ANGLING

Southland Times, Issue 17655, 12 February 1916, Page 10

ANGLING

(By "Rod.”) During the past week weather conditions have been very changeable, consequently anglers’ operations have been materially interfered with. The main rivers—Oreti and Aparima—have not been in proper fishing order, as a result of the heavy summer showers in the back country combined with the recent cloud burst causing these rivers to come down “thick and dirty.” Anglers have long learned to place little reliance upon weather conditions!, and if olio has arranged to go fishing the best plan is to proceed with arrangements regardless of the state of wind or water —fish are not caught from tho arm-chair; all the same it cannot he denied that anglers are greatly dependent upon the weather for their sport. Private reports received state that the Oreti “is dirty, hut clearing," word lo this effect reached town at about 10 a.m. yesterday. There were no official messages referring to the late of rivers to he been at the Tourist Office at 3 p.m., consequently anglers are in iho dark at to their prospects lor week-end angling. Amateur flounder lishermen who in - dnlge in their sport at Riverton Roach, some few miles from Invercargill, report that they are making vel-y poor hauls of late. These lovely eating (ish must have deserted the beach for the present, judging hy the phenomenal catches made funin r along the coast hy other fishermen. Reports from the Waiau shite that there was mil much mmomrul during last week —that there was no particular "run.” On Saturday and Sunday nights, however, a great number were caught. Messrs Scott, Printz, Menpe-s, and others were very successful, bagging some real beauties. Mrs Mcnpes, who lias caught a fair number of trout this season, sq-

cured a bag that weighed well over double figures. In addition to several nice fish an Invercargill sport landed three largo flounders on the minnow. The fishing was interfered with to a certain ectent by the heavy rains which fell on the hills, but the river cleared in a few hours. Mr Printz's catch numbered fifteen and the weight exceeded 1 cwt. the heaviest fish weighed 14 V-lbs.

A New Plymouth fisherman had a peculiar experience recently. He was fishing from about near the "Saddle-back” Sugarioaf, and he had hooked a good specimen of the “Cloudy Bay" cod. He was about to land the capture when a large-sized barracouta came along like a torpedo and with its powerful jaws snapped off tile body of the end, leaving only the h.ead. It may not be generally known that the barracouta in New Zealand waters grows (according to the late Mr Frank Bullen) to sft and sometimes 6ft in length. It is armed with a sot of teeth often an inch long, and is indeed the “tiger of the South Seas.” The "couta” seldom, if ever, eats anything that is dead, but lakes its food from living specimens of the finny tribe. Its slender build and strong propelling power enable it to swim at a velocity that no other fish can outpace, so that Us victims have little chance of escape, unless by getting under a shelving rock or in dense seaweed.

Chatting casually with a Dunedin resident who recently enjoyed a holiday in the vicinity of the mouth of a stream a little north up the coast. I (“Jock Scott” Otago Witness) was somewhat amazed at his disclosures. He mentioned having participated in flounder netting opera - tions, which he said was great sport. "Ever catch any trout that way?" 1 asked. “My . word, yes.” he continued. “It was quite a common thing to get them up to 101b weight, and one day we got a real beauty—l4lb.“ 1 never mentioned what I thought of the business, but the incident is surely evidence as to what is going on. Flounder catching under false pretences. Undoubtedly this sort of thing is general, and it is substantial proof that the contemplated effective measures to bo undertaken by acclimatisation societies should be set in motion as early as possible to prevent an illegal practice, which is tending to deplete the rivers of the large .sea-run trout.

