174 I'ISHES or THE EAST ATLANTIC COAST. 



and sea trout can be capturecl. Wlien I fished at this spot, wind 

 bait and tackle were wrong, and I failed to capture a scale. \t 

 the wreck of the steamer H. M. Cool, opposite the mouth of Old 

 Tampa Bay, fair fishing-, more especially for grouper, will be found. 



At Long Boat Inlet, Sarasota Bay, good fishing will be found. At 

 the mouth of Sarasota Pass, channel bass and sbeepshead can be 

 captured. My friend Dr. Ferber informed me that he fished a pool 

 in Billy Bow-Legs Creek (a tributary of this bay) and hooked ca- 

 valli on the fly at every cast. Three years since a friend captured 

 a great number of Spanish mackerel, trolling with a spoon, in Little 

 Sarasota Bay. At Casey's Pass, the southerly outlet of the last- 

 named bay, good sport can be obtained in the way of catching 

 grouper, channel bass and sea trout. 



South of Casey's Pass is Kettle Harbor, a point where sawfish do 

 most congregate, and Ihe piscator can amuse himself catching the 

 sawyers. In addition he will find quantum sufficit of sea trout and 

 sheepshead. At Little Gasparilla Pass, Charlotte Harbor, the fish- 

 ing will be found A. 1. On the young flood at the northerly ]ioint 

 of Little Gasparilla Island, cavalli, channel bass, sea trout, and bone- 

 fish can be captured in immense numbers. At this point I have, 

 hooked these fish at every cast and reeled them in until my arms 

 ached. Within twenty yards or the entrance will be found a bluff, 

 shelly shore, which extends to the south for over a hundred y.irds 

 and at this place at any stage of tide sheepshead ranging fj-om two 

 to four pounds can be landed as fast as hooks can be baited. Cruis- 

 ing about on the sand bar on the southerly side of the pass I noticed 

 large channel bass. I waded out to where the water Was knee-deep, 

 cast my bait near the fish, and instantly the music would commence 

 In the centre of this island is a fre.sh water lagoon, where exceUent 

 drinking water can be obtained. 



At any of the passes at Charlotte Harbor excellent fishing m ill be 

 found. At Punta Rassa, which can be reached by steamship from 

 Cedar Keys, fair accommodations can be secured at the residence 

 of the telegraph operator or at Jacob Summerlin's house. The dock 

 at this point is the paradise of "sheepsheading." At this place your 

 correspondent "M." landed fifty-six sheepshead in sixty minutes. This 



