176 WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW TO CATCH FISH 



CHAPTER V. 



LIST OF FISHING LOCALITIES ON THE EAST COAST. 



Before entering upon " where to fish," I wish to state, and empha- 

 size the fact, that the season of the year, and the weather at all 

 seasons, must be reckoned with by the angler, as they have a most 

 decided effect upon fishes as well as upon all other animals. 



It does not follow that because you have visited a certain place at 

 one time and had abundant success that you can at any time after- 

 ward visit the same place and do well, unless you happen to meet 

 like conditions, especially in the weather and tides. As a general 

 statement for the entire coast, at the beginning of a "Norther," or 

 during its continuance, you may as well "hang up your fiddle and 

 your bow," as regards the greatest variety of fishes, still or bottom 

 fishing ; and generally an unusual cool or cold winter lessens the 

 number of fishes caught with hook and line very materially. 



I have known winters during which there were very few fish caught 

 in the months of January and February at Mosquito Inlet and Indian 

 River Inlet, while during the preceding and succeeding winters the 

 anglers had great success in the same months. 



From Jupiter Inlet south the above does not hold good to the 

 same extent, owing, I presume, to the proximity of the Gulf Stream 

 to the shore line, as it comes very near to the shore at Jupiter, and 

 from there gradually leaves it until at Biscayne Bay it is four to five 

 miles off shore ; still, it makes quite a difference all the way down. 

 I have, however, been at the cuts and passes, south of Miami, many 

 times when I had difficulty in getting enough fish to eat ; while after 

 two or three warm days I could " load a boat " at the same places, 

 if I desired. 



There are, however, some exceptions to the above, as Kingfish, 

 Spanish Mackerel, and some of the other fishes will take a troll out- 

 side Biscayne Bay and north to Jupiter just about as well (and I have 

 sometimes thought better) in cool weather as in warm ; and the same 

 is true with Bluefish in Lake Worth, and inside at Jupiter. I have 

 often trolled in Lake Worth in cold weather for Bluefish and have 



