FI^HKS OF THE EAST ATLANTIC COAST. 



1(39 



eleven inches in length, weighing 19S pcjunds. It was found that 

 one of the hooks had a slight hold in mouth, and that one of the 

 " skirmishers " had switched round and entered the back of the fish 

 below the head, and held him. Tarpcm fishing is in its infancy, and 

 we trust that some of your piscatorial experts will invent appropriate 

 tackle, try tarpon fishing, and teach us greenhorns how to capture 

 th-^-i^ Thov oTor n, fine fif'M for /i\-'i'"-'nionf 



Tarpon seem to confine themselves to a fish diet, and I liave yet 

 to hear of one noticing a crab bait. The bait universally used is a 

 portion of, or a whole, mullet. On one occasion my friend, Dr. F , 

 was fishing for large mouthed bass at the head of the Homosassa 

 River, and as they would not rise to a fly, he used a minnow for 

 bait. He soon ascertained that he had about six lineal feet of tar- 

 pon at the other end. At first the fish paid no attention to the trac- 

 tion of a light split bamboo trout rod, but he ultimately started otf 

 at lightning speed, the reel humming as it never did before, and ii.* 

 Doctor was minus a leader. He rigged his line again, used a min- 

 now as bait, made a cast, got a strike, and, to his astonishment and 

 disgust, another tarpon had appropriated the bait, and in an instant 

 he was minus his tackle. From that time to the present the Doctor 

 lias refrained from using minnows for bait where tarpon exist. 



Nearly two years since your valued correspondent, "M.," was 

 trolling with a spinner near Sannibal Island for channel bass, and 

 toward evening he found that he had hooked a larsjer fish than he 

 bargained for. After a tussle the fish was landed, and it proved to 

 be a tarpon weighing thirty-eight jjouuds. Last summer, I had a 

 large and strong spoon bait made by Hill & Co., of Grand Rapids, 

 Michigan. I only used it on two occasions but failed to secure a 

 strike. Next summer I propose testing it again, for I feel assured 

 that the silver king cannot resist such an attractive lure. 

 t,The capture of the noble tarpon is worthy of the notice of experts, 

 and if they wish an exciting experience, a new revelation, I would 

 advise them to visit southeastern or southwestern jsortions of the 

 State during the winter, or the lower St. Johns during August and 

 September. If they should engage in tarpon fishing in this river, 

 whilst waiting for a bite they can indulge in the capture of channel 



