204 WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW TO CATCH FISH 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE CANAL BETWEEN LAKE WORTH AND BISCAYNE 



BAY. 



This canal is fifty-five miles long, commencing at the south end 

 of Lake Worth and ending at the north end of Biscayne Bay. The 

 waters and sounds of Hillsboro River and New River have been util- 

 ized as much as possible in constructing the canal. 



HILLSBORO INLET AND SOUND. 



There is no fishing in the canal until Hillsboro Inlet and Sound 

 are reached, about thirty miles. At the inlet and in the canal, for a 

 distance of half a mile to the south, there is fair fishing for the follow- 

 ing fishes: Barracuda, Cavalle, Snappers (Mangrove and Rabirubia), 

 Groupers, Grunts, Mullet, Runners, Sailor's Choice. 



We have always done well here. The Mangrove Snappers should 

 be fished for at night, and within 500 feet of the inlet, on the north 

 side of the channel, about 100 feet from the north shore. The other 

 fishes in the channel and the entrance to the canal on the south of 

 the sound. 



The largest Mangrove Snappers I ever caught were here, near the 

 north shore, close to the inlet, just opposite a lone cocoanut tree 

 which leans out over the channel. 



B. J. Pacetti and myself caught eighteen one night after dark ; 

 one of his and one of mine each weighing 10^ pounds; rod and 

 reel, 21 line, 6$ hook, sinkers, cut Mullet bait. We could catch 

 nothing there during the day, but did catch a few large ones in the 

 forenoon in a small slough leading from the sound into the canal at 

 south entrance, one weighing 10^ pounds. Groupers at that time 

 (1897) were plentiful in the canal, and near the inlet, some of them 

 running to twenty pounds. Barracuda are in the running water of 

 the inlet, but I have caught none there. Reefs outside, where there 

 are plenty of fish. Our fishes there are returned to the water, except 

 a few for the table, there being no one around to give them to. 



