WHITE SEA BASS AND WBAKPISH 



' sea trout,' merely because they are spotted and bear a superficial 

 resemblance to this fish. 



Mr. F. G. Aflalo, England's distinguished sea angler, in his 

 Sunshine cmd Sport in Florida a/nd the West Indies, says that the 

 * so-called trout or sea trout, is perhaps the most game of any 

 of the smaller fishes of Florida, and specifically at Useppa,' and 

 he advises ' an old trout rod and float tackle.' 



It is a valuable food fish, and the weakflsh (Cynoscion regale) 

 is considered one of the fine, though small, game fishes of the 

 Atlantic. Three and four pounders are the average, ten pounds 

 being not uncommon ; while the record is a thirty poimder, that 

 being the maximum weight. The New York anglers look for 

 them with the blueflsh in May when large schools arrive, and 

 then it can be found in various parts of the bay and along the 

 coast. The fish is a good fighter, quick in movement, and when 

 taken on an eight-ounce rod is a game fish in aU the term implies ; 

 and conversely is helpless on the big biUiard, cue-like rods 

 often used by anglers. 



The weakflsh has a penchant for crab bait, shrimp or cfams, 

 and as they play on the surface and ia the strong tide, the line 

 can be paid out — an ideal condition. In playing the weakflsh 

 there is but one thing to remember, its [jaws are weak and 

 many flsh are lost by the tearing out of the hook. 



In colour the weakflsh is given to silver, adapting itself, 

 darker or lighter, to its surroundings. Scattered over it are dark 

 irregular spots or blotches, some of which form into undulating 

 lines. It has two flne, expressive dorsals ; the tail is large, 

 powerful and incurving ; the lower jaw slightly protruding, 

 giving the flsh an expression of determination. The eye is ex- 

 pressive and well proportioned. The lower flns often have a 

 slightly yellowish hue, and when freshly landed the flsh is a 

 picture, animated, scintillant and beautiful. This is the weak- 

 flsh you will flnd around New York and New Jersey ; and the 

 Asbury Park Angling Club members, of which I have the honour 

 to be one, tell of notable catches. 



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