Wichita eagle., 1890-03-12
CATCHING TIE TARPOh.
A Story of Days Sport with Rod and
Line Near the Coast of Florida.

Story of Days Sport with Rod and
Line Near the Coast of Florida.
Just before sunset we arrived at Blanco
and anchored in shore in about four feet of
water | have always found that the tarpon
bite best in shallow water. Putting on bats
cast them from the saiiboat, using both my
rods, intending to fish from the large boat
oniy. Hardly ten minutes had passed; the
men were preparing supper when, above the
CLASSY surface not ten yards from the boat a
magnificent tarpon tail appeared immediate
" over one of my bats. This was followed
by a sudden swirl which almost caused my
two men to fall overheard with excitement.
SEEING my rod pulled off and gave the rap
Idly moving fish some thirty feet more Of
slack line, then waiting till my line was taut,
I gave a good strike There was a mighty
leap. a fierce shake Of the head, and whiz
went my reel Thank heaven, he's hooked"
| gasped.
Getting into the rowboat / followed the
leader. Now and then from the sailboat came
encouraging remarks from my excited cook.
Supper, need hardly say, suffered sadly
from want of attention Meanwhile ] was
going through the ordinary evoiutlons OF
catching 2 tarpon, enjoying It's exciting
rushes and beautiful leaps as they took place
under the reddish glow Of the fading sunset.
Already / had him well tired out. and was
pulling him in gradually 70 gaf when no
t.ced a huge fin some eighty yards on. The
m cut tie CLASSY water Ike the bow of
steam yacht. The tarpon, becoming aware
III this immense sharks presence and IrabGed
with new life, shot off n MS intense fear But
he was tagged out, and l soon stopped MIN.
The shark meanwhile had slowed up and was
slowly circliEg about t2rpou and boat, per-
haps hesiJating between two sppetlzng dishes
fell, chill run down .ay back and my haf
seemed to creep when slowly coming straight,
10 20 the boat he passed rot three feet under
meath, revealing not more than twelve feet
OF g spotted back. Re doubled and prepared
70 play the same trick. Feeling that strike
OF ms tail under the boat might throw enc o.
more of Us in the water, yelled T. joe:
Strike him In tie Jaw with Ar oa- Joe
gave him a powerful Glow that caused him
to srerve aside for a moment, but II an ia
slant. turning on his SIDE, he IIa0e VICIOUS
snap az the oar
Joe. nothing daunted, was about 70 hit
him again. Leave hin alone l cried
You are oniy making matters worse Let
Us gaff the tarTson ald get HIN IN the boat.
and as VIII get q revolver. Aeau" nils,
Standing II the bow. mr. mind vas divided
between nv fear of falling N TIE water,
where the shark might interview ne. ard
losing ny tarpc1. Tie tarpoa, by the say,
all this r.ns had been acting n most eccsn-
TIC wav, evidently frightened crazy oy tie
presence a tbs large sa@T5- TIE latter.
however. CEASED BIS attentions 70 Is. au1 De-
can 70 circle around the Izrpoa. who MADE
frantic efforts % get awEy, ~Elle !. re&ilz-
ing that Il ws- mp and tzck bstSs@n "a
SHARK and a. 20 zko wCud get tnat tGTpoo.
rssksa A. the strength ! dared IN ny lIns.
and tined % get Eae fisa wItaEn gazing Dis
1 tarra Ea5 ss.cceeiad u getting tliu Ti.a-
| n tssnty f@et q ta.s boat, AID ae@sHz hlHa
e.srre in billy ~ b9es5inz greatly from ias
ztgss. vas beginning . sst-er lay=elf bad
aided one ulore - Icv rscord. cad7ezlg
CLEARING tie ws.er Ike hkaszIrS. r'th ;
sar@. rr,sa. he sa.1Ex mao fer hi-- g1ers
wss aorE4bls spsasnlng-i sa~ tae tara
i .sf.et clsa- O. t4a -1e-, En-4e TIA .Es71 -~s-