94 Big Game Fishes 
own fish, for an hour and then drench him, as it 
thrashed the water in a final struggle, snapping 
viciously and seizing the woodwork in its ugly 
teeth in rage or agony. 
Another method of taking the large barracuda 
was to have a boatman row me along the 
channels, and troll, using mullet or sardine bait; 
but the most satisfactory method was to first 
attract their attention, then take them when all 
their movements could be observed. The cap- 
ture of a six-foot barracuda is by no means an 
easy matter if the rod is used, and even with a 
cast-line the fish makes a long and vigorous fight, 
never giving up. The tackle employed in this 
sport was similar to that used in white sea-bass 
fishing ; but the line should be light, a number 
twelve cuttyhunk; that is, if the angler wishes to 
fairly match his skill with that of the fish. The 
leader should be a long, slender, copper wire; the 
hook small (I preferred a 2/o O'Shaughnessy, 
though many use a larger hook); the bait pro- 
portioned to the size of the fish. For the largest 
barracuda a mullet four inches long is sufficient. 
It is a purely carnivorous fish, requiring bait with 
shining sides, like mullet, sardines, gar, young of 
their own kind, scorning, at least in my experi- 
