GULF STREAM FISHING 



denly the sailfish topk it fiercely, I let him run a 

 long way before I struck at him, and then I called 

 to the boatman to throw out the clutch. When the 

 boat is moving there is a better chance of a tight 

 line while striking, and that is imperative if an angler 

 expects to hook the majority of these illusive sail- 

 fish. I hooked this fellow, and he showed at once, 

 a small fish, and began to leap toward the boat, 

 making a big bag in the line. I completely lost the 

 feel of his weight. When he went down, and with 

 all that slack line, I thought he was gone. But 

 presently the line tightened and he began to jump 

 in another direction. He came out twice with his 

 sail spread, a splendid, vivid picture; then he took 

 to skittering, occasionally throwing himself clear, 

 and he made some surface runs, splashing and thresh- 

 ing, and then made some clean greyhound-like leaps. 

 In all he cleared the water eleven times before he 

 settled down. After that it took me half an hour 

 to land him. He was not hurt and we let him go. 

 Soon after we got going again we raised a school 

 of four or more sailfish. And when a number rush 

 for the baits it is always exciting. The first fish 

 hit my bait and the second took R. C.'s. I saw both 

 fish in action, and there is considerable difference 

 between the hitting and the taking of a bait. R. C. 

 jerked his bait away from his fish and I yelled for 

 him to let it run back. He did so. A bronze and 

 silver blaze and a boil on the water told me how 

 hungry R. C.'s sailfish was. "Let him run with it!" 

 I yelled. Then I attended to my own troubles. 

 There was a fish rapping at my bait. I let out line, 

 yard after yard, but he would not take hold, and, as 



91 



