BIG-GAME FISHING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21462, 8 April 1933, Page 8

BIG-GAME FISHING

REMARKABLE CATCHES ENGLISHMAN'S SUCCESSES NEARLY SIXTEEN TONS [BY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT J RUSSELL. Friday Of the many anglers from the Dominion and overseas who visit the Bay of Islands for the purpose of biggame fishing, probably none is keener on the sport or more persistent in its pursuit than Mr. H. White-Wickham. This angler has recently completed his eighth season fishing these waters, and is perhaps more enthusiastic than ever in his praise of the sport to be obtained, which is, be declares, unsurpassed in any part of the world. As he himself phrases it, "if there were better fishing grounds I should go there, but there are not." During his stay of over two months this year at Deep Water Cove, Mr. White-Wickham has landed 41 biggame fish—this is his highest number in any one season. Of this number 18 were striped marlins, 18 mako sharks, four hammerheads and one black mariin. The total weight was 92131b. which was, however, exceeded by him once before, in 1927-8, when the total weight of the 40 fish caught was 10,7561b. Since his first visit in 1921-2 the aggregate weight of game fish falling to his rod amounts to 35,8101b., or nearly 16 tons. This is exclusive of the numerous reremais, blue-sharks and kmgfish, none of which rank as game fish. * Another outstanding feature of Mr. White-Wickham's fishing is the fact that in landing all these large fish he has never broken either a rod or a j; ne — an( l one wonders whether this does not in itself constitute a world's record. Of actually proved world's records he holds two, namely, heaviest broadbill, 6731b., caught January 9, 1928, and heaviest mako, 7981b., caught January 23, 1931. Past Season.'•Favourable The past season has been a very fine one for fishing, in Mr. White-Wick-bam's opinion. A few days have not been good —the seas being rough—but on the whole it has been excellent. More schooling fish have been seen than in any previous season —also more striped marlins than erer before. Both marlins and makos, though so plentiful, have averaged lower weights than in otl\er seasons. Fishing almost exclusively this year in the vicinity of Cape Brett and Bird Rock, his method has been to troll to and frojn the grounds, but for the rest of the time drifting has been mostly resorted to. Generally speaking, the latter js more productive—because all kinds of game fish go for the bait, including both species of marlin, makos, threshers, and hammerheads —whereas in trolling practically only the marlins respond to the lure of the tarparinos. Howevgr, a mako has been known to take a fancy to them. Of all the fish he has caught, the most symmetrical mako was the then world's record of 4421b., caught January 19, 1922. Need for Reliable Gear The reason given for Mr. WhiteWickham's immunity from accident with his rods, reels and lines lies in the fact that he uses only gear specially made for him, which he considers the finest ever produced, but of course expensive. Using the same gear, however, year after year, reduces its real cost and gives the user just the same pleasure and satisfaction as a wellmade and well-fitting gun does to the shooting man. The angler's favourite two rods have now been in use for the last cbree seasons. These are both steelcentred, but although they have caught 17,1431b. of game fish, they show no sign of wear or tear, and are as straight as the day they came from the maker's works. After a serious illness of some months, which prevented him from coming to the Dominion last season, Mr. White-Wickham has greatly benefited by this year's tour. He leaves for England by the Rangitane on April 10, and has already booked his return passage for next season's fishing. He will leave Southampton on November 15 by the Rangitata, arriving in New Zealand on December 19 next. BAY OP ISLANDS CATCHES NEW YORK VISITOR'S SUCCESS [from our own correspondent] RUSSELL. Friday An average of six fish a week has been recorded by Dr. G. Pierce, of New York, who has been fishing from the Zane Grey camp in the launch Rosemary, and has now finished his seven weeks' stay. During the seven weeks Dr. Pierce caught 34 swordfish and eight mako sharks. The total weight of his catches, 10,5531b., is easily the best performance of any angler at the Bay of Islands this season.