SMALL PACIFIC COAST SEA PISHES 



locally as " surf-fish " and " corbina," but called erroneously by the 

 Mexicans " scarbina." 



' The best specimens are taken by casting from the beach into the surf, 

 though the larger proportion of anglers fish from the pier. Beach fishing 

 necessitates wading into the surf, making a very hard day's work. Tackle 

 used is the regulation nine-ounce rod and nine-thread line, though many 

 use a six-ounce rod and six-thread line. Recently some anglers have 

 brought the four-ounce rod equipped with a six-thread line iuto use. 

 Any lighter line frays quickly in the flinty sand. 



' Large clams or sand-crabs are used for bait, and hooks ranging from 

 number five to number two according to the conditions. Three hooks 

 and a three-ounce sinker are commonly used. 



' The California surf -whiting fights hard, never giving up so long as 

 an atom of strength remains. It is also " foxy," and the inexpert angler 

 finds that there is many a sUp between the strike and the landing. It is 

 a past master in the cunning art of freeing its mouth from the hook. It 

 is a finny foeman worthy of any angler's skUl. The surf-whiting is taken 

 from Mexican waters up to Santa Barbara, although few are taken 

 north of Santa Monica bay. 



' The yeUow-fin, though not a roncador or croaker, is in many respects 

 a second cousin, at least it is a game fish, but has not the endurance or 

 smartness of the surf-whiting. It goes as high as five or six pounds in 

 weight. It is taken in the surf, or directly back of the breakers, as a 

 usual thing, though many contend that it is a deep-water fish. It runs 

 in schools, and has a Uking for coming in with the evening fiood-tide to 

 feed on sand-crabs. It strikes " hke a house afire," but tires faster than 

 the surf-whiting, and is apt to hook itseK more securely. 



' The warm months are best for catching both the surf -whiting and the 

 yellow-fin, though a few are taken the year round. The yeUow-fin 

 seem to go to deep water during the cold months ; the sittf-whiting is 

 seen in great numbers in winter but it is loath to take the hook. 



' The spot-fin croaker {Boncador stearnsi) really and truly " croaks." 

 It has a large black spot at the base of the pectoral fins, whence its name. 

 It goes as high as fourteen or fifteen pounds in weight. The largest 

 taken with hook and line in recent years weighed a Uttle over twelve 

 pounds. The croaker is a powerful, dogged fighter, and the big fellows 

 strain fight tackle to the limit in heavy surf and near the barnacle - 

 incrusted piles of the piers ; but it is not in the class of the surf -whiting. 

 The sppt-fin croaker is edible, but does not rank with the surf -whiting, 

 pompano, sea-trout, and others that might be named. 



' The yeUow-fin roncador {UmbrirM roncador) is a beautiful fish, and a 

 HveUer fighter than its cousin the spot-fin croaker. 



' There is also a fish called locally the china croaker, with a broad black 



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