Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-11-24
TARPON FISHING.
Hooking a Big Fellow an Experience
Not Easily Forgotten.
From Golfers Weekly,

| From Golfers Weekly.
PROVIDED the aspiring tarpon slayer is pre-
pared to eXpend anywhere from $50 to
! $50 or more, he may supply himself with
an excellent outfit through any respectable
dealer. 1t goes without sayirg that no
really conscientious disciple of Isaak Wal
ton Will be content to order his outfit Off
hand, leaving everything to the dealer
thereby sacrificing the exquisite satisfac-
ton of making his own selections. Yet
such is the spirit of the age that not few
of our giided youth are prone to order their
fishing tackle is they do their trousers-by
the dOzen-aEd leave all details to the
tailor. Let such go their way; they will
probably catch no tarpon.
The approved rod for this sport is seven
to nine feet loEg, fitted with a large multi
plying click reel that will hold some two
hundred yards of fifteen to twenty-one
thread linen line. Tastes differ regarding
the hooks, but the best authorities favor
something not far from 1910 in size, forged
and ringed. The Dublin bend Limerick is
Il faVorite with some successful fishers.
The smell, the connecting link between
the hook and the line, offered the most
difficult problem. / should say rather
that the tarpon jaws were so constructed
that the smell must be built to order to
circumvent them. These jaws, be it
known, have overlapping side plates which
are in effect quite efficient shears. They
will cut anything not made of metal that
has body enough to offer resistance. Nat
urally a chain was the first resort, but
the minute Sir Tarpon closed upon 4 chain
he knew it, and elected it forthwith, bait
and ali, for his mouth is conveniently paved
throughout with bone plates upon which
no hook has the least hold.
AT last the ingenious device was hit upon
OF using Il smell made of several strands
of rather soft-laid cotton line, dyed some
dark coior SO as to be inconspicuous when
wet. When the jaw shears close upon this
II spreads apart into separate strands and
becomes too thin to cut. Sir Tarpon per-
ceived nothing wrong, the portion of
mullet covering the hook continues its
downward course, taking up the slack of
the long smell as it goes the smell should
be twenty-four to twenty-eight inches long,
and pUrsues his way rejoicing until Il sud
den CHI at an inward locality not pro-
viGed with armOT plates tells him that he
is hooked. aud then the fun begins.
His first act is to throw himself bodily
out of water. with his huge jaws wide
open. and jerk his mead violently from side
to side. II the bait is not completely,
the nook secures q hold the effort is vain,
and the struggle of skill against energy
goes on
Again and again, sometimes a score of
times, the fish leaps from the water to
shake himself free. Miles upon miles he
swms doubling upon his course, circiing,
sulking, until he often tires out his would
be captOr, who is glad to hand the rod over
to his boatman for a rest Such a con-
fession of weakness is, however, so hui
initiating to a true fisherman that if he
has any sand in his composition he will
fight it out to a victorious finish or an
honorable defeat
Such an experience is not easily forgot
ten, and the fastidious coquettishness of
the tarIon in the matter of taking bait
renders it nearly certain that to the aver
age fisherman killing a tarpon will not
become tedious through frequent repeti
tens. Far more likely is il that his pa
thence will give out after a few days under
a tropical sun upon a GREATNESS sea, and
he will never experience the thrill Of the
Silver Kings break for liberty.
The tarpon season in Florida waters be-
gins in March and improves throughout
the summer, the best of it coming long
after most visitors have fled nOrthward to
escape the heat with its attendant pests.
AS a table fish the tarpon is not q great
success, though with sucn sauces as a
French chef knows how to prepare 1t is
not altogether to be despised when MOTH
ing better can be had. AS 4 staple article
Of food, however, it has its uses along
the Florida beaches. for there the native
fishermen spear the magnificent fellows,
sCrape off their silver scales with a hoe,
cut their persons up in long strips and
dry them in the sun for provision when
other hog and hominy'' fail.