Florida Fish and Fishing 



name In Northern waters, but a second cou- The Kingfish 

 Sin to the Spanish mackerel — is round along cavaiia) 

 the reefs from Cape Florida to Boca Chlca. 

 It Is one of the principal food fishes of Key 

 West, and Is taken by the fishermen trolling 

 with a strip of bacon rind, which Is some- 

 thing In the nature of an Indignity, for It 

 is a grand game-fish on the rod, and will 

 take fly or bait on long casts. It grows 

 much larger than the Spanish mackerel, 

 often to twent}^ pounds or more, and Is of 

 a more somber hue. Its cousin, the cero. 

 Is very similar In size and appearance, but 

 has dark spots along its graceful sides. All 

 of this genus are among the best for the 

 table, as all real game-fishes are. 



The best member of the drum family Is The Redfish 

 the redlish, or channel bass. It Is one of oceiiatus/ 

 the common game-fishes of the brackish 

 water bays on either coast. It is a hand- 

 some fish with a coat of old red gold and a 

 vest of silver and pearl. It Is characterized 

 by a large black spot near the tail: some- 

 times there will be two spots, and occasion- 

 ally these are split up into a half dozen. 

 149 



