118 THE TARPON 



Both the tide and the wind determine the speed at which 

 your boat will drift. The angler should fish from such a posi- 

 tion that the line will slope away from and not under the 

 boat. You should examine your bait from time to time for 

 trigger-fish sometimes abound and kill the crab. When this 

 occurs, try fishing at a less depth. 



If the sea is rough, manipulate the tip of the rod so as to 

 keep the bait as still as possible. It is doubtful if a tarpon 

 will strike a bait which is bobbing violently up and down. 



We will now assume that the boat is drifting with the tide 

 on the fishing grounds. The left hand lightly grasps the rod 

 above the reel and the right hand holds the grip below it 

 with the thumb gently pressing the pad which engages the 

 line on the reel. It is advisable to keep the point of the rod 

 low and at an angle to the rail of the boat. The rod, however, 

 must be so held that a sharp strike will not break it over the 

 rail of the boat or release it from the grasp. A little practice 

 is essential before proper form in this respect is attained. 

 While it is not necessary to hold the rod rigidly, alertness must 

 be maintained, for when the strike does come the angler should 

 be in position to make an adequate response. The tarpon is 

 not bound by any fixed habit in taking the bait. It may strike 

 gently, or it may take the bait with a snap which nearly un- 

 seats the angler. What response should the angler make? 

 There is a wide divergence of opinion among anglers of great 

 experience and observation as to whether or not the fish 

 should be struck at the outset. Some favor striking back hard 

 and often ; others equally skilled argue that the fish by strik- 

 ing at the bait has hooked itself if it is to be hooked at all 

 and that no amount of exertion on the angler's part will 

 affect the desired result. Others favor feeling the weight of 

 the fish as it starts away, before striking. 



Mr. B. Kemp Littlepage, in a very interesting article in 

 Field and Stream for March, 1920, made a strong argument 



