Part 10

=Tackle and Lure=--The flyingfish is about the only bait with which the tuna can be caught. The hook, which must be attached to about 3-1/2 or 4 inches or light chain and with a wire snell, is passed into the mouth and down the belly of the flyingfish, the barb projecting about midway of the fish. A small string is passed through the nose and under lip and tied through a link of the chain to keep the mouth shut. The speed of the boat should be from two to four miles an hour. In the middle of the day, when the tunas are feeding in schools, the sinker should be removed, and the lure skipped along the surface of the water. This effect can be helped by the motion of the rod.

The Catalina Tuna Club has adopted the following tackle specifications:

For Tuna and Swordfish--Rod to be of wood, consisting of a butt and tip, and to be not shorter than 6 feet, 9 inches over all. Tip not less than 5 feet in length, and to weigh not more than 16 ounces. Line not to exceed standard 24-thread.

THE ALBACORE

(Germo alalunga)

The albacore is another genus of the same family, and reaches a weight of 40 to 80 pounds; averaging 25 pounds. It is seldom seen as far north as San Francisco, but is abundant from Santa Barbara south to Central America. Like all of the family it is a gamy fish, and affords good sport to the angler. In general shape and appearance it resembles the tuna, but will always be distinguished by its long, sword-like pectoral fins that start from near the gills, and a trifle lower than the eye, and reach beyond the second dorsal fin.

=Tackle and Lure=--The albacore will take almost any lure from a sardine to a white rag. The speed of the boat can also be varied very much. I have known them to be caught on a hand line trolled behind a coast steamer. About three miles an hour, however, will give the best results. The following light tackle specifications of the Tuna Club will be found quite satisfactory for the average albacore:

Rod to be of wood, consisting of a butt and tip, and to be not shorter than 6 feet, over all. Butt to be not over 14 inches in length. Tip not less than 5 feet in length, and to weigh not more than 6 ounces. Line not to exceed standard 9-thread.

THE YELLOW-FIN ALBACORE

(Germo microptera)

Another of the =Scrombridæ= family, and very closely allied to the albacore, is the yellow-fin albacore. This fish has erroneously been called "yellow-fin tuna." It does not belong to the genus =Thunnus= any more than does the albacore or the bonito. It is only a visitor to the California waters, and often does not make its appearance for one or two seasons at a time. They are common to the coasts of Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, and are supposed to migrate with the Japanese current. This species fights altogether on the surface, but lacks the sterling gamy qualities of the tuna.

In shape it is built very much on the lines of the albacore, but with its pectoral fins only extending back to about half way between the anal and ventral, the other fins are placed the same as the albacore, and all except the pectoral strongly tinged with bright lemon; pectoral fin is more of a bright brown; eye, large and prominent.

A few have been taken weighing as much as 40 pounds and one even 65 pounds. The average, however, is about 30 pounds.

THE BONITO, OR SKIPJACK

(Sarda chilensis)

To the angler who is not looking for the largest of game, the bonito--known as skipjack to the Catalina anglers--is possibly the most interesting of the ocean game fishes. Its beautiful metallic colors, its rapid movements, and pleasing habit of always fighting on the surface, and rarely, if ever sulking, makes it a most attractive game to the discriminating angler.

The bonito also belongs to the =Scrombidæ= family, and ranges from Point Conception to Mexico and south through the tropics.

Body, rounded, tapering rapidly to the tail, which is strongly forked, but not so much as the albacore; pectoral fins, short and placed opposite the eye; dorsal fin, double, with saw-like ridges from the second dorsal and the anal fins to the tail, the same as in all of this family. Color, dark blue on the back, with a metallic luster; sides, silvery white, with dark longitudinal lines. Weight, from six to twelve pounds.

=Tackle and Lure=--The light tackle specifications of the Tuna Club, given for albacore cannot be improved upon for these fish.

