FISHING AT HOME AND ABROAD 



There is, in the tackle, and manner of using it, some analogy between 

 rock fishing and pier fishing, with the difference that on the rocks the 

 angler is obliged to alter his position according to the state of the tide, 

 retreating as it rises and following when it ebbs. Where the rocks slope 

 gradually to the water's edge, a longer rod is needed than in fishing from 

 piers, as it would otherwise be impossible to keep the hooks clear. Float - 

 tackle is the best of all, as it alone keeps the hooks off the rough bottom 

 in which so much tackle is sacrificed. In the neighbourhood of Scarborough, 

 however, resident anglers contrive, with the aid of immense wooden reels, 

 to cast their flat leads a surprising distance. When reeling in, they begin 

 by jerking the lead off the bottom and keep it on the move without giving 

 it another chance of getting fast in the rocks, yet, for all these precautions, 

 hundreds of leads are lost every season, and the foreshore just below 

 low-water mark at Cloughton Wyke and Cayton Bay must be paved with 

 them. Fortunately the special tackle sold in the town is exceedingly cheap, 

 and, by reason of the long, flat expanse of rocks, any other method of 

 fishing thereabouts, short of taking a boat, would be impossible. Where 

 on the other hand, as in New South Wales, cliffs fall sheer into deep water, 

 a handline is better than any rod, for the latter would add to the risk of 

 overbalancing on some of those narrow ledges, and heavy fish, like 

 grouper, are best hauled hand over hand. 



The aforementioned spots on our East Coast, south of the Tweed, where 

 rock fishing is to be had, differ in several respects. At GuUercoats, a sea- 

 side suburb of Newcastle, the falling tide uncovers a large area of more 

 or less flat rocks, from which codling can be caught, the angler beginning 

 at low water and retiring towards shore as the sea comes in. North and 

 south of Scarborough, the coast is much bolder, and cod of larger size, 

 as well as coalfish, are taken from September down to Christmas, the 

 bait in common use being the scallop, known locally as *' quean-oyster." 

 Filey Brigg offers better fishing still, as billet (i.e., coalfish), mackerel 

 and cod feed close up to this remarkable natural pier, and are caught on 

 the rod, not only with natural bait, but also by casting into the surf with 

 enormous artificial "flies," some of which are more like young Birds 

 of Paradise than any known insect. Why these fish accept at Filey crude 

 imitations that they would reject anywhere else is a mystery. There is 

 also some rock fishing at Flamborough Head. 



The rock-fishing in the West Country, beginning just west of Berry 

 Head, is somewhat different, the chief prizes being bass during the daytime 

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