126 THE TARPON 



Finally, engage a good guide and if a novice follow his ad- 

 vice, remembering that he is an expert and has doubtless 

 captured hundreds of fish to your one. 



The most favored bait on the west coast of Florida in May 

 and June is the blue crab. The crab does not live long if ex- 

 posed to the direct rays of the sun. Therefore, when the boat 

 is changing position it is well to have a bucket of water near 

 the angler in which the crab may be placed while upon the 

 hook. This will keep it in good condition for an indefinite 

 period. 



In this fishing one is apt to hook many other species of fish 

 and channel bass, groupers, pompanos, sharks, rays and other 

 species take the same bait the tarpon uses. Sometimes one 

 strikes a turtle. The only safe rule to follow is to assume you 

 are fast to a tarpon until this is clearly disproved. 



The late Dr. Charles F. Holder was the dean of American 

 anglers and he spent his life in the study and pursuit of fish 

 of all description. I refer the reader to the chapter from his 

 book "Big Game at Sea," entitled "The taking of big game 

 fishes," which embodies his long experience and which gives 

 many valuable hints. 



I have not had sufficient experience in the use of very light 

 tackle to lay down any hard-and-fast rules governing this fish- 

 ing ; but the following hints may be of some value to the novice. 



The hook used with both light and 3-6 tackle should be the 

 same size as that used in the heavy tackle fishing. One cannot 

 expect to strike the fish hard enough with a light rod to drive 

 the hook through the heavy jaw of the fish. But you will ex- 

 perience no trouble if you will raise your rod so as to put the 

 hook in proper position for a fish to hook itself. The same 

 leader should be used and the line should be attached to it by 

 the leather and half hitches previously described. The line 

 (and the reel pad) should be wetted and the line evenly reeled 

 back so it will render freely when the fish runs. An ordinary 

 multiplying reel large enough to hold about 900 feet of six 