SPANISH MACKEREL

(Scomberomorus concolor)

This is another of the =Scrombidæ= family. It ranges north to Monterey Bay, where it makes its appearance in September, remaining until November, when it goes south to the Santa Barbara channel; remaining in these waters and about Catalina Island during most of the winter. This fish is called bonito by many of the Catalina anglers, which is a misnomer, as it is a much slimmer fish than the bonito.

The pectoral fins are small and located a little above the center of the body and close to the gill covers; front dorsal starts just above the base of the pectorals and extend along the back for a distance a little more than the length of the head, and nearly meeting the second dorsal, which is about the same width as its heighth; ventral fins, a little in front of the pectorals and rather small; front of the anal fin under the back of the second dorsal. Back, steel blue; sides, silvery. Oblique lines, of the darker color of the back, running forward and downward to a little below the lateral line.

Weight, usually from nine to twelve pounds, though they occasionally attain a weight of eighteen pounds.

=Tackle and Lure=--The same as for the bonito.

THE CHUB MACKEREL

(Scomber japonicus)

The chub mackerel, the smallest of the =Scombridæ= family, approaches very closely the true mackerel of the East. It is hard to find a fish of any variety more delicious than a chub mackerel, caught from the yacht and placed on the broiler as soon as it quits flapping. They are occasionally found as far north as Monterey bay, but their real range is from the Santa Barbara channel south. With reasonably light trout tackle they put up a gamy and interesting fight.

Back, bluish green, mottled with irregular darker streaks, some of which pass below the lateral line; first dorsal fin quite high, and about the distance of its height in front of the second dorsal; second dorsal and anal about the same size and nearly opposite each other; tail forked, but not so broadly as the bonito. Weight, from one-half to three pounds.

=Tackle and Lure=--Trout tackle and spoon will furnish interesting sport. But they will take any lure.

THE YELLOW-TAIL

(Seriola dorsalis)

The yellow-tail belongs to the family =Carangidæ=, the same to which belong the pompanos, and is one of the gamiest of sea fishes. In fact, it is generally said by experts who have fished for all varieties and in all waters, both salt and fresh, that the yellow-tail of Catalina is the gamiest fish, pound for pound, that swims. Whether this be true or not, it is certainly one of the hardest and most persistent fighters found anywhere and furnishes the angler with rod and reel from an hour to two hours of lively sport before he can bring it to gaff. One well-known writer on angling subjects says: "It never knows when it is dead." While the average catch will run from ten to thirty pounds, specimens have been taken weighing sixty-five pounds. It is occasionally met with in Monterey bay, but its range is from the Santa Barbara channel south, where it is caught the larger portion of the year.

Grayish blue on the back; sides, a dull silver, with a yellowish buff stripe along the lateral line; fins, green, with a strong yellowish tinge; tail, yellowish buff. Scales small, with the head bare, except a small patch on the cheeks. Pectoral fin on a level with the eye and small; ventral under the center of the pectoral; caudal, slim and forked. The dorsal fin is double, the front being very small with spines and the second half more than twice as high; dorsal and anal fins continue in a low membrane to very near the tail. Body, elliptical and very small at the base of the caudal fin.

=Tackle and Lure=--Same as for salmon or albacore.

Order, ACANTHROPTERI.

Family, SCROMBIDAE

Genus Species Common Names Range ------------- ------------- ----------------- --------------------------

Thunnus thynnus Leaping tuna {From Coronado Islands {to Monterey Bay.

{microptera Yellow-fin {Irregular visitors to the { albacore {waters of Catalina Island Germo { {and adjacent mainland. { {alalunga Albacore From Point Conception south.

Sarda chilensis Bonito From Santa Barbara south.

Scomberomorus concolor Spanish mackerel From Monterey Bay south.

Scomber japonicus Chub mackerel From Point Conception south.

