ioo Big Game Fishes 



The discerning angler may read between the 

 lines the truth. This barracuda is the antipodes 

 of its Floridian namesake and kinsman, and its 

 appearance in these pages is due to one fish, 

 one of many taken, which made a gallant fight, 

 and the fact that barracuda fishing is one of 

 the sports and pastimes all along the coast of 

 Southern California from San Diego to Santa 

 Barbara and beyond. It comes in large schools, 

 in this also being totally unlike its Gulf of 

 Mexico cousin, and often tints the very waters 

 a delicate yellow with its vast numbers. In 

 looking down from the boat thousands of pointed 

 muzzles and black eyes are seen, the fishes often 

 lying so thick that they appear to be a solid 

 mass; so closely packed that I have hooked a 

 fish accidentally by jerking it up among them. 

 At such times the barracuda will not bite. You 

 may dangle the most luscious morsel at its very 

 nose, but it will scornfully pass on ; at others, 

 especially in water slightly rough, the schools 

 appear to break up, yet retain a certain con- 

 tinuity, and then they bite ; not occasionally, 

 but all the time, and seriously interfere with 

 yellowtail fishing. This, with apologies to the 

 devotees of the barracuda. 



