ON THE EAS7 COAST OF FLORIDA. 185 



Blackfish (Sea Bass), Bladder-fish, Bluefish, Bream (up Spruce 

 Creek), Catfish, Cavalle, Channel Bass, Croaker, Drum, Flounders, 

 Groupers, Gulf-fish, Jewfish, Ladyfish, Mullet, Moon-fish, Needle- 

 fish, Mutton-fish (not the Pargo variety), Pigfish, Pilotfish, Pompano 

 (during spring and summer), Porcupine-fish, Sawfish, Sharks, Sheeps- 

 head, Sailor's Choice, Sea Robbin, Sargeant-fish, Snappers (Man- 

 grove), Snappers (Gray), Snappers (Rabirubia), Sand Conger, Skate, 

 Spadefish, Spanish Mackerel (occasional schools traveling north), 

 Tarpon (spring and summer), Spotted Sea Trout, Tripple Tail, Whit- 

 ing, Yellow Tail (Mademoiselle). From here the sportsman has all 

 of the network of creeks and islands within a day's row to fish in, as 

 well as the two rivers and the surf, both north and south of the inlet. 



The surf fishing has always been reasonably good, either with 

 hand line or rod and reel, for Channel Bass, from April to December, 

 and nearly every year, for a short time during the spring, for Pom- 

 pano and Bluefish. 



The latter are especially plenty in October and November inside, 

 along the sandy banks near the inlet, in fact, along nearly all the 

 shores. At that time there are millions of Menhaden in the river, 

 and they make the best of bait for Bluefish. 



During the last October and early November I frequently caught 

 twenty-five to thirty in an hour or two, rod and reel, small line, 4$ 

 hook, wire snood, a float, and no sinker, small Menhaden bait, some- 

 times from boat, and oftentimes standing on the sand bank one-fourth 

 mile from the turn of the river from the inlet to the north. The 

 fish run small, very few over two pounds ; average somewhat over 

 one pound. 



This is one of the very best places for Sheepshead on the coast, 

 is exceeded by none, unless it be Indian River Inlet. All kinds of 

 Crabs are plentiful here as well as Mullet, so the sportsman rarely 

 lacks bait. 



Do not forget that the " Oyster Roast" is a very pleasant and 

 desirable feature here. I spell it with a big O and R. 



Parties fond of fresh -water Black Bass fishing can do fairly well 

 by going up Spruce Creek from eight to fifteen miles, the distance 

 depending upon the amount of rain and the consequent supply of 

 fresh water in the creek. I have been up there twice, and did next 

 to nothing, but am satisfied that under proper conditions a reasonable 

 number can be caught. 