THE CALIFORNIA SWORDFISH

(Tetrapturus mitsukuri)

By many anglers for large and exciting game, the California swordfish is pronounced the king of all game fishes. Certainly they put up a very determined and exciting fight. In size they average about 180 pounds, though one has been taken at Catalina by W. C. Boschen that weighed 355 pounds. When a swordfish is hooked its rushes are desperate, even reckless, and at times dangerous to the angler. In its determined efforts to free itself from the impaling hook, it threshes the waters into foam, repeatedly leaping into the air, where the sunlight scintillating upon the purple of its back and silvery sides adds the charm of color to the excitement of the contest. It is safe to say that there is no fish, either in the salt or fresh waters, that is so constantly on the surface and in the air during its struggles for freedom as is the California swordfish. Thirty, forty and even fifty clean leaps into the sunlight by the one fish have been recorded in its desperate struggle to baffle the skill of the angler.

The snout of the swordfish is continued into a long, sharp bone, which measured from the back of the mouth is about one-fourth of the length of the fish from the mouth to the base of the tail. The under jaw is also a sharp projecting bone about half the length of the sword. The dorsal fin rises sharply from the top of the head to a height nearly equaling the depth of the body, the latter part curving downward and continuing along the back to nearly the center of the body; tail divided into two long, slim forks; second dorsal and anal near the tail and nearly opposite each other; ventral fin below the terminal of the first dorsal; pectoral fins rather long and located close to the gill-covers; two long, slender feelers projecting from the center of the throat just below the base of the pectorals; eye very large and bright dark blue.

Purplish green on the back, with blue perpendicular stripes fading into the silvery sides; fins, dark purple.

=Tackle and Lure=--Same as for tuna.

THE BLACK SEA BASS, OR JEW-FISH

(Stereolepis gigas)

This monster of the ocean, commonly called jew-fish, seems to be in all respects a gigantic black bass, closely resembling the small-mouthed of the fresh waters, and no further description will be necessary for anyone who may be fortunate enough to land one to know to what species it belongs. In fact, he will know just what he has hooked long before the monster shows himself on the top of the water. This huge black sea bass seems to have a very restricted range, for it is only known from the Coronado Islands to the Farallones. They are very plentiful around Catalina Island, where they are usually taken with hand lines. They can not be called a game fish, though they are now being taken with rod and reel at Catalina and furnish a kind of "heavy-weight" sport for those who like it. One weighing over 436 pounds has been taken on a tuna rod and twenty-one thread line. The writer saw one several years ago that was taken on a hand line that weighed 720 pounds and was over seven feet in length. They are fish of great strength and will tow a boat with ease at a considerable speed.

=Tackle=--The same as for tuna, with fish bait.

THE BARACUDA

(Sphyraena argentea)

The baracuda is a common fish from San Francisco south to Mexico. In the Santa Barbara channel and about Catalina and San Diego it is largely taken by trolling with light tackle, when it affords really good sport. It is a long, slim fish, reaching three and even three and a half feet in length, the usual catch being from two to two and a half feet in length.

Head long and slender; eye high up on the head and nearly half way between the snout and the back of the gill covers. Pectoral fin just below the lateral line; first dorsal spinous and nearly opposite the ventral; second dorsal about midway between the first and the tail; anal almost directly under the second dorsal.

Bluish brown on the back, grading into white on the belly.

=Tackle and Lure=--Same as for bonito.

WHITING and CROAKERS

There are three other species of fish which inhabit the surf of the Pacific from Point Conception, south to Mexico, that, while they can not be properly termed game fishes, furnish the angler fine sport because of the gamy fight they make on light tackle. These are the whiting (=Menticirrhus undulatus=), the spot-fin croaker (=Roncador stearnsi=) and the yellow-fin croaker (=Umbrina roncador=). The first of these is known locally by the names of corbina and surf-fish, which are bad misnomers. The name, surf-fish, is given by the ichthyologist to a species of perch, and the courbina belongs to the genus =Pogonias= and is not found as far north as the California coast. These names should be abandoned by the anglers and the proper English name of whiting used. The word courbina is Italian and means croaker, from the Latin, corvus, crow.

