The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-20
FISHING on THE GULF COAST
Mullet, Red Snappers, Founders and
Game Fish Are Caught.

GulfpoH Correspondence Memphis Commor-
cial-Appeal
There Is no particular fishing season on
the Gulf. Every month in tho year fsh OF
one kind or another may be caught, Those
who love best to catch the game fish sail out
into the deep water. II 1t is tarpon. a special
tackle is required to successfully bring the
big FISH to shore. Sharks abound in the
deep water, but those who wish TO fish for
them ia earnest find them more plentiful
and hungrier outside the islands. few
are In the deep waters Of the channel and some
come UP into the anchorage along with the
ocean vessels. 1t takes a heck as large "a
the old-fashoued pot hooks--not as long but
thickand wire line to correspond for
few feet aud thea stout cord TO complete
the outfit
There is legend here that IL once stranger
eats of the mullet he can never remain
away from the coast any length Of time.
When away he has an inexpressble long
ing and craving for something that only
mullet will satisfy.
The mullet is a shy fish and is seldom IL
ever, caught on hook. They are caught In
great quantities in the casting of nets and
seines. Even then. II tho fishermen disturb
the water too much. they will sromper away,
but IL they remain quiet for q few minutes
they como regardless Of the danger.
An attractive feature of the night fishing
Ia the phosphores cent light. As the fisher
man casts his net and the leads splash into
the water IL Ia a circle OF electric light under
yelled shades. The lsh AZ they hurry and
scurry, trying to escape. leave a trail n
light in their wake. The hands of the bathers
in the water are illumined and every ripple
Is a ripple Of light Sometimes when the sea
Is rough the foamy crests of the waves are
like hecks " fire.
Possibly the founder is the most interesting
fish caught in these waters 1t is never caught
with hook but sometimes in the seine. Flat
as a founder" can not he apprcc lated until
founder is seen. Their shape is much like
the fresh water perch. but instead OF swmming
with the fms perpendicular, they Tide through
the water horizontally. The top skin s
dark and the under side white. The eyes
are on the upper side. They come In from
the deep water with the tide and hide their
heads in the sand. possibly imagining they
are hid. soon the sands cover them, but
their forms arc outlined distinctly. They
are caught by spears. The founderers take
torches and wade along carefully, and when
the outline of the founder Ia seen direct
aim IL taken for the centre of the mound and
the founder ia brought out. When broiled
ON the coals they are fine eating even better
than the mullet. and quite as choice as the
trout
Trout fishing and fishing for shcepshead
and pompano require more time and patience.
Ore must row or "a II out TO the deep water.
bait the hook and throw out the line and
wait There are innumerable little bays and
inlets fed by springs and fresh water streams
and the anglers may float in the sunshine or
in the shade nearer the shore. The green
trout abounds here, but Ike the speck led trout
IL takes lot of patience to land him. The
red fish and the red snappers are also found
n larger sizes. but the med ium sizes are the
imost sought for.