THETARPON 73 



and his opinion on any question relating to the tarpon 

 is well nigh final. He thinks that many tarpon do hook 

 themselves, especially when the crab is used for bait; 

 but that when cut bait is used the fish usually take it 

 easily and are liable to let go if not struck very quickly. 

 I have tried to drive a hook into the jaw of a freshly 

 caught tarpon by striking the fish with standard tackle, 

 but I have never succeeded in doing so. After experi- 

 menting, I think the angler will conclude that the fish 

 usually forces the hook into its jaw by the snap it 

 makes when the bait is taken. 



In any event it cannot do harm to strike several 

 times by pressing the thumb firmly upon the reel pad 

 and swaying the rod backward with energy and without 

 giving line. If the fish has hooked itself this method can- 

 not injure the chances of capture ; on the other hand, if 

 the fish should be struck this has been done. The next 

 act will depend upon circumstances and the tarpon can 

 be depended upon to waste no time in making the next 

 move. It lays out a plan of attack at once and the next 

 few moments are ones of great anxiety. Usually, the 

 fish will come directly to the surface to leap and to 

 endeavor to shake out the hook. Sometimes this jump 

 is at the conclusion of a short run. More rarely the 

 tarpon seems to scorn to practice such a trick upon the 

 angler and he may never jump. It is fairly safe to act 

 upon the assumption that the fish will jump, and that 

 at once, so every attempt should be made to reel in any 

 slack which can be gained. The tarpon will usually, 

 but not always, run up tide and the angler should 

 therefore fish with his rod pointing into the tide 



