The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-27
LAST CALL, ANGLER,
FOR SURF FISHING
Channels, Kings, Weaks and
Croakers Now Leaving Not
to Return Until 1919.
HOW TO FISH BEACH
ny CHURCHILL HuNGERFoRD.

ny CHURCHILL HUNGERFORD.
OCEAN Crrr. N. j., Oct. 2s.-This ID
the last call for surf fishing. The
migrants will soon leave the New Jersey
shore for Southern waters.
The fish that really make the surf
worth fishing are the kingfish, weakfish
and croakers. To only a few of the
many who FISH the beach Is granted the
extraordinary good fortune of landing
big one" so II is really the smaller
ish that are the real incentive OF surf
fishing. Here too, Ia where the skill
comes in. and where the surf angler
uses the same careful tactics as those
Of the trout fisherman.
Let us start fishing at half ebb In
fair weather. Assuming that we de-
sire small fish we will go to the middle
of the island. BY wading out into the
surf we can cast to the outer bar. The
objective point Is the deep water Just
inside this bar. II the Ash do not bite
In minute or two hold a taut line, 80
that each succeeding wave washes the
dipsie In foot or two. In a short
time the entire gully has been traversed
or a fish has struck.
Make another cast as before and re-
peat the process OF fishing across the
gully. After three or four casts you
will know whether the fish are feeding
OH the far side of the gully, the near
side or the middle. Usually on the ebb
the far side Of the gully affords the
best fishing. particularly for kingfsh.
II. however, your efforts are unavail-
ing and no fish strike drift along the
beach in the direction OF the current,
casting across the gully and fishing
back through it as described.
At irregular intervals swift narrow
currents or sea pusses will be found
cutting diagonally out into the ocean.
Fish these carefully. II the kinvfish
are biting at all they win be found
here on the ebb. When the tide Is near
the end of the ebb there are many
places where the outer bar Is high
enough for the angler to stand in COM
fort and cast into the sea puss beyond
the bar
without n question this location Is
most excellent as long as II is accessl-
bic for all OF the smaller fish. At the
turn OF the tide the kingfish are likely
to stop biting here apd the weakfish take
hold with renewed energy. Perhaps a
black drum or a channel bass will hap
pen along and pick up your bait.
Surf Crosker Hard Fighter.
The surf croaker is hard fighter and
exists IN such generous numbers that
the fisherman has few idle moments on
the beach. He is also a brilliantly
marked fish. Unfortunately, it has bee n
the custom for many people to despise
the croakers that are so plentiful in
the surf from the beginning OF the sea
son to Its end.
This feeling is not without foundation.
because the croakers that are caught
two or three miles out In the ocean get
some kind OF food that gives them a
most villainous taste and odor: but the
SURF croakers are on the beach to eat
the surf clans and particularly those
choice morsels, the little coqu!na clans.
and their flesh partakes Of the flavor OF
their food.
As hint TO those who expect to eat
them. the eroaker Is as easy to skin as
he Is to scale. Skinned. rolled In cracker
dust and egg and friend a golden brown,
ne Is at least the equal of the kinghsh,
and Is Enthusiastically far superior to
the weakfsh.
When the tide is at half flood the
side OF the gully nearest to the outer
bar is beyond casting distance. As the
tide rises fewer waves break on the
bar and the FISH usually cross to the
inner side OF the gully.
Most OF us cast beyond the fish at this
stage. disregarding the fact that the I'M
dertow washes the crabs. clans sea
bugs. &c, as far as the inner edge OF
the gully and then drops them. The fish.
OF course. understand this as we'll as We
do, and undoubtedly run the inner side
OF the gully on the last half OF the
food tide.
During this period FISH about ten feet
outside the inner break for the bottom
feeding fish. and In the middle Of the
gully for the weakfsh when they are
feeding off bottom.