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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 3, Issue 6 (October 1, 1928)

How to catch a Swordfish

How to catch a Swordfish.

Now, how is a swordfish caoght with rod and line? The bait used is a kahawai or a young kingfish. The angler, of course, fishes from a launch which is fitted up with every conceivable contrivance for the capture of the big fish. The launchmen, who are experts at the game, always show considerable skill with their boats, especially when once a fish is hooked. Here, it is interesting to note that a swordfish, after being hooked, invariably heads off in a northerly direction.

This is where an angler has to exercise his patience as he may have to play his prize for one hour, or even up to four or five hours, as the case may be.

The angler sits in a comfortable swivelled chair in the cockpit of the launch, and it is here page 50 that he experiences thrills which he is never likely to forget. The following is just one such experience of an angler who had hooked a swordfish:—

The swordfish was one of the long slim ones of the marlin kind, and was so swift in his leaps that it was found impossible to train the camera on him. And the fish was so strong that the angler could just barely stay with him by running the launch at full speed.

It was bright sunlight at the time, with just a ripple on the dark blue sea. The marlin, green on the back and striped across his silver-white sides, blazed in the air. He cracked the water like pistol shots in his frantic splashes. Truly, the beauty and wonder of such acrobatics on the part of the swordfish must be seen to be believed and appreciated. Especially must the magnificent fury or fright of this tigerspecies be seen. It cannot be adequately described.