CHILE 



this I have succeeded in doing. I have attempted to bait many 

 broadbill from outriggers only to have them strike immedi- 

 ately after I have pulled it down. 



I've baited a lot of swordfish no less than ten times and as 

 many as sixteen times without causing them to strike before 

 going down. The sum of my experience is that if the fish 

 hasn't struck by the fourth time the bait is put across him 

 you may as well give up— the exception being when you're 

 off Peru or Chile. A crack swordfish guide, whether 

 Chilean or Peruvian or from the United States (the natives 

 usually are best), can tell almost instantly after he has baited 

 a fish twice whether or not it is going to strike. 



It is only human nature to keep on trying and even off 

 Chile where the albacora, as the swordfish are called, are 

 most numerous, you hate to abandon one to look for a sub- 

 stitute. Other means failing, I have even thrown the bait at 

 them in a last desperate effort. Although this may result in 

 putting the fish down for good, there have been times when 

 I've had them come right up again. I know of two fish that 

 have been hooked and caught by this final, desperate strata- 

 gem. If ever you are goaded into trying it, back the boat 

 right up, make sure the leader is clear and toss the bait straight 

 at him. 



I don't like to see a fish that is wild. I mean by that a fish 

 that is swimming fast and going irresponsibly from one direc- 

 tion to another. A fish that is moving in either large or small 

 circles is also an exceedingly tough customer. Every time the 

 boatman gets the bait in proper position the fish sees to it 

 that he just misses it and continues to circle. 



The only way to deal with a fish acting like this is to run 



17 



