The herald., 1897-06-13
BIG FISH and LIGHT RODS
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The sea fishing of Southern California,
so far as sport is concerned, has opened
with what the manipulators of rod and
reel term a rush. The 29th of April saw
the first catch of sea bass at Santa
Catalina Island-a fine 49-pound fish,
which towed a small boat about Avalon
bay for half an hour, as though to en-
phasize the fact that the fishing season
had opened.
The bass tribe has a special corner in
the heart and affections of every true
angler, as the delight-giver of the world
of fresh water fishes is the black bass
while noble quarry for the ocean caster
in the East is the striped bass, which
has been introduced into these waters
with some degree of success. In Cali
fornia there are three of the tribe which
are now in season. the rock bass a very
fair imitation of the black bass, the sea
bass, and the black sea bass, all of
which are occupying the attention of
anglers at the island of st. Catherine.
Visitors here this year will find many
changes. The little hamlet has taken
on the dignity of an all-the-year-aro
resort, and has been visited by tourists
all winter, justifying the assumption of
many Californians that here we have a
Madeira close at home. The Hotel
Metropole has been enlarged.>2 beauti-
full ball room and theatre being among
the additions, while one of the most re-
markable stage roads in the world will
be thrown open to the public at an early
day, winding up from the town, ascend
ing Descanso Canyon in great horse
shoe curves, then turning perfect loop
at the 900 feet level, finally reaching the
summit and crossing the island to Little
Harbor Inn, from there extending to the
isthmus. giving the visitor variety of
scenery-sea and mountain-and an ex-
perience in coaching seldom found,
The Bay of Avalon is a seductive spot
for big fishes, as here lie countless
schools of sardnes beneath which yell
low-taiis and sea bass swim, OCCASION
ally darting up, forcing the small fry
into the air. The sea bass run in large
schools and range from 10 to 60 pounds,
and are mostly seen near the surface
darting down as the boat passes, to rise
again a few moments later. The black
sea bass luIk near the rocky bottom in
40 or so feet of water while the rock bass
swim around the rocks. and kelp and in
comparatively shallow water
We showed out into the smooth water
one calm May morning to make bass
day of it. The outfit included three
rods-an eight-ounce split bamboo for
the rock bass 12-ounce rod for sea
bass, and a heavy one Of 20 ounces for
black sea bass. AS the oaIsman pulled
out we skirted the fringe of kelp that
grows out from the shore, not 20 feet
from it, and trolled for rock bass with
small sardines. Hardly 200 feet had the
boat gone when the split bamboo bent
gracefully and the reed began to talk in
the peculiar manner that starts the
blood of the angler and SENDS it gallop-
ing all over his body Ten. twenty,
thirty feet the gamy fish carried away
then up into the air he went, dancing for
moment on his tail, shaking his head
so that the piano wire leader clanked
and the sun brought cut the rich colors
of the fish, green and brown. Down il
dropped, to speed away; now in a cir