The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-07-04
TARPON FISHING
AT SARASOTA, FLA.
BYT. A. WELLER.

4 lod ana busters are forming on his
night hand from the constant handling
Of the reel, though he has on heavy
pair of gloves. But then the angler is
there to fight his fish and, while almost
breathless, he must keep up the fight
He does not have time to think of pains,
bruises and blisters, or what is going
on around him in the other boats
whether they are hooked on still or have
landed their fish. BY this time the fight,
for a fight 1t is, Is on both fast and
FURIOUS. The angler now knows he has
| his fish well hooked and can be likened
to the man who had hold of the tigers
tail and could not turn 1t loose. He
cannot turn loose now If he wants to,
without cutting the line. There are
times, though. with some fish, when he
has that inclination, even though it
would put him to shame and under the
derisive smile of his boatman. But then
all things come to an end in time. By
constant pumping and hard work you at
last get the grand fish to the top of the
water but he is not done yet. Again he
rushes, but not with the fierceness of
his former efforts. Constant pulling and
playing has commenced to tell upon his
great strength and gradually, with care
and patience, you finally get his head
above water; he is brought to gaff fight
ing to the last grand and splendid fish
pounds. His head Is pulled up on the
side of the boat and In his struggles to
rid himself of the great steel gaff he
thoroughly drenches the angler and
boatman with copious showers Of water
dashed up by his great tail. Then comes
the task of getting the monster into the
boat, which is a proceeding that requires
great care and skill. Remember the
great fish Is longer, If not heavier than
the man who has him gated and to
safely land him in the boat Is ticklish
business. He must be handled carefully
not to swamp the boat which rises and
falls on the swell. Gradually the head
of the fish is moved up; his weight is
oounter-balanced by leaning to the other
side of the boat and at last, after a
fight of at least 80 minutes or an hour,
he is slid under the seats. After a few
vigorous flaps of HE great tail. which
causes some debate as to whether he Is
going to let you stay In the boat with
him or not he lies still, a grand con-
quered monster who has put up hard
fight and lost. It makes feeling of re-
morse come over one to see him lying
there. a fallen monarch, with his scales
glistening like FURNISHED silver in the
sunlight for destroying one of the most
beautiful of Gods creations. Then the
trembling breathless angler and boat
man look into each others faces for the
first time since the fight began. Con-
CALCULATIONS are in order. The boatman
says. 1T never saw a fish handled better
in my life" The angler swells up with
pride, cocks his hat on one side, takes a
deep breath and says, IT never saw a
man handle the gaff or boat better than
you did. for by your skill you helped me
land this great fish" There is a smile of
satisfaction on both faces as they smack
their lips after taking the nerve tonic
which both badly need, and never did
fAnt0 In at a MI
after you have landed 100 pound tarpon,
six feet four inches long, which has
made eight leaps into the air and as
many long rushes, both need 1t.
You have been so busy with your own
fish that you have not had time to pay
attention to what the other boats have
been doing, except occasionally you
have heard yell from some successful
angler who has hooked his fish, but now
( at you can take the time to see what
is going on you are pleased to see that
! others. as we'll as Yourself. have been
successful. Two have landed, but one
angler is away out In the gulf still fight
ing his fish which ] am glad to say he
finally landed. The record--one fsh TO
each of the four boats, but the fight has
been long.
The sun has trailed far on its Journey
through the blue sky the tarpon have
broken un into punches and are headed
out Into the open gulf the sky to the
southwest is hazy and denotes wind, the
great swell rolls in from that quarter,
with now and then angry Gaping
of white and the surf beats on the dis
tant shore with a deeper thunder. The
fishing for the day Is done. Now for the
rally at the launch after a hard pull
to windward for the refreshments that
are there and the congratulations OF
other successful anglers. A pleasant sail
through the passes into the inner bay.
to he followed by the kindly handshake,
beamlne smile and further congratulate
tions of the genial doctor. who will meet
YOU at the wharf with his camera: when
the catch is strung up. measurements
and weights taken, the camera repeatedly
snapped, and the day is done A day
of most delightful. though strenuous
pleasure But then there is tomorrow.
Tn orlopoo1y