THE WHITE SEA BASS

(Cygonoscion nobilis)

The white sea bass is purely a California species, ranging from the Coronado Islands to about the latitude of San Francisco. They are caught trolling and make a gamy fight on rod and reel. Twenty to forty pound fish are common and they have been caught weighing seventy-five pounds.

Light bluish on the back and white on the sides, with many small specks; dark spot at the base of the pectoral fins. Head, long, with pointed snout, and with the scales of the head running nearly to its end. Dorsal fin double, the first half having ten spines and the latter twenty-one or twenty-two soft rays. Anal with two spines and nine rays. Tail but little forked.

=Tackle=--The same as for salmon or yellow-tail.

CALIFORNIA WHITING OR SAND-SUCKER

(Menticirrhus undulatus)

This species is common to the sand beaches of the Pacific, from Point Conception south to Guaymas, Mexico. It feeds during the larger part of the year in the surf, and is caught from the wharfs or by long casts with heavy sinkers from the beach. The whiting appears on the California coast in two varieties, the =undulatus= proper and a subspecies which I think has never been classified. At any rate, the difference seems sufficient to entitle it to a subspecifies classification, for the mouth curves strongly downward, and, therefore, does not extend so far back as the undulatus proper. The tail also differs, in having both upper and lower lobes rounded, instead of the upper being square as in the =undulatus=.

Head, about one-fifth of the entire length; snout, rather pointed, and projecting beyond the mouth; mouth reaching to the center of the eye; small barbel on the lower lip. Dorsal fin, double, the first with from seven to nine spines, the second soft and reaching from the first to within about the length of the head from the tail; pectoral fins near the gills and about the width of the eye below the center of the body; ventral fins, a little behind the pectoral; anal fin under the center of the second dorsal; dorsal fins dark; pectoral, ventral and anal fins, light with darker tips; tail of the =undulatus= proper, upper lobe square and lower lobe rounded. Back, bluish brown, shading to white on the belly; scales, small. Below the lateral line are a number of small spots forming irregular lines running backward and upward. Size, rarely exceeding eight pounds.

The illustration is of the variety that I have referred to as a subspecies.

=Tackle and Lure=--The three-six tackle. Rod to be of wood, consisting of a butt and tip, and to be not shorter than six feet over all; weight of entire rod not to exceed six ounces; butt not to be over twelve inches in length. Line not to exceed standard 6-thread. Lure, sandflies, mussels or clams.

YELLOW-FIN CROKER

(Umbrina roncador)

The yellow-fin croaker is found in the surf or near it along the sandy beaches from some distance north of Point Conception south to Manzanillo, Mexico, where it is known by the name "corvina con aletas amarillas," or "croaker with yellow fins."

Head, about one-fifth the whole length; snout, very blunt, with a small barbel on the lower lip. Dorsal fin double, the first half with seven or eight spines, the longest about two-thirds the length of the head; second half rayed and about two-thirds the height of the first, and reaching to about half the length of the head from the tail; pectoral fins short, and placed close to the gills and a little below the center of the body; ventral fins just below the pectoral and a trifle longer; anal fin, below the center of the second dorsal; tail, nearly square. Back, greenish brown, with a metallic luster and giving a pinkish tinge in some lights; sides, shading to white on the belly. A few irregular spots on the sides forming faint lines.

SPOT-FIN CROAKER

(Roncador stearnsi)

The spot-fin croaker appears in and near the surf of the Pacific Coast from Point Conception south to Mexico. =Roncador= is Spanish and signifies snorer. This species resembles the yellow-fin very closely, but is usually lighter in color and more metallic in appearance. It can always be distinguished from the yellow-fin by the distinct black spots at the base of the pectoral fins.

=Tackle and Lure=--Same as for whiting.

