GULF STREAM FISHING 



a marvelous performer. Van Campen Heilner wrote 

 about a barracuda he caught on a bass rod, and he 

 is not likely to forget it, nor will the reader of his 

 story forget it. 



R. C. had another strike, hooked his fish, and 

 brought it in readily. It was a bonita of about five 

 pounds, the first one my brother had ever caught. 

 We were admiring his beautiful, subdued colors as 

 he swam near the boat, when up out of the blue 

 depths shot a long gray form as swift as lightning. 

 It was a big barracuda. In his rush he cut that 

 bonita in two. The captain grasped the line and 

 yelled for us to get the gaffs. R. C. dropped the 

 rod and got the small gaff, and as I went for the big 

 one I heard them both yell. Then I bent over to 

 see haK a dozen big gray streaks rush for what was 

 left of that poor little bonita. The big barracuda 

 with incredible speed and unbelievable ferocity rushed 

 right to the side of the boat at the bonita. He got 

 hold of it and R. C. in striking at him to gaff him 

 hit him over the head several times. Then the gaff 

 hook caught him and R. C. began to lift. The 

 barracuda looked to me to be fully seven feet long 

 and half as big around as a telegraph pole. He 

 made a tremendous splash in the water. R. C. was 

 deluged. He and the boatman yelled in their ex- 

 citement. But R. C. was unable to hold the big 

 fish on this small gaff, and I got there too late. The 

 barracuda broke loose. Then, equally incredibly, he 

 turned with still greater ferocity and rushed the 

 bonita again, but before he could get to it another 

 and smaller barracuda had hold of it. At this in- 

 stant I leaned over with a club. With one powerful 



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