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Handsome displays showcase key photos
and relics of the area’s fishing history, and the
region’s fish. Below, take a seat at the monitor
to view unique footage of Zane Grey fishing in
Mercury Bay, some locally produced underwater
footage, and a clip on mussel farming.
An interactive display of
underwater life in Mercury Bay.
Zane Grey centered
his fishing activities at
camps such as this one
on Great Mercury Island,
summer of 1928-29.
MERCURY BAY MUSEUM TACKLES
HISTORY OF game FISHING
T
here are parts of the world that seem
to be designed by nature for mankind’s
pursuit of happiness. When it comes to marine
pursuits, and in particular fishing, Mercury Bay
is right up there. The area has long been known
as a fisherman’s mecca, with this now being
recognised through an award winning display
at Mercury Bay Museum.
This display, awarded a Museums Aotearoa
award for excellence, features traditional
Maori fishing methods and provides an insight
into the development of recreational and
commercial fishing. It is arguably the most
comprehensive fishing display in New Zealand.
A major section of the display features game
fishing, including the 1929 trip to Mercury Bay
by the famed American novelist and fisherman
Zane Grey. Grey spent much of the wealth
earned from his Western novels and films in
pursuit of his fishing passion.
Western author Zane Grey bolsters
local gamefishing...his way
Having spent the summer of 1926 in the Bay of
Islands on a fishing trip (sponsored by the New
Zealand government in an effort to publicise
tourism), Grey decided to make a second trip,
this time to Mercury Bay, as he had heard
stories of giant leaping mako in these waters.
With a fleet of four boats, he spent the summer
fishing Mercury Bay waters using a camp on
Great Mercury Island as his base.
Grey would return several times to the
Mercury Bay fishing waters, but on this trip, a
total of 110 game fish were caught, the largest
being a black marlin of 665 lbs (302kg) and a
mako weighing 606 lbs (275kg).
Grey was not always popular with the locals
as he criticised their fishing methods. After all,
he was hardly likely to approve of tying off a
hooked marlin to a floating petrol drum while
the fish tired itself out. He trolled using artificial
lures while locals tended to drift fish. They
were using tanekaha (a native timber) rods and
reels evolved from those used for trout fishing
while Grey’s rods and reels were state of the
art. The museum displays great examples
demonstrating the evolution of fishing gear.
While he generated a huge income for himself
over his working life, Grey died a comparatively
poor man. His passion for fishing (and for
fishing boats and gear) took him to exotic
hook line & sinker
by Dick
Wilson
18
COROMANDEL LIFE LATE SUMMER/EASTER 2015