THE TUNA CLUB OF CATALINA ISLAND

I cannot close these articles on fish and fishing without a few words of commendation of the Tuna Club of Catalina Island. From the very inception of this organization it has striven to encourage the use of light tackle by all anglers. To this end, it has adopted three classes of tackle specifications for the taking of the several kinds of fish found in the waters surrounding its island home, and provided a number of cups and buttons to be awarded each year to anglers who land fishes of certain weights, with such tackle as is prescribed therefore by its rules. This campaign, which it has so energetically urged in behalf of scientific angling, has worked wonders in its section of the Coast. The old methods of landing fish, even of the gamiest quality, by the employment of nothing more than brute force at the end of an unbreakable cable, has almost disappeared in its section, and scientific angling with the lightest possible tackle has taken its place. But the good work of the Tuna Club has not been confined to the boundaries of its own section. Anglers from other sections of the country visiting Catalina, and seeing the additional pleasure derived from the use of light tackle, have become enthusiastic advocates of this more scientific means, and returning to their homes have spread the propaganda there.

To the stiff pole and chalk-line fishermen of confirmed habits I have nothing to say. But to the younger generation who have not yet grown grey in the practice of bad habits, I wish to urge upon them the use of the lightest tackle possible, as a means of developing greater skill and deriving greater pleasure from their favorite sport. And this is equally true whether it be a tuna or a trout.

Order, ACANTHROPTERI

Family, SCIAENIDAE

Genus Species Common Names Range ------------ ---------- ------------------- -------------------------- {California whiting {From Point Conception Menticirrhus undulatus {or sand sucker {south to Guaymas, Mexico.

{From Point Conception Roncador stearnsi Spot-fin croaker {south to Manzanillo, {Mexico.

{From Point Conception Umbrina roncador Yellow-fin croaker {south to Manzanillo, {Mexico.

{From San Francisco south Cygonoscion nobilis White sea bass {to Coronado Islands.

ATTRACTIVE FISHING RESORTS

It is possible that the day may come when man will be so engrossed with the pursuit of the dollar that the call of the wild will no longer quicken the pulsations of his heart. But until that time does come, the wild creatures of nature, whose pursuit affords the most healthful and exhilarating pastime, will continue to lure him to their haunts.

"To sit on rocks and gaze o'er flood and fell; To slowly trace the forest's shady scene, Where things that own not man's dominion dwell, And mortal feet hath ne'er, or rarely, been,"

will long continue to present a charm to all who love the sublimity of the mountains, the beauty of the flower-decked fields, or the awe-inspiring grandeur of the ocean.

To draw a bead on the antlered buck; to stop the flight of the gamy quail; to land the denizen of the mountain stream, or troll the ocean's depth for the tuna, the salmon or the yellow-tail, furnishes a pastime whose recollection draws one back again and again to sit on nature's lap and listen to her teachings. The recollection of these pleasures are locked in the treasure vaults of the memory, where the wearings of time can never erase them; for when the once firm step that carried him proudly up the mountain's side shall falter and become a palsied wreck of time, and the eye, dimmed by the accumulated mists of years, shall see clearly, only in retrospect, he will sit by his fire-side in slippered feet, and, gazing down the long vistas of the past, live over and over again in his reveries the pleasures furnished by the forest, the field, the stream and the ocean.

Nothing would please me better than to describe herein the many places where, during a residence on the Pacific Coast of more than half a century, I have enjoyed these sports in the fullest degree. But even the merest mention of the almost innumerable hunting grounds and trout streams, and the hundreds of mountain and sea-side resorts, from Washington to Mexico, would, of itself, make a volume of no mean size. I am, therefore, restricted to the mention of only a few of the more attractive places where good sea fishing can be found, coupled with such accommodations and surroundings as appeal to the discriminating pleasure seeker.

CATALINA ISLAND.

Almost due south of Los Angeles, and about twenty miles from the mainland, is the far-famed island of Catalina.

It is still a debatable question whether it was the leaping tuna that made Catalina famous, or whether it was its many attractions, its facilities for sea fishing and its splendid accommodations, that gave the sport of tuna fishing a world-wide reputation.