BIG-GAME FISHING

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 36, 12 February 1936, Page 9

BIG-GAME FISHING

3S TEW SOUTH WALES

SPORT

A SUCCESSFUL SEASON

EXCITING ENCOUNTERS

(From "The Post's' Representative.) SYDNEY, February 5.

Big-game fishing off the New South Wales coast has received a fillip from the visit ol Mr. Zane Grey, but the presence of from 30 to 40 Sydney and Melbourne sportsmen and numerous catches show that the sport has been permanently established in Australian waters. It is only five years since the first swordfish was hooked, and such progress has been made that it is certain that sword-fishing during January, February, and March has been addea to the attractions which New South Wales can offer tourists. The fishing grounds comprise a stretch of about 100 miles of coastline from Narooma, 230 miles south of Sydney, to Eden, near the Victorian border. A few miles'south of Narooma and north of Bermagui, Zane Grey's headquarters, is Montague Island, a barren spot in the Pacific/and it is in the waters within a few miles of this islet, inhabited by only a lighthouse staff, that most of the sword-fishing is done. Zane Grey caught the first marlin of the season, but he beat by only ten minutes Dr. G. M. Faithful, who has been trying for several years to catch one. Mrs. Venour Nathan, a Sydney society woman, one of the . swordfishing pioneers, also had a success. Zane Grey has caught ten or so, the largest weighing 4801b, but a Victorian, Mr. E. ,Tolhurst, eclipsed this by 111b. At least two larger swordfish have been hooked, but. not landed, one by Grey himself and another by Mr. J. Bowen, a member of a party organised by Mr. C. R. Lyne, of Melbourne, who has done more than anyone else in Australia to make the sport flourish. here. A BLACK MARLIN. Mr. Bowen hooked a black marlin estimated to weigh as much as 8001b while fishing off Montague Island. Members of the party saw the marlin cruising about closely followed by a big mako shark. The tail fin of the marlin was protruding about three feet from the water, and. the fishermen were amazed when they saw its size as it passed close to the launch. A bait was set for it, but was immediately charged by the shark. It was jerked away and thrown towards the swordfish again. Eventually the swordfish sighted the "leasers" trolled behind the launch to attract fish, and made a charge at one of them. • The boatman quickly hauled the "teaser" in, and Mr. Bowen reeled in his line until it was just ahead of the swordfish. The swordfish seized the bait, and darted off again. In a few moments between 300 and 400 yards of line had been taken out. An exciting encounter then took place between the angler and the fish, which leapt from the water on several occasions, and displayed a remarkable burst of speed. Meanwhile the mako shark was seen cruising about as if in search of the swordfish. Then the shark was seen to bite the line. Members of the party declared upon their return to Bermagui that they were convinced that the swordfish and shark were. companions, and had been hunting food together. They thought the shark had deliberately bitten through the line to liberate its companion. Last weekend witnessed a dozen successes by parties from the three swordfishing centres—Narooma, Bermagui, and Eden —between which there is great rivalry to win the coveted honours of most fish and the heaviest