Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-05-29
CATCHING A TARP0N.
( GAL T,MoRe psvlhe,s DESCRIPTION
OF MS EXPERIENCE

a n>,sa rfsAing In Florida Watsrs 81
what II Means - Norshsrasr WAe Aas
~. Accastoned to Trolling In fiassA
P,>ds ana Rabbling Rrosks-
1--WE ought to turn in early tonight.
for we must be up BY g.
Those stars mean stars in Florida, FOR
NE did not have cloudy night.) SIX
o'clock. and the sun is well up and
knocking birds singing. breakfast over
with rods and reels and gaffs and lunch
we walk down the pier to the Minnies
:a-foot catboat with rousing sail.
where's the bait, Johnniey
ats coming" said johnnie, pointing
TO a fat bottoned dickey carrying dirty
leg-of-mutton sail and n Jib. In the craft
was Charlie Brown. who was soon along
side with eight mullets weighing pound
or more apiece.
..Dat's all could get, bosa."
Now for Buttonwood harbori The
wind is east, as it was every morning,
and going our way, which sounds very
fine. But sailing with wind Is no joke
under a Florida sun. You use up the
breeze with your own motion and there's
not ghost Of shadow from the sail.
, Here we are" and as we come about
over goes tine anchor, down comes the
sail. and we are off in the dickey for
tarpon! The bay is almost landlocked-
hemmed in with pines and palmettos to
the waters edge-the roar of the surf on
the gulf side of the Key filling the air
near the middle of the bay. We anchor
in an immense pool or pocket made by
two arms of sand bar that nearly meet,
showing purple and orange through the
water. Through the channel that makes
between the tarpons come tofeed--if they
do.
Johnnie, give me head" And III
take tail" A half pound of mullet
goes on each hook, and good cast lands
the bait so feet away.
Now settle down. Patience and hope
are the words.
Watch the pelicans and cormorants
fishing and the mullet jumping out of
the water; eat oranges, rig hand line
and catch sinners and grunts, tell stories,
decide what we would do Tiff.
A school of porpoises comes putting in
to the bay-a good sign. Ha! there goes
line paying quietly of the reel.
PAY out! Give him all he wants"
Whir! Away he goes! ''In with your
lines, fellow! Up anchor. Johnnie!"
But he doesn't jump. It's shark.
There's nothing to do but work him I'M
til you can get him on short line.
Now he is within 90 feet of the boat.
Hang on! Let him part the line! We've
no time to waste on sharks! Snap! The
line breaks. A new snood is tied on,
and we are soon back on the old grounds,
anchor down and the line out.
Lets eat lunch. believe in the law
of indirection and an unmatched pot"
No sooner said than done. Yes, and in
more senses than one, for we hadn't eat
en- u dozen mouthfuls before my line be-
gan to play out-first slowly. then faster
and faster. In with your lines! Up an
chor!'
Faster goes the line. "Tarpon!" For
out of the water 100 feet away leaps a
fish feet Tonga mass of cleaning sill
ver-in shower of spray, shaking his
head like horse.
Row harder, Johnnie; he is getting
too much liner Out he comes again and
again, three straight leaps. l gain some
slacl, on him. He's heading for the boat.
Back, Johnnie, back get in IA hun
bred feet of line, and he breaks again
clear out Of the water not so feet away
and Is off like cannon ball, and now it
is nip and tuck for an hour and half,
rowing against him or rowing after him
as he goes off, irresistibly taking the line
in spite of everything; now working him
hard ON short line, and now letting NJ
| for IA second rs he comes swiftly to the
surface and freaks, shaking his head in
ii rage and flashing the water into foam.
1t is hard work. Every muscle stiff,
arms aching, thumbs cramped from
pressing the apron on the reel. We get
him into shallow water.
"Have the gaff readyv
No-not this time. Some other time
for the tarpon decided to 60 back int
deep water, and there was no stopping
him. This performance was gone through
u uOLcL liiltS. Ioul at liiSt, anu we udNt
been miles and miles around the bay
we got him in three feet of water anu
| up to the boat-the gaif is in him--a ire
mendous furry, and Johnnie is in the
water with a shark hook. and the fight is
over.
Now cut palmetto leaf, for, dashed
to the peak, it is the most highly priced
and significant pennon that floats in
those waters. 1t means a tarpon, and
the dock will be full Of people long be-
fore we are in mailing distance. The
sail home seemed very short. The con
CALCULATIONS We're nightly pleasing.
You are in great luck. Only one has
been landed SO far this season.
1t did seem too good to be true, but
there he lay-6 feet inches long, weigh
ing l13 pounds, and every inch and
ouncea "silver king. Baltimore Amer
| lean.