The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-07-03

OONDA l, JUL1 D, 1Szl is president of the Jefferson Fish ermcn's association.
 The following statement of Mir. Ol- lver, giving 9 detailed description of his splendid achievement In land- ing the largest tarpon taken in Ala bama and with few exceptions the largest tarpon ever taken anywhere in the world, is intensely interesting.
 Equipped with a splendid sea reel and an ideal scared, a No. 36 line. l repaired to the Alabama coast, stopping at Golden with John Rolston, proprietor of the Rolston hotel
 T found that all the professional fishermen were engaged, and after consultation with Mir. Roiston I was recommended to Earl Bryant, who was practically unknown as a fish ing guide and boatman. On talking to him, however, 1 found that he was splendidly informed as to local conditions and the habits of the fish in these waters. What was more Important, I found also that he was active, energetic and pleasant and was willing to burn his gasoline for trolling.
 "On the 2Sth and 29th the water was PitNAN AOu6H anu vas hhobAD " NS anything in the way of trolling for tarpon, but on the 3oth the weather began to be bit better. On that day, which was my first day out for tar pon, I tried out my tackle, and found that this method of catching the fish would work, as I landed one during the day.
 "On the eventful day of August Sl, my twelve-year-old boy, William. Jr', and myself arose before daylight and, finding Bryant awaiting us, we got in his launch and proceeded to the fishing grounds. Conditions were excellent The water was still and the was rising. When We got Unto about 30 feet deep and about 150 feet wide, leading from Mobile bay Into the Mississippi sound. and be- tween Cedar point and Daupin is land, William and I got into the skiff which was tied behind the launch and proceeded 10 troll from the skiff up and down the pass.
 Sometime about seven o'clock the record breaker struck and rose clear from the water. endeavoring to throw the spoon from his mouth. I yelled to Bryant and he immediately cut off the power and anchored the launch.
 
 My first sight of this beautiful fish made me realize that I had hooked prize winner and neglect ed no precaution to land him. It was my object 10 work him, if possi- bie. into the shallow water which lies next to the deeper water of the pass. This I succeeded in doing after playing him for perhaps thirty minutes. working him into the shall low water toward Dauphin Island
 "Elevent times this gallant fish Jumped clear of the water and three times he took out every inch Of my line, which, by the way, was four hundred and seventy-flve feet long. When he feinted on me in this way with his rushes Bryant would row the noat toward him while I pumped the rod ana wound up the line to get as much line as l could. 1 am sure that never would have landed him but for the fact that l was fortunate enough to get him into shallow water l cannot tell all of the particulars or the fight and I know that no req, good sportsman who has been through Win such an experience would be aole to tell coherently what hap pened
 can only say that finally after two hours. at the end of which time was thoroughly exhausted. we satfed him mile and half from the launch, and carried him back to ,.ois'ons hotei where our genial most. recognizing that we had an nm usual fish, telephoned to n photoprs- pher In Mobile. who came and took the pictures. The fish was weighed ana measured in the presence of Mr. Hueh MOTION, Dr. Ali Walker and Dr. VIII Jordan. all of Birminghan. ana or MT. Rolston and two boatmen. lie weighed 216 pounds, was feet II inches long, and 43 inches in girth.
 The next day, using the same Rind Of tackle, my boy caught one tarpon which weighed so pounds and l caught another, and two days after that l landed three more, which proves that the method of fishing employed by me is correct.
 For the benefit of the fishing fra ternity in general, l might add few observations In regard to tarpon fishing at this place.
 "coden Is about 2S miles from Mobile by railroad, and about 10 miles by water. or. If you desire to go my machine, there is a splendid highway from Mobile to Coden, and l have made it in this way from Mo- bile several times in an hour ana fifteen minutes.
 You will not be disappointed in the hotel accommodations. Ths quarters are comfortable and everv- thing possible is done for the well rare and convenience of guests.
 Grants pass Is east and directly in front of the hotel and the placa where I landed fial seven or eight miles from the hotel.
 Tarpon can be caught there dur ing the months of August and Sep. tember, but the best season is from August Is to September Is, and the best place in this vicinity to fish for them is in the deep waters of the pass.
 "Tarpon will not strike at all upon falling tide. On two occasions on this last trip, when the water was especially smooth and the tide was ebbing, saw and trolled through what without exaggerution. seemed to me to be a hundred acres of tar pon rolling and wallowIng in the waters in and around the pass. the boat pumping them in some in- The fishing was always good, other conditions being right, when the tide was rising.
 Troll about 150 feet behind the boat and if they do not strike at this distance let out your line 50 feet. and if you fail then. bring 1t In 100 feet Use the spoon without a weight, and If you fail to get strike put some weight ahead of the spoon and sink it. Sometimes the fish will strike un- der one of these conditions and some times under another. I am satisfied that I have located tuna near Coden, and. If my luck holds good, I am going to get one of them next sum mer. but that" as Kipling says, is