THE ISLAND OF SAN CLEMENTE 145 



Alec O'Leary once lived; and the Tuna Club proposes 

 to maintain one here, where anglers can make their 

 headquarters and obtain bait. It is well for anglers 

 not to depend upon this, but to go over in good-sized 

 launches with experienced men, as Captain George 

 Cornell, Mexican Joe, George Michaelis, Captain 

 Clover, Captain Al Shade, and others. A tent can be 

 taken for camping out, which is more comfortable than 

 to live aboard a small boat. 



The best fishing has always been found on the north 

 or the leeward side. The large game fishes of this 

 region avoid the surf and the sandy beaches; this 

 explains the fact that there is practically no big game 

 fishing on the mainland beaches of Southern Cali- 

 fornia; that is, inshore, except at Redondo, where a 

 deep channel cuts in, and off San Pedro Point and 

 Coronado. The fishes affect deep water, but near 

 shore, and the islands seem to afford the very condi- 

 tions they like. There is excellent fishing at How- 

 land's for yellowtail; but the kelp is a factor to be 

 considered, as a big yellowtail will at once make for 

 it, wind in and out, and break the slender line. At 

 this place yellowtail can usually be taken in large 

 numbers, also the black sea bass fishing is good even 

 near and from the beach. Next to this comes Mos- 

 quito Harbor, and from there down and around the 

 extreme east end, off which, in normal years, the sport 

 is beyond criticism for size and game qualities of fish. 



Besides the large fishes, every nook and corner 

 abounds in sheepshead, — a hard-fighting fish which 

 ranges up to fifteen pounds; the rock bass up to five 

 is a very good imitation of the black bass in shape 

 and general appearance, but it gives up sooner. 



