SWORDFISH AND MAKO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18942, 13 February 1925, Page 8

SWORDFISH AND MAKO

SPORT AT MAYOR ISLAND, SOME LARGE FISH LANDED. ENTHUSIASTIC VISITORS. [B3T TELEGR ArH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TAURANGA. Thursday. News received from Mayor Island this morning states that the first swordfish of the season wore captured in those waters this week. Tho fish fought, gamely, as only this species can fight. So far four swordfish and one mako shark have been secured, while several swordfish escaped after being hooked. Mr. A. S. Butler, of London, and Mr. V. S. Bennett, of St. Johns, Newfoundland, who visited Mayor Island this week, returned to Tauranga last night. They fished for a half-day on Tuesday, and for a full day on Wednesday, securing two swordfish and one rnako shark. The swordfish weighed 3001b. and 4301b. respectively, while the mako shark was 1701b. The shark was hooked on Tuesday, and fought gamely for 40 minutes beforo it was killed. It possessed a formidable set of teeth, which the sportsmen aro retaining as trophies. When out on Wednesday Messrs. Butler and Bennett caught two swordfidi, the smaller weighing 3001b. It fought for a quarter of an hour. Many times it leaped right out of tho water. On other occasions it assumed an upright position, propelling itself by the tail and shaking its head vigorously while so poised in endeavours to rid it-self of tho hook. Eventually this fish was drawn close to the launch and harpooned. In the afternoon the sportsmen secured a great prize in the shape of a swordfish weighing 4301b. This was a magnificent specimen and fought strenuously for 65 minutes. After tho fish was hooked, the launch followed it for about two miles. The swordfish adopted similar fighting tactics to the one secured earlier in tfie day and broke tho surface about twenty times between periods of sounding. Tho difficulties of landing the fish were intensified by tho rod cracking but Mr. Butler eventually brought it within harpooning range, after which it was drawn aboard. The party hooked two other swordfish. One of these was held for a minute before breaking away and the other got its liberty after struggling for six minutes. The visitors characterised the sport as remarkably fine. They have both fished the famed tarpon waters off Florida, but this is their first experience of swordfishing. They said they would have no hesitation in recommending the swordfishing sport to their friends. They declared that it is equal to tarpon fishing. They left to-day for Taupo to test the trout fishing there before they return home. Another party is fishing at Mayor Island. They secured a swordfish on Tuesday and another on Wednesday, the weights being approximately 3501b. and 380ib. Yesterday they hooked two swordfish simultaneously. The lines fouled and one fish escaped while the other was lauded.