Favorite Fish and Fishing 



The tarpon Is a fish of the tropical seas 

 and Is pecuHarly sensitive to cold. I hap- 

 pened to be In Florida during the winters 

 of 1886 and 1895 when most of the orange 

 igroves were killed by freezing. At Tampa 

 the temperature fell to 19° F. As a result 

 of the sudden chilling of the water I saw 

 windrows of dead fish along the shores of 

 the bays, especially at Charlotte Harbor. 

 They were mostly sub-tropical fishes, and 

 among them were hundreds of tarpon, large 

 and small, many upward of a hundred 

 pounds. 

 Bait Fishing While the tarpon will take any kind of 



fish bait, or artificial bait for that matter, 

 especially at the Inlets or up the streams, 

 mullet bait Is generally used; and the preva- 

 lent method of allowing the fish to swallow 

 the bait so as to hook him In the gullet will 

 probably always be practiced, for It Is the 

 only sure plan to bring him to gaff. If 

 hooked In the mouth or tongue when troll- 

 ing or casting, he almost Invariably shakes 

 out the hook and escapes. Once In a while, 

 however, one will be landed In this manner, 

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