Tbe California Barracuda 101 



Owing to its sharp muzzle, it is somewhat 

 difficult to hook the fish, and it has an aggravat- 

 ing method of nibbling at the bait, or nosing it. 

 The novice, thinking this a genuine strike, gives 

 M. Barracuda the " butt " and misses again and 

 again, reeling in to find that this inglorious sam- 

 pler has bitten off a piece of the tail of the 

 sardine as a souvenir ; hence, the fish has become 

 known as a promoter of invective on the part of 

 the boatmen who are baiters as well. To obviate 

 all this, the angler should not endeavor to hook 

 at the first nibble but, if it is a decided strike, 

 should slack off the line, overreeling for a few 

 feet, thus affording the fish an opportunity to 

 swallow the bait. If hooked some individuals 

 surrender at once, refuse on any terms to be a 

 party to sport of this kind. One fish, which I 

 hooked, deliberately swam toward me, saving me 

 the trouble of reeling, and I doubt not would 

 have jumped into the boat, as they have been 

 known to do, had not the dismayed boatman, 

 with an ill-concealed "Well, I'll be dogged!" 

 jerked it aboard with the gaff. 



To offer this as a type of the California bar- 

 racuda would possibly be a libel upon the species 

 argentea, as nearly all fight as well as the average 



