FISHING TACKLE AND COMMENTS 



ing the rest of the party and causing the guide to lose a school 

 of fish that otherwise might still have been surfacing. 



If, on the other hand, the whole party elected to use 6- and 

 9-thread, everybody would have the same opportunity and 

 everybody probably would have a good time. There is no 

 doubt that small fish in the Atlantic, like the dolphin, bonito 

 and school tuna, show their true colors when caught on light 

 tackle. It is unfortunate that these grand fish so often have 

 to be taken on heavy outfits that have been trolling for marlin 

 or other large fish. But while there is bigger game in the sea 

 most of us who have spent many hard days on fishing trips 

 will always want to catch them ahead of the little fellows. 



After I have caught enough large fish on heavy tackle I 

 reduce my line size so as to take little ones on the lighter 

 outfits, but I would never jeopardize the only chance I might 

 have of catching one or two fish on one trip by so doing, and 

 I doubt if I would ever go after broadbill swordfish or black 

 marlin with any other tackle than that suitable for them. 



To take a fish over 150 pounds on 6-thread or one over 

 300 pounds on 9-thread is definitely stunt fishing. It provides 

 a terrific thrill when you are successful but I don't think it 

 should be done continuously at the expense of breaking off 

 fish to swim around with your hook in their mouths, gills, 

 stomachs or hearts. I don't consider it sporting to try to catch 

 fish on very light tackle merely to satisfy one's vanity. 



I know anglers who feel that as long as they are strong 

 enough to fight a fish with heavy tackle and are able to put 

 it to them they will never use light tackle for any of the 

 larger species. I can appreciate this point of view because I 

 must admit that on several occasions after an hour's fighting 



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