Tales of the Angler s El Dorado New Zealand — Zane Grey

Outside of Cape Brett we found the sea one vast glassy expanse What a day to hunt for broadbill swordfish I had not seen a better day in all my swordfishing at Catalina Moreover the air was pleasant the shore line strikingly clear I did not expect to see a broad bill swordfish but I certainly could not help looking for one on such a sea as that Birds were scarce There was no sign of small fish on the surface We ran out several miles and all the while I perched on the deck scanning the sea near and far all at once I saw fins I called out and stood up We thought the fins belonged to a Marlin Then we saw two more fish farther on and formed the same conclusion about them Suddenly the one nearest came up higher showing his dorsal fin I stared I could not believe my eyes Surely that brown hooked rakish leathery dorsal could not belong to a broadbill swordfish one of my old gladiator friends way down here in the Antipodes But it did