BONEFISH 



Bonefish have a sucker-like mouth. They draw 

 the bait in, and smash it. Sometimes, of course, 

 they move away, drawing out the hne, but that 

 kind of a bite is exceptional. It is imperative to 

 strike the fish when this vibration is felt. Not one 

 in five bonefish is hooked. 



We have had two northers and the water grew 

 so cold that it drove the fish out. The last two or 

 three days have been warm and to-day it was hot. 

 However, I did not expect the bonefish in yet, and 

 when we went in bathing at flood-tide I was very 

 glad to see two fish. I hurried out and got my rod 

 and began to try. Presently I had a little strike. 

 I waited and it was repeated; then I jerked and felt 

 the fish. He made a wave and that was the last I 

 knew of him. 



Reeling in, I looked at my bait, to find that it 

 had been pretty badly chewed, but I fastened it on 

 again and made another cast. I set down the rod. 

 Then I went back after the bucket for the rest of 

 the bait. Upon my return I saw the line jerking 

 and I ran to the rod. I saw a Httle splash, and a big 

 white tail of a bonefish stick out of the water. I 

 put my thumb on the reel and jerked hard. In- 

 stantly I felt the fish, heavy and powerful. He made 

 a surge and then ran straight out. The line burned 

 my thumb so I could not hold it. I put on the click 

 and the fish made a swifter, harder run for at least 

 a hundred yards, and he tore the hook out. 



This makes a number of fish that have gotten 

 away from me in this manner. It is exasperating 

 and difficult to explain. , I have to use a pretty 

 heavy sinker in order to cast the bait out. I have 



117 



