Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-05-05
CATCHING THE TUNA.
Fish Weighing Hundreds Of Pounds
in California Waters.
Veteran Anglers Keep Busy with
Their Rods During the MinteF
MOnths-The Gamest of
Fishes.

Rods are not put away during the
winter In southern California, for there
are the white FISH, the sheepshead and
the rock bass always to be had ofIshore;
but as spring comes on there is greater
activity, ana the best fishing, the real
sport, is in the spring and summer, where
the black current that sweeps down the
coast is tempered by the semitropic sun,
and the shore is swarming with bait, says
a writer in Outing Magazine.
The tuna Is game for the veteran,
but the inexperienced angler may
work up to II by practicing on albicore,
a gamey. long-fnned oceanic fish found
at the California islands the year around.
A 63-pound fish towed an angler three
miles before It could be brought to gan.
If larger game is desired without the ex-
IRENE excitement Of the tuna, the black
bass affords II. This is the giant Of the
bass tribe. ranging here up to 400
pounds. The record rod catch with 81
thread line is a 425-pound fish caught by
Edward Llewellyn. The bass, like all
of its kind, Affects the rocks and the
great beds Of kelp which form halls and
parterres beneath the sea, in compare
lively shallow water inshore. The boat
Is anchored in rs or 80 feet Of water and
arrangements made TO cast on al short
notice The equipment is a single TIP
rod. the line a thread Of l6 toll strand,
with long wire leader, and Van Week
tarpon hook. The bait is four or fye
pounds OF barracuda, or a live white
fsh. This is cast into the clear places
in the kelp, or near It, or suspended
three or four feet from the bottom, as the
angler may choose, either way accom-
piishes the purpose and lures the big
game The strike Of the tuna is mag
nificent rush. sometimes a leap upward
sometimes down, that Of the yellow tail
a single powerful plunge. a miniature
lightning stroke with electric effects
but the king Of the bass is more deliber-
ate. reminding one Of the methods OF the
great Mexican barracuda. The line be-
Gins TO move. to tremble and witch A
few inches go over the rail, the reel
sounds a note OF alarm, then another,
and the line runs slowly out. Five feet
have gone when the bass gives the re-
tort courteous. | have seen a strong
man ierked elbow depths on the
hand line; but with the reel, 1t means
long musical prelude in various keys
the bass tearing of the line by the
fathom. The boatman casts of the an
Choir buoy. grasps his oars. and heading
out TO sea. surging through the water,
towing the boat, the big game is away,
the sport Is on.
These fishes have resorts In deeper
water from an eighth 10 a quarter of a
mile on shore. and they invariably
rush TO the groves or deep-lying kelp'
into which they can dart, soon breaking
the line The oarsman rows against the
FISH. the angler endeavors to stop the
rush BY applying the leather brake, and
fnallv a vibrant pumping motion is felt
and lie bass rises gradually, then comes
in TO suddenly turn and break away.
The contest may be anywhere from
one hour to three; the fish may tow the
boat two or three miles Of shore and
: ug Il in again, or II may play within
few yards Of where II was hooked.
Finally the big multiplyer wins and
brings the fish TO gan; and be the angler
n novice. there comes TO him out OF the
depths an amazing FISH, gigantic I'm
age of the black bass, fin for fin, mahog-
any tinted. with silyery belly and large
ewes. AS Il feels the gaff its ponderous
tail rises. and angler and garter are
swept with a small tidal wave. Il rises,
plunges. tips the boat dangerously, and
must be killed before it is brought In,
then almost filling the boat Little Won
der that those who fail to see such
catches are affected with doubts, as the
black sea bass is stupendous, and when
hung up at the stand Of the garter, with
the thread-like line dangling from us
mouth. and the split bamboo standing
against Il. II seems incomprehensible
that these tribes have killed so power