438 
FOREST AND' STREAM 
August, 1920 
T HE nomenclature of our salt water 
fishes is in many cases most be- 
wildering. Perhaps there are no 
other subjects to which, within a limited 
latitude, so many names are given and ac- 
cepted for individuals. The specific term 
“red drum” has been ’applied to this fish 
for so long a time that it is doubtful if 
it will ever be changed by the net and 
o*her market fishermen of the states of 
its more northern range, while as we 
proceed southward the names “red bass,” 
“red fish,” “reef bass,” “branded drum,” 
“beardless drum,” etc., are in vogue 
much to the perplexity of people of dif- 
ferent localities. But I have found the 
name “channel bass” to be very accept- 
able to the anglers of many of the south- 
ern coast states, and also the name is in 
general favor among the market men 
who formerly termed them “red fish,” 
and let it go at that. 
That this fish belongs to the family of 
“drums” must be conceded, as do also the 
weakfish, kingfish, croakers and many 
familiar varieties. That it differs, how- 
ever, from the real red drum of the At- 
lantic coast in many important details is 
scarcely to be denied. The contour of 
body is essentially different. There is- 
an entire absence of chin barbels with the 
channel bass while with the red drum 
it is a very distinguishing feature. The 
ever-present spot or spots on or near the 
tail is another characteristic, as well as 
the general build which indicates vigor 
and speed in the water as against the ro- 
tund and sluggish fish which bears the 
same name. The feeding habits are dif- 
ferent in many particulars. The channel 
bass, according to southern observers, 
feed at times most voraciously on smaller 
fish. They will also at times take the 
trolling bluefish squid. A glance at the 
two subjects when mounted side by side 
would be conclusive without more argu- 
ment on the matter. 
That the habits of the channel bass 
have changed in some degree must be evi- 
dent. if we give dose attention to the 
writers of some thirty years ago; Dr. 
Goode, in his ad- 
mirable works on 
our coast fishes, 
says the channel 
bass are very 
abundant along the 
Florida coast as 
well as the Caro- 
linas, and even up 
to the Chesapeake, 
but north of the 
latter point he was 
unable to get a 
record of any fish 
taken, which state- 
ment seems to be 
sustained by both 
Stearns and Jor- 
dan, who, in their 
day, were eminent 
in research work on coast fishes, and 
much of our knowledge to-day of the 
ocean tribes is the result of their pains- 
taking work. 
Be the latter statement as it may re- 
garding their time, certain it is that in 
latter years their northern migration has 
been greatly extended. The same fish 
are annually quite plentiful as far north 
as Barnegat Inlet where their movements 
in any considerable numbers seem to 
terminate, although they have been taken 
as far along as Elberon, N. J. One au- 
tumn recently some twenty-five or more 
were taken ranging in weight from 15 to 
30 pounds. During its youth this fish 
would never be recognized by the inex- 
perienced. It is of pure silvery white- 
ness without a semblance of the bronze 
coloring of the mature subject, and but 
for the ever-present spot on the tail 
might well be taken for a different spe- 
cies of marine life. It is one of the most 
important food fishes of the south, and 
ranges all along the Gulf Coast and 
through the Caribbean, and is well known 
at Panama. It is, however, as an angler's 
prize that it reaches its zenith. Not more 
than twenty years ago its. merits as a 
marine pugilist were but little known. 
When taken it was usually on a cum- 
brous hand-line of the sash-cord vari- 
ety. The poor captive was unceremo- 
niously dragged to beach or boat by sheer 
force, and promptly rapped over the head 
with some convenient bludgeon, and the 
carcass set adrift on the restless tide, a 
mute martyr to man’s stupidity. But 
the eternal evolution of things has 
changed all this. It is no longer regard- 
ed as a cumbersome thing to be avoided 
by the fisherman or the dealer in his stall 
in the northern markets. Instead the 
most immaculate tackle is employed, 
while hotel bills and railroad fares are 
disregarded when the quest is promising. 
F ROM early June until well into Octo- 
ber, if the weather be propitious, 
thousands of surf anglers visit the 
New Jersey coast, and from Cape May to 
Barnegat Inlet withstand the privations 
incident to many points, as well as the 
merciless onslaughts of mosquitos, which, 
to paraphase a line in Gray’s Elegy: 
“Teach the rustic moralist to die.” 
When channel bass are ripe the sting 
of the mosquito, as well as the sting of 
the high cost of transportation and pro- 
The Channel Bass (Sciaenops ocellatus) 
vender, is tossed aside as unworthy of 
consideration, and all points considered 
favorable for the taking of the bronze 
beauties are occupied at all hours, both 
day and night. Cape May, Sea Isle City, 
Corson’s Inlet, Brigantine Shoals, New 
Inlet, Surf City, Ships Bottom, Harvey’s 
Cedars and Barnesrat. Citv. as well as 
what is known as North Point of Beach, 
directly across the inlet from Barnegat 
City ; are all noted places for the taking 
of this marine nomad, and at any of the 
places named it is not a question of this 
species or nothing, for generally at the 
proper stage of the tide bluefish, weak- 
fish, croakers and other varieties may 
confidently be looked for to fill in the 
interim of waits. 
In channel bass fishing, tides do not 
appear to play as important a part as 
with many varieties of fish. High water, 
mid-tides and again at lowest ebb they 
frequently let their presence be known, 
and wise is the angler who persistently 
follows the sport irrespective of tidal 
conditions. If choice is to be made in re- 
lation to tides it should favor the ebb and 
when the water is disturbed and choppy. 
The tackle should be the regulation 
surf outfit, same in all particulars as is 
used for striped bass, the reel 2-0 in size 
ef the best quality, which will easily hold 
600 feet of 12 or 15 thread regular line. 
Some prefer a 3-0 reel holding 900 feet 
of 12 thread line. To the latter there 
is no objection; it works well, but 600 
feet of line will land the fish if well 
handled, and the original outfit costs 
much less. The rod should be hand-made, 
and of either greenheart or split bam- 
boo, with a twenty-four or twenty-six 
inch butt, with a single-piece tip, agate 
mounted throughout. 
A rod should always be balanced as to 
length by the user, as a rod which is un- 
duly long cannot, without infinite prac- 
tice, be made a real ’ companion in cast- 
ing. While a rod too short is always a 
snare, and cannot give the resiliency nec- 
essary to good casting. A leather rod- 
belt worn around the waist, with a pocket 
into which to rest the butt, is essential 
and should never be omitted from the 
equipment, as it takes the weight from 
the arms while at rest, and when a fish 
is hooked and being fought it gives a 
leverage to be obtained in no other man- 
ner. The hook should be hand-forged 
O’Shaughnessy of the highest quality, as 
this fish has won- 
drous |c rushing 
power in its jaws 
and can easily snap 
a badly - tempered 
hook, so the best is 
the cheapest and 
surest; 7-0 or 8-0 
is the proper size, 
and, should be loop- 
snelled with the 
best procurable gut 
and four stranded. 
There is quite a 
tendency in later 
years to use a sec- 
tion of piano wire 
and the ringed 
O’S h aughnessy 
hook prevents the 
stout molars of the fish from grinding off 
the gut. This, ordinarily, is quite unnec- 
essary, as it is rare, indeed, that the fish 
cuts away a properly snelled hook, be- 
sides the flexible nature of the gut gives 
greater freedom of action to the bait 
while it is going through in the water. 
(CONTINUED ON PAGE 460) 