Last Tuesday’s fresh in the Oreti was welcomed by the angling fraternity, as the river was exceptionally low and in places a little weedy. The lowness of the river and the ralm, bright weather experienced during the past week or two resulted in small bags being secured, the majority of anglers returning home with practically empty creels and badlyfractured tempers. Reports from Dipton arc to the effect tiiat good sport is being experienced, and that a larger - number of big fish have been seen there this season than has been the case for some yours pflst. Visitors to BGninore continue to speak highly of the excellent fly-fishing to lie had in that locality. Mr W. Bryce, of the Benmore Hotel, recently landed a well-conditioned specimen which turned the scale at ojlh. The flies in regular demand are the Neil ■McKay, Otago Alder. Red Tip Governor, Black Gnat and Pomohaka. Several locai fishermen have tried night-fishing of late, hut report having mot with poor success. Better luck, however, should he met with towards the end of the present month. Last year, during the latter end of the season, some excellent bags were secured, a trout skin minnow easily proving its superiority over all other iures.—Win ton Record. The current issue of the '‘Fishing Gazette” tells the following story of a tench. It was caught at midday Sunday, put into a basin of water at 10 o’clock Sunday night, taken out next morning and packed in a dry cloth and newspaper, and posted about midday Monday to a gentleman who received it 10.45 Tuesday - morning, still alive. It completely recoverccl aftex - being in ixater an hour or two. The following letter appeared in the Winton Record of recent date. There is, from all accounts, far too much illegal fishing going on:—Sir,-—As an old angler in those parts, and one who has, during the last year or two, had serious doubts about taking out a license on account of the. dynamiter, I was pleased to see a stropgly-worded paragraph in a recent issue of your paper referring to the dynamiting of the Oreti. The matter is undoubtedly becoming serious, and it is high, time the Acclimatisation Society got to business in real earnest. Winton and district should have a splendid asset in the Oreti River from an angling standpoint, but if the dynamiter is allowed to roam at largo without let or hindrance, then so long will visiting anglers to Southland shun the river in tins part of the district. It is bad enough for the angler to have to contend against the dynamiter, but when the net Is also brought into use, as I have every reason to believe it is, then what eqxiivalcnt in sport, may I ask, does the angler get for his expenditure in the purchase of a license, tackle, etc? Comparatively little or none whatever. With your permission. Sir, I would like to advise the Society’s ranger to pay a weekend visit to the Winton Creek, where, if he has any luck, he should find poachers in plenty, with an occasional dynamiter in close attendance. Trusting that this will come under the notice of the Society.—l am, etc., District Angler,

SHARK-CATCHING- A FINE ART. (Referee, Sydney.) The subject of our shark-catching illustration is Mr G. F. P. Morgan, of Bondi, who has reduced shark-catching to a fine art. He. is an ardent sportsman, who believes in giving his prey a sporting chance, oven though it he a shark. Mr .Morgan has for some time indulged in the hobby of shark-catching by the old method, namely, meeting force with force. This, of course, is lacking in the first principles of sport, so, armed with a two-piece split cane tuna lod, fitted with a Gin Hardy reel, 600 yards of 24-cord Cnttyhnnk line (breaking strain, 4Slb), a 12/10 Barlctt hook, a long piece of piano-wire, for an cud trace, and an Soz sinker, with grappier, he decided to try bis skill single-handed, with the result shown above. Since then Mr Morgan lias, with the same gear, landed sharks over 10ft long. The point is that the majority of our rod men, who are unable, through lace, of time or money, to try their hand at the big game fish (tuna and kingfish), can obtain all the sport they could desire on almost any of our beaches by following Mr Morgan's example, besides rendering a great public service by ridding onr beaches of these monsters. Mr Morgan °rades sharks, according to their fighting abilities, as under; The Black Whaler, an easy first; is fast and strong, and game up to the last. 1 lie Blue and Grev Pointers are also rattling good fighters. The Grey Nurse is not so good, and the Wohbigong no good. The saark season starts with the salmon about the middle of October, and extends to the ond of Pecemher, during which they can be caught on any of onr beaches on a clear, calm night. A 20ft or 4Oft cast into sft or Git of water is finite snfficient. Salmon is the best bait, but, lailinr that, mullet will do. r ihe weight of a shark of fair size runs from 200 to 500 His. so one can see tlie great skill and care required in landing the fish through the surf and backwash on line, the breaking strain of which is -ISlb. ,