l8 SEA FISH OF TRINIDAD 



personal knowledge extends, incomparably the best trolling 

 to be had, is during the months of July, August and Septem- 

 ber, when the king-fish are biting off Cape La Pefia, the 

 northeast point of that part of the Venezuelan mainland, 

 nearest to Trinidad. It is quite possible, and even easy, to 

 leave headquarters at the Islands at i a. m., in a good pirogue 

 with four oars (sail to use if there is a breeze) , at the com- 

 mencement of the falling tide, and reach La Peiia at 6 a. m. 

 You can then troll until lo a. m., by which time you will 

 have got all you want in more ways than one, as your hands 

 and arms will tell you. The king-fish there average from 

 30 lbs. to 50 lbs. and often larger; they fight very hard, so 

 you must have strong tackle and a good wrist, not forgetting 

 tough fingers. Leave La Pefia with the rising tide, and you 

 can get back home between 3 p. m. and 4 p. m. The Bocas 

 fishermen at this season go to La Peiia for a week or ten days 

 at a time, camping out on the rocks, fishing, and salting as 

 fast as they catch, often returning with 500 lbs. to 1,000 lbs. 

 of salted fish, locally called "tassard sale." This is eagerly 

 bought up in Port of Spain for local consumption. 



Another good trolling ground from June to August is 

 from the northeast corner of the Monos Boca, Pointe Rouge, 

 down the Trinidad Coast, going eastward past Trou Tazar to 

 Macqueripe Bay, for king-fish, mackerel and cavalli, but the 

 fish do not run nearly as large as at La Pefia. This trip can 

 be made in a morning, leaving early and returning for break- 

 fast. 



The third fishing ground is round the island of Patos in 

 the Grand Boca, belonging to Trinidad, but just under the 

 nose of Venezuela's latest port, Cristobal Colon. In the 

 dry season particularly, fine red snapper fishing can be 

 obtained on the banks there. 



TACKLE AND MODES OF FISHING 



Presumably, most angling visitors from the North will 

 fish with rod and reel. There are two or three regular 

 visitors to the Bocas from Port of Spain, who always fish 

 with rod and get fair sport, but, although I have a rod and 



