HUNTING THE TUNA.

Southland Times, Issue 20831, 20 July 1929, Page 3

HUNTING THE TUNA.

To the Editor. Sir, —“Angler” is quite correct in stating that the proper time for giving these a proper try-out with any prospect of success would be during the summer months — November to the end of January—for during the autumn and winter the majority of our sea going trout have returned up the various rivers prior to spawning, and possibly most of the salt water fish have left for deeper water for a similar purpose. In the Waiau, Aparima and Oreti I have caught fish marked or gashed deeply underneath b" the rentral fin. The wounds had a marked similarity in all cases, so that one might rightly assume the same source or enemy was the cause and this I have always attributed to that wolf of the sea, which hunt in packs like dogs—the Barracuda. I have often wondered if these wounded fish were driven to seek sanctuary into the fresh water as easement to the sting of the brine in their wounds. If a salmon or trout had been seized by such a powerful fish as the tuna, shark or kingfish that would be the end of it, for it would have been bitten clean in two. Groper have often been taken thus wise at Stewart Island. The mouth of the Waiaa or Tewaewac Bay from Orepuki to Blue Cliff would be ideal fishing ground for tuna, but lacks safe anchorage and so could only be tried out under favourable weather conditions. For this reason the water adjacent to Riverton beach between the Oreti and Aparima would perhaps be most convenient, ensuring safe anchorage at nightfall, for remember you cannot expect to go out and get a strike much less catch a tuna every day or even every week. They cannot do this even in the north. From the Bluff fishing outside Dog Island, along the beach at Waituna up to Mataura mouth should also hold fair prospects. Two years ago Messrs Pasco had in their shops two or three kingfish caught hereabouts, and doubtless where they are so may be their bigger brethren the tuna or swordfish. There remains the question of bait a vital question here, not so much in northern waters where acres of shoaling mullet or kahawhai are always. available. Our common grey mullet are neither large enough nor available when wanted and I would suggest falling back on the red cod, which can usually be secured in sufficient numbers about the wharf or the fishing grounds proposed to be worked. I hope if a trial be given that it be no half-hearted affair, for “dogged does it.”—l am, etc.,

RED SPINNER