ROD AND LINE

Waikato Times, Volume 123, Issue 20693, 31 December 1938, Page 22 (Supplement)

ROD AND LINE

IMPROVING WEATHER PROSPECTS FOR JANUARY INTEREST IN SURF-FISHING (By “Irideus”) With one of the worst Christmas seasons, as far as weather is concerned. now behind us. the question uppermost in the angler's mind is: What is the New Year weather going to be like? At the moment of writing. prospects appear brighter than since the season opened, and though it is always possible to go wrong in tin prediction of Waikato conditions, on* 1 might be forgiven a slight excess of optimism. By the law of averages alone, we are entitled to expect some improvement and at least a rise in temperature and if these conditions ar** fulfilled then sport should be better and certainly more sportsmen will be found abroad. Fish In Condition In the writer’s opinion, sport after the New Year is invariably more enjoyable than at any time before that. In the early stages of the season, the trout in most localities are not in the best of condition and the weather is likely to be mixed, to put it mildly. At Christmas time, again, the accent is on Christmas cheer and angling is usually a general obbligato to holiday relaxation. After the end of the year, anglers are free to concentrate more fully on their sport, the weather is usually better and the fish in better fettle. At the same time, in the first weeks of the year there is still a fair measure of the season left and there is consequently not that frenzied rush to the water, that angling

against time which characterises the Easter break, the last big offensive of the season. To all anglers, therefore, we repeat our good wishes for better luck in 1039, no broken lines and good sport generally.

Surf-fishing Activity An interesting piscatorial development this summer has been the increased interest shown in surf-fishing in the Auckland province. A leading Hamilton tackle-dealer reports a substantial increase in the demand for surf rods and gear to match and it is stated that numbers of holiday makers on both east and west coasts have been abandoning the old style of heavy handlines and sinkers in favour of the surf-casting outfit.

I think mention has already been made in this column of the fun which awaits those who care to pioneer the sport of surf-fishing in this country. The coastal waters of New Zealand from the Three Kangs to the Bluff, teem with sporting fish and there is every reason to suppose that the sport which can be had in the coastal waters of South Africa and the United States (both in the Atlantic and Pacific) can be equalled here. Our deep-sea fishing has left all other countries (with the possible exception of Nova Scotia, where tunny are to be obtained in large numbers) far behind and the fighting quality of the smaller fish to be obtained in the coastal waters can be attested by any who have handled kawhai, kingfish or barracouta on a hand-line. Fine Fighting Fish The sea-fish does not mind a thick line and heavy trace and he is by no means gut-shy as some trout are, but a sizeable kawhai or barracouta can put up a fight which compares favourably with that offered by the most sporting of freshwater fish.

Sea-angling of this kind has been a favourite sport in England and the west coast of Ireland for many years and there are numbers of anglers’ associations in the Old Country solely devoted to the sport of surf and rock angling. Special outfits have been evolved by the principal tackle manufacturers and definite rules and regulations governing the sport have been

codified. The great tunny of tile North Sea have, of course, come greatly into favour as game fish in the last few years, but it is interesting to note that a relative of the tunny, the humble mackerel, has been regarded by many sea-fishermen of Great Britain for many years, as the best fighting fish that swims—in sea or freshwater. Surf-fishing in New Zealand should have an interesting future, in the writer's opinion and re- ! suits of holiday experiments will be : awaited with some eagerness.

Even though one could not expect such spectacular achievements Tiave been staged in South Africa, where a shark weighing almost a ton was landed by rod and line from the beach (using a petrol-tin float), Auokland province surl-fishing should give those anglers who are dragged to the seaside by their families some escape from monotony.

Keeping Ferrule-plugs The misfortune of an acquaintance who, through the loss of a ferruleplug, inadvertently dented the ferrule of the middle joint of his split-cane, draws attention to the importance of taking good care of ferrule-plugs, j The best tip of all, to my mind, is not to take them from -the rod-case at jail. The traditional prartire is to un--1 plug the rod when it is out. of the j case, putting the plugs in the pocket loi the fishing-coat. The latter is in I most cases hardly in good repair and I too many plugs have gone to oblivion | through a hole in a pocket. When ' taking splices from the rod case, hold | the plugs firmly through the fabric, !si that they remain in the end of 1 ttic hag. There they will he in no j danger of getting lost or mislaid, and ! ferrules will not suffer in conse- ! qucnce.