234 WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW TO CATCH FISH 



Grassy, Crawl (3), Vaca (3), Boot, Knight, Pigeon, Molasses, 

 Duck, Bahia Honda. 



As all of the fishes of the Keys are caught in the channels 

 between these Keys, and as the story of one is the story of all, I will 

 have to group them together, and turn the twenty channels within 

 the distance over to the reader to make his own choice. 



BAHIA HONDA HARBOR. 

 THIRTY-TWO MILES NORTHEAST OF KEY WEST. 



This is one of the most important fishing points on the East Coast. 

 The Harbor, so-called, is about four miles long east and west, and 

 about a mile wide north and south. I mean by this the part carrying 

 good depth of water. From this Harbor three principal channels 

 lead into the Bay of Florida to the west ; the largest and deepest one 

 being Big Spanish Key Channel, between Little Pine, Grassy, and 

 Little Spanish Keys on the north and No Name, Porpoise, Mayos and 

 Annette Keys on the south. 



The northern channel is between Little Pine on the south and 

 Johnson and Shellfish Keys on the north. 



The southern channel is between No Name, Porpoise, and Mayo 

 Keys on the north and Big Pine Key on the south. 



There are lesser channels and banks to the north of the above 

 mentioned northern one. All of the last mentioned Keys are 

 inside of the outer line of Keys and lie at nearly right angle with the 

 outer line. 



About one and one-quarter miles to the southwest of, and in line 

 with, Bahia Honda Key lie the two West Summerland Keys, with a 

 channel to the west between Big Pine and Torch Keys. 



In all of these channels there are all sorts of Key fishes. Tarpon 

 are especially abundant here at times, and Barracuda, Permits, Group- 

 ers, Snappers of all varieties, Mutton-fish, Pork-fish, Yellow Tail, 

 Grunts, Porgies, Angel-fish of four varieties, Spanish Mackerel and 

 Kingfish in their season ; Shell-fish, Jewfish, Hog-fish, Mullet, Jack, 

 Crevalle, and Runners. I have seen many Spanish Mackerel running 

 half a mile inside, and the school extending out onto the reef. On 

 the sides of the deepest water in the channel, on hard bottom and 



