Popular Bottom Sea Fish 



during the greater part of the year, make daily 

 trips to the Cholera Banks, off Sandy Hook and 

 Long Branch, where they are caught 

 Found' we ighi n g from four to eight pounds. 

 Those caught in the bays, estuaries and 

 back waters are much smaller, weighing half a 

 pound to two pounds. The best place to angle 

 for them is in deep channels, holes under sedgy 

 banks, and over wrecks, or on bottoms where 

 the black mussel is found. They will take 

 bait from Decoration Day to October, but the 

 larger-sized fish are taken in inside waters from 

 September to October. Like the fresh-water 

 bass, it will sometimes break water, but not until 

 drawn near the boat, when suddenly it makes a 

 vicious leap, shaking its solid body in all sorts of 

 wriggling and muscular contortions; from the 

 moment the hook gets in its leathery jaws, it 

 makes a steady fight and dies hard, considering 

 its size. Almost any bait is suitable, skimmer 

 clams, mossbunkers, shedder crabs, live 

 killies, pieces of clam, sand worms, shrimps, 

 and cut menhaden; all of these, it will take with 

 avidity, for the sea-bass is always on the feed. 



The tackle used should be a good, stout rod, 



multiplying reel, and a strong line of generous 



length. Leaders are only necessary when 



fishing for the big, yellow autumn bass, 



which are very shy and wary. Late in the season, 



use a No. 2 sprout hook or Carlisle. A heavy 



sinker is required, to hold firmly on the bottom, 



and the hooks should be tied quite close to the 



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