The Barracuda of Florida 93 



perhaps two, apparently enjoying its struggles as 

 it beat against its muzzle in desperate efforts to 

 escape ; then would come another gulp, and the 

 silvery bait disappeared. 



Such was a typical strike, the entire operation 

 being distinctly visible from my position in the 

 stern of the dinghy. When the bait was swal- 

 lowed or taken entirely into the mouth, I would 

 slowly reel in until all the slack was taken ; by 

 that time the barracuda would feel the fine cop- 

 per-wire leader and would give a convulsive 

 shake of its head, then fairly leap into motion, 

 as it tore the line from the reel, becoming at once 

 a type of activity. Fifty, one hundred or more 

 feet of the line were taken before its rush was 

 stopped, then like an arrow it circled the boat, 

 hissing along the surface as I jumped for the bow 

 and as I hooked it, whirling the light dinghy 

 about and towing it up the channel as would 

 a small shark. Slowly the reel would eat up the 

 line, and finally, seeing the boat, the fish would 

 dash down with an impetuous rush, making the 

 click sing again, rising to circle the boat once 

 more and again slowly coming in after a splen- 

 did display of strength and power. Such a fish 

 would often defy a single man, trying to gaff his 



