The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-10-18
FISHING IN TAMPA BAY

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Many places in America are more widely adj
vertised and their advantages more loudly &C
claimed, but when it comes to an actual show
down it doubtful if there is any more justly en-
titled to call itself "hsherman's paradise. than
I ampa Bay
In the first place. there is nowhere more beau
tiful body of water Under every change of sky
it presents fascinating picture, with its palm
fringed shores, its numerous points and mlets and
is dreamy sky-lnes Of cities and villages.
Again, it is remarkably quiet and safe Though
covering many square miles, it is land locked and
shallow and except in the toughest weather, it can
be navgated by the smallest craft.
Then-most important of all to the ardent
sporsman-it has the fish. Every week in the
year it offers special attractions. There are the
regular year round bargain counter offerings in
the form of shepherds, yellow tails angel fish and
mango snappers usually found about the docks
pIllSS, WlllCH Sdll
out difficulty. But to get the best of its stock
it is necessary 10 go out little distance from the
shore and catch them as they run in or out with
the tide
Right now the Spanish Mackerel is the most
priced of its treasures. AS game fish, the mack
ere ranks with the best He is a quick bitter.
hard puller and the finest pan fish in the bay
Probably there is no other form of fishing more
exciting than that which prevails when this fish
is running
such school can be detected by the gulls which
gather over them, scrambling and diving for the
minnows which are chased to the surface. The
best way, perhaps, to get the maximum enjoyment
is to get in the path of such school and catch
whatever you as it passes. The mackerel
does not travel alone Part of the commotion
you see in the waves is made by trout. jackhsh,
sharks, and other auxiaries of the mackerel cara
You drop your line in the water and it is
seized and yanked down toward the bottom Until
you get glimpse of the fish you are uncertain as
to what you have. 1t may be trout, in which
case you simply pull it in. 1t may be jack6sh
A little harder fight is required A flash of silver
hecked with purple may reveal that you have
hooked mackere and you feel glow of salts
faction. But the line may cut the water with
swfter motion. and you see the villianous outlines
CT shark, which you can land only by the aid of
harpoon or gun. Another possibility is the lordly
kng6sh, second only to the tarpon as fighter.
and one CT the genuine beauties of the deep. If
it he, your chance of success is slim unless your
line is strong, and you possess unusual skill in
handling the pole
These are but few of the possibilities When
you drop your hook over the side of the boat it
may be seized by any of at least fifty species
which frequent the bay. What you can be sure of
is excitement and enough incidents to make
days fishing notable event.
Florida abounds in both fresh and salt water
fishing grounds. and no matter what part of the
state is tried cut, fine sport is always assured. !
Other places may equal Tampa Bay, but we ven
ure the assertion that the stranger, captured any
where out in the interior of the United States and
given an initiation FIVE to ten miles south of Tampa
will declare that is such fishing as he sometimes
ventures to dream of, but never really hoped to
see in the flesh.
The only way to be better friend to Lake