94 Big Game Fishes 



own fish, for an hour and then drench him, as it 

 thrashed the water in a final struggle, snapping 

 viciously and seizing the woodwork in its ugly 

 teeth in rage or agony. 



Another method of taking the large barracuda 

 was to have a boatman row me along the 

 channels, and troll, using mullet or sardine bait ; 

 but the most satisfactory method was to first 

 attract their attention, then take them when all 

 their movements could be observed. The cap- 

 ture of a six-foot barracuda is by no means an 

 easy matter if the rod is used, and even with a 

 cast-line the fish makes a long and vigorous fight, 

 never giving up. The tackle employed in this 

 sport was similar to that used in white sea-bass 

 fishing ; but the line should be light, a number 

 twelve cuttyhunk ; that is, if the angler wishes to 

 fairly match his skill with that of the fish. The 

 leader should be a long, slender, copper wire ; the 

 hook small (I preferred a 2/ O'Shaughnessy, 

 though many use a larger hook) ; the bait pro- 

 portioned to the size of the fish. For the largest 

 barracuda a mullet four inches long is sufficient. 

 It is a purely carnivorous fish, requiring bait with 

 shining sides, like mullet, sardines, gar, young of 

 their own kind, scorning, at least in my experi- 



