The Washington times., 1938-12-15

go lden days
Of Indian summer. Locally
speaking, the Chesapeake Bay
area is also barren, although
the last of the huge rockfiSh
schools did not move out until
the first freeze in late Novem-
Der. So, what? Well, it's fish
ing time in the Southland.
The CarolinaS, at this writing,
are offering the finest upland
and marsh shooting they've had
In the last ten years.
Nearing the Florida border in
the Deep South is found Sea
Island, Ga, a paradise for both
fisherman and hunter, where the
sport of rod and gun is carried
on in high-class fashion. Eliza
beth Thompson. Of Sea Island,
q most charming personality,
tells us that the season is now
in full swing and that bag limits
and full creels are no excep-
tons.
Three Kinds of Angling
Going into Floridaland there
are found three distinct kinds
Of fishing. In the inland lakes
and rivers the large-mouthed
black bass are at their best, and
practically every angler who has
fished these abundant fresh
waters carries tales to the out
side world that Florida is tops
when it comes to the subject OF
bass fishing. Florida sportsmen
have become bass conscious dur
ing the last few years and there
are now stringent laws, with
teeth that will bite, that pro-
tect the gamesters against COM
mercialism, which was a COM
mon robber not so far back.
The second choice of angling
takes in the inland saltwater
areas, such as bays, bayous, and
other inside waters for various
kinds of fish indigenous to these
waters. such as spotted weak
fish, tarpon, channel bass, red
fish, mackerel, sheephead, and
various other species.
The third method Of angling
in F1oridaland is known as deep
sea fishing in outside waters OF
gulf and ocean for sailfish, tar
pom, marlin, swordfish, amber
Jack, tuna, kingfish, barracuda,
dolphin, and other various Spe-
cieS.
At certain seasons and in GER
tain localities, there is an over
tapping and naturally an inter-
mingling of the saltwater spe-
cies occurs. Many fish from the
deep sea go into inland waters
under certain conditions - and
there are certain fish which re-
main in a definite location at
all times. For instance, sail
fish, white and blue marlin are
never caught except in the out
side waters.
Famous Fishing Ports
The best and most well-known
ports along the Florida Seaboard
are Jacksonville, st. Augustine,
Daytona Beach, Fl. Lauderdale
and Miami. Along this eastern
front is the home of Florida'S
famous SailfiSh.
Coming up the eastern side Of
the Gulf of Mexico are found
such famous tarpon grounds as
Boca Grande, Venice, Sarasota,
Tampa and st. Petersburg, in
Florida. Swinging to the west,
the tarpon grounds continue on,
with such standouts as Biloxi,
Gulfport and Pass Christian, in
Old Miss, and Corpus Christi in
Texas. OF course, New Orleans
must never be overlooked, while
on the gulf side, for it was here
that history was made it's
great to visit this quaint city.
A trip into Floridaland should
include a must visit to Marine
Studios, 10 miles south of St.
Augustine. Here, at the worlds
largest aquarium, is depicted
life's story of the ocean bottom,
where the survival Of the fittest
Is in force.
Worlds Largest Shark
The largest shark ever cap
tured alive has just been placed
in the worlds only oceanarium,
at Marineland. Fla. Weighing
approximately 900 pounds, this
ground shark. which was caught
through the injection of a drug
by a special hypodermic har-
poon, is II feet 6 inches long.
Another ground shark, 8 feet 8
inches long, weighing about 400
pounds. was also added to the
collection.
Both Of these sharks were
caught off Marineland, Fla, by
Capt. Eugene Williams and his
crew on the Porpoise, the fish
ing boat designed especially for
transporting large specimens by
Marine Studios, and from all
appearances are healthy in
their new habitat, showing no
III effects from the anesthesia
or from their trip in the well
in the hull of the Porpoise. A
number of other sharks have
previously been captured and
placed in the oceanarium, but
on only one Of these was the
drug used.