The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-01-09

POINT ISABEL, Tex, Jan. S.-Wben
the chill of winter begins to penetrate
the water of the ocean in the more
northern ATTITUDES, certain species of
the big sea fish make their way south
ward to localities where the climate
is more congenial, This annual migra-
tion is known to apply to the gamey
tarpon which is found chiefly in south
| ern waters. The tarDon fishing season
| along the upper gulf coast closed sew.
eral weeks ago, It has just opened in
the more southern localities, particu.
larly IN the waters Of the gulf off the
coast Of Point Isabel and from here all
the way down the coast to Coatzacoal-
cos. Mexico. This winter fishing sport
will continue good in these warmer wa
tors until about the middle of April,
when the fish begin to move farther
north
The landing of one tarpon of six feet
or more in length is work enough for
one day for the average man 1T is
to this remote region few years ago
that winter fishing became popular
| along Tarpon beach, off Padre island,
near here. Now, many people from re.
mote parts of the country come down
here for few weeks outing every win
ter, Tarpon fishing is not the only
sport in which they indulge. Sea bass
| Fishing for sharks also affords much
amusement.
For genuine excitement, however, an
| encounter with sea"devii OF devil fish.
as it is commonly called. is far ahead
OF ANYTHING else in the line Of nsning
IN this part of the gulf coast. These
| fish are shaped like bat aud are known
&c
their giant wings they propel them
selves through the water at a terrific
rate Of speed They are much dreaded
by the Mexican fishermen along the
coast Many thrilling traditions exist
among the simple minded Mexicans as
TO the ferocity of the sea devils, but
as matter of fact, they are compare
things about them are their wonderful
strength and phenomenal endurance
qualities. The Mexican fishermen fear
that their anchors or hooks may be
swallowed by the monsters and their
boats dragged far out to sea. The story
is told here that several years ago
two Mexicans were fishing in a. boat
when a sea devil swallowed tho bait and
hook of one of their lines which was
tied to a boat~hook. In the excite
ment the boat was overturned, but the
two men managed TO cling to it, The
big fish got tangled up in the anchor
chain and made for the open sea, drag
eing the boat and men behind, Sew.
eral other fishermen in the neighbor.
hood witnessed the accident and started
in pursuit, but they were soon out
distanced. The last seen of the boat
and the men they were spinning
| through the water ten miles from where
the fish was hooked. They were never
heard of afterwards.
AT Tarpon beach, situated across the
Lsguna de la Madre from Point Isa-
| bel, many Of these giant sea-devils have
been caught Not long ago two fisher
men captured one Of these fish and sue
ceeded in bringing it ashore. IT weigh
ed 1900 pounds. This was baby as
compared with the size of some of the
sea devils that have been seen and cap
| tured in these waters. 1t not infre-
quently happens that one is caught
which weighs as much as 1000 pounds.
A fish of this size has as much pull,
ing strength as & locomotive, it is
claimed. ..
About two years ago a party of
sportsmen had an experience with one
Of these sea-devils that was of the most
thrilling character. These men had
been anglino for tarpon at Arkansas
pass, the deep water channel which sep
|
and were tired of that sport. One morn
| ing boatman brought word to the
camp that several sea-devils were dis
porting themselves near the mouth of
the channel on the gulf side. The
boats were quickly launched and the
entire party Of sportsmen and boatmen,
numbering twenty eight men in all.
started TO the scene with the view Of
having some fun. The experienced
boatmen cautioned the landsmen as to
the dangers of the proposed sport, but
their advice went nnbeeded. A harpoon,
attached to the socket of which was
an iron rod eight feet long, and then
stout rope. was taken along. The
backs of several sea-devils were seen
glistenine in the sun when the mouth
of the pass was reached Ed Kline, one
of the boatmen, throw the harpoon into
the back of one Of the giant fish. The
prongs sank deep into the flesh An in
slant later the monster plunged into tho
depths Of the ocean and set off for the
open sea. dragging the boat and its two
occupants along behind. The boat
plowed trough in the water as it
sped along. After straight outward
course for six miles, the a-dcvil
turned and came back to where the
other boats with their excited occu.
nants were located. AS it made sec
ond turn the boats hooked onto each