FIGHTING SWORDFISH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18973, 26 March 1924, Page 6

FIGHTING SWORDFISH

SPORT AT RUSSELL. KEEN SYDNEY SPORTSMEN. SOME EXCITING STRUGGLES. Three Sydney sportsmen, wne havu been deep-sea fishing at th 0 Bsy of Islands, speak in enthusiastic terms of their experiences with tho rod during their mouth’s sojourn in northern waters. Mr. John Falkiner, who, with Messrs. H. A. Mawhiney and J. W. Hayes, returned to Auckland from Russell on Saturday, stated that it was his second swordfishing expedition to the Bay of Islands in two years. To anyone unacquainted with the fighting powers of the mako shark and swordfish, he said, jthe sport in northern New Zealand waten would come a g a revelation. During the past month,’Mr. Falkiner continued, five parties, including his own, were operating at the Bay of Islands, and during that time approximately 30 mako sharks and swordfish wer c landed. His own party, acting in conjunction with a party of Napier sportsmen, accounted for ten swordfish and seven mako sharks, the former ranging in weight from 1901 b. to 3191 b., and the latter from 2001 b. to 3291 b. The swordfish invariably put up tremendous fights, affording sport unprecedented in his experience. The shortest time in which any swordfish was landed by the party was three-quarters of an hour, while one beautiful specimen fought for 3J hours before it was brought on board the launch. The mako sharns fought less enduringly, but it was never less than half an hour, and sometimes one and a-half hours before they gave in.

Th e sustained excitement of following a swordfish on the rod for seven or eight mile B out to sc?., accompanied by the continuous fighting tactics of the fish for two or three hours, must be experienced to be properly appreciated, Mr. Falkiner declared. It was a magnificent sight to see huge swordfish leaping Bft. out of the water, and repeating the exhibition some 15 times before finally relinquishing the struggle. Mr. Falkiner was also enthusiastic regarding the schnapper fishing to bo obtained in the Bay of Islands- On one occasion he and his friends carefully timed their operation, and found that in the space of 40 minutes they had landed 2Jcwt. of schnapper with only two rods. The fish went up to 201 b. on the scale, and werc .to be obtained in such abundance that he could casly believe a man would be badly mauled If he were to attempt swimming through a school of such larg e h®h. These schnapper attacked the bait viciously, and afforded excellent sport in themselves- Some ot the fish were beautiful specimens, and would be worth Is. 6d per lb. wholesale in Sydney. The party from Sydney had lite base at Deep Water Cove, which is 14 miles from Russell and only half a mile from the fishing grounds. The weather was fairly favourable during their stay. Though tho largo fish were plentiful, it was sometimes three or four days before they wonld be encountered, Mr. Falkiner added. He spoke favourably of the launch facilities at the disposal of visitors, and said that serviceable launches with keen boatmen were always available, while splendid bait, such a B kahawai, was obtainable in abundance. Kingfish, too, were very plentiful, specimens ranging from 401 - to 601 b, ia weight.