THETARPON 77 



hooked through it the mouth is held open and this 

 weakens the fish. A fish hooked through the lower jaw 

 puts up a stout resistance for it then can keep its jaws 

 in their normal position. All of these things have a 

 bearing on the apparent gameness of the fish. 



There is no necessity to gaff the fish unless it is ex- 

 ceptionally large or conditions are abnormal. Your 

 guide will be provided with a release hook, which is a 

 large barbless hook mounted on a line which he usually 

 wraps around his left wrist. When the fish is led up 

 to the side of the boat and the fight is out of him the 

 guide will grasp your leader with his right hand, lift 

 the fish up and insert the release hook in the fish's jaw 

 by a strong, quick motion. Prior to this being done 

 your drag should be on and the thumb should press 

 strongly upon the reel pad so that you may assist the 

 guide by elevating the rod and thus partially lifting the 

 fish into position where he may insert the release hook. 

 The fish should be held on a very short line in fact, 

 on the leader only. When the release hook is inserted 

 the head of the fish will be pulled onto the rail of the 

 boat by the guide, so that he may disengage your hook 

 with his right hand. As soon as the release hook is 

 secure release the drag and the pressure of your thumb 

 upon the pad so that the guide may be unhampered in 

 the strenuous and somewhat dangerous business of re- 

 leasing the hooks from the struggling fish. This oper- 

 ation leaves the fish uninjured. It should be performed 

 with coolness and deliberation on the part of both the 

 guide and the angler. The angler should assist the 

 guide and the guide should be careful to keep clear of 



