FIGHTING FINS: BIG GAME FISHING IN NEW ZEALAND WATERS. By Neil Illingworth. In collaboration with Robert C. Dinsdale, John M. Moreland and Fred Wilkins.

1961 1st edition. 4to (192 x 255mm). Ppxv,256. B/w photographs, illustrations, maps. Green boards, spine titled in gilt.

Angling for shark, marlin, swordfish, tuna and other big game species in New Zealand waters". Since Zane Grey's books first drew the attention of world fishermen to his fabulous success in New Zealand waters, the sport has been brought to a very high level... But since Zane Grey there has been no book to show this progress, to describe the sport in all its aspects, or to record the stories of battles with great game fish along the New Zealand coast. The author has visited all New Zealand's game fishing regions - Whangaroa, the Bay of Islands, Whangarei (Tutukaka), Mercury Bay (Whitianga) and Touranga (Mayor Island) - talked with those who initiated the sport and those who are now its main administrators and participants, and spent many days at sea. Contributing also to this book are R.C. Dinsdale (secretary of the Whangarei Club and past-secretary of the federated clubs), J.M. Moreland (ichthyologist to the Dominion Museum) and F. Wilkins (skipper of the Sou-East of Tauranaga)". Chapters include: The land and the sea; It started with Zane Grey; Grand days at sea; New Zealand's fighting mako; Game fishes of New Zealand; Tackle for big game fishing; Baiting, drifting and trolling; Finding and fighting game fish; Big game fishing with light tackle; Catching tuna and other light-tackle fish; New Zealand Big Game Fishing Council; International fishing contests in New Zealand; Whangaroa; The Bay of Islands; Whangarei (Tutukaka); Mercury Bay (Whitianga); Tauranga (Mayor Island); New Zealand and world records.