Tarpon Fishing in Florida 



eight hours later, as it happened, two 

 gentlemen who were using a hand-line 

 in addition to three rods, had their only 

 strike of the day on the hand-line, very 

 much to their disgust. With the excep- 

 tion of changing the bait about once an 

 hour, as it becomes water-soaked, there is 

 nothing to do but be patient. Instead of 

 a tarpon, one may hook a shark, a large 

 channel bass, or a grouper. Small fish 

 are not apt to bite on the tarpon grounds, 

 but sharks are often very troublesome. 

 During the present season a gentleman 

 who was fishing with his rods chanced to 

 hook simultaneously a tarpon and a shark. 

 Although the tarpon jumped out of the 

 water, he was for some moments unable, 

 owing to the crossing of the lines, to dis- 

 cern which fish was on which, so as to cut 

 off the unwelcome visitor. A tarpon in- 

 variably reveals himself by jumping out 

 of water as soon as he feels the hook. 

 More tarpon are lost by premature tension 

 of the line than through any other cause. 

 The novice is properly cautioned by every- 

 body to let a tarpon carry off some half a 

 dozen fathoms of line before checking 

 him in the least. Usually the fish hooks 

 himself, and is only too apt to feel the 

 hook before the bait is gorged, in which 



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