GULF STREAM FISHING 



mended. The trouble at Long Key is that new 

 boatmen are hired each season, and, as they do not 

 own their boats, all their interest centers in as big 

 a catch as possible for each angler they take out, in 

 the hope and expectation, of course, of a generous 

 tip. Heavy tackle means a big catch and light 

 tackle the reverse. And so tons of good food and 

 game fish are brought in only to be thrown to the 

 sharks. I mention this here to give it a wide pub- 

 licity. It is criminal in these days and ought to be 

 stopped. 



The season of 1918 was a disappointment in regard 

 to any great enthusiasm over the use of light tackle. 

 We have tried to introduce principles of the Tuna 

 Club of Avalon. President Coxe of the Pacific 

 organization is doing much to revive the earlier ideals 

 of Doctor Holder, founder of the famous club. This 

 year at Long Key a number of prizes were of- 

 fered by individual members. The contention was 

 that the light tackle specified was too light. This 

 is absolutely a mistake. I have proved that the 

 regulation Tuna Club nine-thread line and six- 

 ounce tip are strong enough, if great care and skill 

 be employed, to take the tricky, hard-jawed, wild- 

 leaping sailfish. 



And for bonefish, that rare fighter known to so 

 few anglers, the three-six tackle — a three-ounce tip 

 and six-thread line — is just the ideal rig to make 

 the sport exceedingly difiicult, fascinating, and 

 thrilling. Old bonefishermen almost invariably use 

 heavy tackle — stiff rods and twelve- or fifteen-thread 

 lines. They have their arguments, and indeed these 

 are hard nuts to crack. They claim three-six for 



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