138 Big Game Fishes 
miles apart, are the centre, giving about one hun- 
dred miles of coast-line, bays, and coves for the 
angler, one-half of which will be found smooth 
water — that rarity on the Pacific coast. The 
yellowtail follows up the mainland coast-line and 
can often be taken two or three miles off the 
beaches from Coronado north; and at ports like 
Redondo, where deep water cuts inshore, it is 
sometimes taken from the high piers. At the 
islands offshore the north or east coast is the lee, 
and does not experience the heavy trade-winds ; 
and here is the home of the yellowtail, the waters 
in which the angler finds conditions far out to 
sea which call to mind some inland lakes. A 
large percentage of the visitors to these angling 
islands try conclusions with the gamy yellowtail, 
and as a consequence, boats and boatmen peculiar 
to the place have developed. The typical fishing 
boat is a sixteen or twenty foot yawl or launch 
with a two or four horse-power engine run by 
the boatman, who is also gaffer and an expert 
in his calling. The boat has two chair seats at, 
and facing, the stern. Attached to the seat is a 
cup of leather to receive the butt of the rod when 
a large fish is being played, while overhead is 
an awning, lifted when the strikes come by the 
