100 Big Game Fishes 
The discerning angler may read between the 
lines the truth. This barracuda is the antipodes 
of its Floridian namesake and kinsman, and its 
appearance in these pages is due to one fish, 
one of many taken, which made a gallant fight, 
and the fact that barracuda fishing is one of 
the sports and pastimes all along the coast of 
Southern California from San Diego to Santa 
Barbara and beyond. It comes in large schools, 
in this also being totally unlike its Gulf of 
Mexico cousin, and often tints the very waters 
a delicate yellow with its vast numbers. In 
looking down from the boat thousands of pointed 
muzzles and black eyes are seen, the fishes often 
lying so thick that they appear to be a solid 
mass; so closely packed that I have hooked a 
fish accidentally by jerking it up among them. 
At such times the barracuda will not bite. You 
may dangle the most luscious morsel at its very 
nose, but it will scornfully pass on; at others, 
especially in water slightly rough, the schools 
appear to break up, yet retain a certain con- 
tinuity, and then they bite; not occasionally, 
but all the time, and seriously interfere with 
yellowtail fishing. This, with apologies to the 
devotees of the barracuda. 
