London clubs, and interest world-wido in extent developed in the oxciting sport provided by a good fish fighting desperately for upwards ot an hour. Favourable- comparisons wcro made between the sport at the Bay of Islands and tho tarpon fishing of Catalena and California, Tho only trouble of late years has beon to find enough launches for tho New Zealanders, Americans, Australians, and Englishmen who delight in a pastime that needs nerve, skill, good tackle, and consider; ablo physical endurance. Last year the catches must have totalled some 400 fish, and there aro indications that tin's year's gathering of anglers at the Bay of Islands from outside countries will eclipse all former records.