The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-07
GAMEST OF ALL FISH

Newark Advertiser.

Newark Advertiser.
A fish is not expected to make much re-
~sistance against being caught, since 1t is
practically without means or intelligence to
however, declares that the gamest fish that
swims is the bonefish of Biscayne bay,
Florida.
i've caught tarpon of the South" said
inces and the trout and bass of Maine, but
L take my hat off to this Biscayne beauty
with new meaning every time l try to find
The fish is very little known to fisher
men, owing 10 his scarcity and the fact
that he is not found anywhere except in
the waters of Biscayne bay and those ex-
tending some sixty miles further south.
eve discovered the fish accidentally while
cruising on the Florida coast. Happening
to put into Miami for supplies, we asked a
native what there was for fishing, and he
put us in contact with the bonefish. The
contact didn't last more than a few min
utes, and We tried again.
I'm a few days we began to realize that
we had discovered the king of the waters.
Our cruise ended right there, and We be-
came bone fishermen for life. We were
not, of course, rugged with the right sort
of tackle, but we had sport, and since then
no other fishing has satisfied our desires.
The bonefish weighs from three to ten
pounds, the average being five or six. They
are dark on the back, with silvery sides
and scales like a tarpon, and are built for
speed, long and slender, but well knit and
powerful. with sharp forked tail and a
prominent dorsal fin: In appearance they
look as If they might belong to the her
ring family. The jaw is conspicuous be-
cause of a large bone with which they crush
their food. a shellfsh. Hence the name.
1.-The fishing is fine from flood to full
tide, at which time the fish comes in to
feed on the flats in water at a depth of
abounds. AS they feed, their heads go down
and their tails come out of the water, and
as they work their dorsal fins cut the water
nr1 h rnCbf 10 nGnafnA 49, fAAt.
silvery sides.
.'They are as timid as deer. and, once
frightened. are very difficult to APPROACH.
When within eighty feet. which is as close
the fish, you cast the bait in the direction
the fish are working. and not nearer than
twenty or thirty feet.
which the fish feed, and it must be abso-
lutely fresh. for they will work away from
a stale bait as fast as they will work to-
ward a fresh morsel-
1.-The first indication is a slight nibble, for
they are not vigorous biters, and must be
hooked.
From three hundred TO FIVE hundred
feet of line is taken out on the first rush.
and this rush is often repeated twice and
even three times. making from one thou
sand to fifteen hundred feet of line in all
that is taken out in this manner. When
these bursts of speed have been taken it
Is fight. fight every inch of the way TO the
boat. the runs growing shorter as the fish
fails.
when at last the fish sees the boat n
mighty struggle ONE but, not having
strength to make a dash, he circles about
the boat at a distance of ten to twenty
feet. often making the circuit half a dozen
times. When at last he comes alongside.
belly UP. he's dead-he has died game-and
may be lifted into the boat with safety.
I'VE use tackle that is little hea vier than
bass tackle. with eight hundred feet of No.
., fine. best fax or linen line. a multiplying
I reel. and hend-made hammered bronzed
hooks, on treble-twisted best quality gut.
ITO attempt TO stop this fish on the
first rush with heavy tackle would be i'm
possible. as he would tear any hold loose.
and TO hold him In any manner is a trick
| that must be learned with long experience.
LAS a table fish he has few equals, either
| planked or broiled. The sport is at its best
| In November and December.