216 WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW TO CATCH FISH 



CHAPTER XV. 



CAPE FLORIDA. 

 ABOUT EIGHT MILES FROM MIAMI. 



Here there are ten channels marked on the chart, within a dis- 

 tance of about four miles from north to south, the most northern one 

 running alongside Key Biscayne. The main channel has been 

 dredged out, and beaconed (I presume) by Mr. Flagler at his own 

 expense, for use of his vessels, as well as those of Uncle Sam, and 

 all comers, foreign and home alike. 



"Uncle Henry " has done as much (or more) for the East Coast, 

 in fact for the whole State, as ' ' Uncle Sam ' ' has done during the 

 whole time he has been in possession. 



In the Steamboat Channel, as the main one is called, there is 

 rather the best fishing on the north side near the present largest bea- 

 con, say 200 feet west of it. Here you will get Groupers of two to 

 ten pounds, occasional good-sized Snappers, Porgies, Grunts, etc., 

 etc. From Bears Cut all the way south, quite frequently, in warm 

 weather, a Barracuda will follow up a small fish while you are reeling 

 him in. When this occurs, take off your small hook, put on an 8f 

 or 10$ and wire snood, a small Grunt or Porgie for bait. You will 

 be almost sure to get hold of the Barracuda. 



The north channel is the best one for Snappers, along the shore 

 and mangroves, and where the water is deepest. The fishing is good 

 in all these channels, from their commencement in the Bay to where 

 they terminate on the Great Florida Reef. On the sand "banks" 

 between the channels, the "shallow-water Barracuda fishing," 

 described in my description of that fish, is good, and there are many 

 miles of these banks between Cape Florida and Soldier Key, the next 

 Key south. Here it will be advisable to use Crawfish bait, if obtain- 

 able, for the smaller fishes. For Groupers and Snappers, I have 

 found cut Mullet or other cut fish more taking than any other bait. 



This is the most southern point where I have found Mullet at all 

 plenty, in fact they are hard to get here and at Bears Cut, at times, 



