Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-06
PLACE ANGLING
ON HIGH PLANE
FISHERMEN AT AVALON HAVE
FINE SPORT
Santa Catalina Light Tackle Club
Does Much to Prevent For-
mer senseless slaueh-
ter Of Game Fish

Under the direction Of the Catalina
| Light Tackle club. fishing in the
waters surrounding the magic isle has
been changed from a veritable slaugh-
| ter of the innocents to sport worthy OF
the consideration of the best anglers Of
the world and this season, while the
fishermen have had just as much en-
joyment and excitement as ever before
| the fish have been saved from needless
| butchery.
At the commencement of the sum-
mer season, the crowds of anglers be-
gan TO make their appearance at the
island In fact, this season has wit
messed the greatest triumph of Cata-
lima as q summer resort i'm its history
and the gem OF the Pacific has re-
ceived so many visitors that had 1t not
been for the enterprise of the Cata-
lima owners, the crowds could not have
been accommodated.
Hundreds are spending the summer
on the island occupying the tent
houses and crowding the hotels, and as
result the island has prospered as
never before. The daily excursions
have been unusually popular. and Sun
day of each week is the occasion for
doubling the population of the island.
When the anglers put in an appear
ance early in the season, a number of
the most expert of them held meet
ing and organized the Catalina Light
Tackle club. This club Is for the pro-
lection of the fish and the uplifting of
the sport. Last season and for many
seasons past, the fish have been hauled
from the waters by anglers and in
hundreds of cases the dead fish were
allowed to rot because of the over
supply.
Anglers Have Great Sport
This season. through the efforts of
the club, that condition has been
changed and it Is probably from the
clubs Efforts that such excellent fish
ing can now be had near the island.
AT this time of the year. last season.
the finny denizens of the deep made
themselves scarce and left for other
waters Now, however, fishing is good
and the angling parties have been hav-
ers great sport for the past month.
1t is admitted that the sport of
catching game fish is in the fighting
and that there is no particular fun
in drawing in a fine specimen and
watch him die in the bottom of the
boat. The rules of the club were
therefore made so that the most ex-
citement could be secured in a catch
and the fish be saved. OF course,
anglers may catch and keep as many
fish as they can, but the members of
the club, those who spend the summer
at the island, are carefully refraining
from decreasing the surplus to any
extent. A member must have a record
of at least one 20 pound catch before
he can join. Then, in competing for
the many beautiful prizes offered byl
the club, he must use a standard nine
thread linen line. The rod must be
of wood, not less than six feet long,
including the butt, and the weight shall
not exceed sixteen ounces. A handicap
is allowed those who use a lighter rod. |
Tuna, yellowtail, albacore, white sea
bass, bonita and skip-jack are the
game fish sought for by the members
of the club When one is hooked a |
great fight results because of the light |
tackle and the fish has a good chance
to Outright his captor. That is where
the skill of angling comes in. When
the fight is over, however, and the man
has won, and the great body of the
fish is brought to the side of the
boat, the anglers are not using the
gaff this season, but are lifting the
fish from the water and marking them.
Members of certain boat houses place
certain mark, such as clipping off
the tip of one of the prongs of the
fsh's tail. Others put one or two
notches in the captive's fin and some
use small punches so that each catch
is weighed and registered and the
fish suffer no harm.
Thus far the fish have been rather
light in weight, 30 pound tuna hold
ing the prize for size in that class
The fishing grounds have covered
larger territory during the season, run
ming from Avalon TO Long point and
about five miles out to sea. No very
large Jewish have been taken, few
running as high as 300 pounds.
The only drawback to the fishing
this season is the presence Of grouper
sharks. The sharks follow the fish
ing vessels occasionally and, after the
game fish has been landed they rush
him and bite out a large slice of the
captive before he can be turned loose
from the hook. A grouper shark was
catpured several weeks ago and when
weighed, tipped the beam at 625
pounds. establishing a record for light
line captives, the fisherman having
been angling for yellowtaiI at the time
of the capture.
Jewish have averaged about 200
pounds during the season. 1t is
thought, however that before the ang-
ling season closes in October the
heavyweights will make an appear
ance, and hundreds of anglers are
planning little excursions to the fishing