Fishing - A Golden Guide

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FISHING
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BIRDS BUTTERFLIES AND MOTHS
CASINO GAMES FAMILIES OF BIRDS FISHES
FISHING FLOWERS FOSSILS GEOLOGY
HERBS AND SPICES INSECT PESTS
INSECTS MAMMALS POND LIFE
REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS
ROCKS AND MINERALS
SEASHELLS OF THE WORLD
SEASHORES SKY OBSERVER'S GUIDE
SPIDERS AND THEIR KIN
STARS TREES TROPICAL FISH
WEATHER WEEDS
LLLULM I1LLU LI1UL5
AMPHIBIANS OF NORTH AMERICA
BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA
ROCKS AND MINERALS
SEASHELLS OF NORTH AMERICA
TREES OF NORTH AMERICA
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WV W W
HING
MOR TAJ C'1 JLLlGTRATJOJG
l JFlLL COLOR
by GEORGE S. FICHTER
and PHIL FRANCIS
under the edi torshi p of
HERBERT S. ZIM
Illustrated by TOM DOLAN,
KEN MARTIN, and
HARRY McNAUGHT
GOLDEN PRE88 NEW YORK
WBStBlD UOlSDD@ LODBDy, DC.
HBCDB, WSCODSD
Z
1I11
Fi shi ng, one of man's ol dest recreati ons, has never been
more popul ar than i t is today. Wi th i ncreased l ei sure ti me,
more and more peopl e are di scoveri ng the joys of thi s
"gentl e art." And sport fi shi ng | san art, though some forms
are far from gentl e.
This basi c gui de to sport fshi ng i s desi gned to gi ve the
begi nni ng fsherman a proper start and to be as wel l a use
ful and i nteresti ng reference to angl ers of l ong experi
ence. I t descri bes the pri nci pal fi shes taken on hook and
l i ne i n fresh and sal t waters throughout North Ameri ca and
provi des i nformati on al so about the tackl e and techni ques
for catchi ng fsh.
We appreci ate greatl y the hel p and advi ce given by
our many fsher man fri ends and most particul ar l y by
Morri e Upperman, of Bi l l Upperman' s Bucktai l s; James D.
Barhydt, of E. I . du Pont de Nemours Co. ; D. C. Corkran,
of the Charles F. Orvi s Co. ; Ri chard H. Davi mos, of Harri
son I ndustri es, I nc.; Char l es B. Dunn, Jr. , of Southern Tackl e
Di stri butors, I nc. ; E
.
B. Magui re, of True Temper Corpora
ti on; Ronal d J. Hol tz, of James Hedden's Sons; G. G. Smi th,
of the Enterpri se Manufacturi ng Co. ; and W. J. laurent, of
Shakespeare Co.
G. S. F.
P. F.
PHOTO CREDI TS: Three li ons, p. 4; APA, p. 5; Mi chi gan Touri st Counci l ,
p. 1 30; Fl or i da State News Bureau, pp. 1 34, 1 35, 1 39, 1 49; Ed Gal l ob,
p. 1 38; Bertram Yacht Di v., Nautec Corp. , p. 1 42 (lop); Arkansas Pub
l i city and Parks Commi ssi on, p. 1 42 (bottom) ; lar ry Kol l er, p. 1 44.
Copyright 1b by Western Publishing Company, Inc. All rights re
served, including rights of reproduction and use in any form or by any
means, including the making of copies by any photo process, or by any
electronic or mechanical device, printed or written or oral, or recording
for sound or visual reproduction or for use in any knowledge retrieval
system or device, unless permission in writing is obtained from the copy
right proprietor. Produced in the U.S.A. by Western Publishing Company,
Inc. Published by Golden Press, New York, N.Y. Library of Congress
Catalog Card Numbe" 4-b4. ISBN --Z4b-b
LLM1bM1b
SPORT FISHING 4
I ts past an d present.
FISHES .. ...... . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 6
Exter nal a natomy, senses, an d
qual i ti es of sport fs h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Sal t-water fshes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2
Fresh-water fshes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
NATURAL BAITS .... .... .. ... .. . .... 58
Fresh water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Sal t water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
ARTIFI CIAL BAITS .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... 66
Spoons, spi n ners, pl ugs, fi es.
TACKLE AND ITS USE .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Hand l i nes and cane pol es . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Spi nni ng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 80
Fl y fshi ng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Bai t cast i ng, spi n cast i ng . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Surf fshi ng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Bay and bi g- game fshi ng . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Leaders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Hooks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 00
Accessori es . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 06
Knots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . o . . . . . . , . . . 1 1 4
Ri gs ........................... I1
WHEN, WHERE, AND HOW TO FISH ..... I20
Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 22
Streams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 24
Ponds, shal l ow an d deep l akes . . . . . . . . 1 28
Pi ers, bri dges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 34
Bays, l agoons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 36
Surf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . 1 38
Party boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 40
Charter boats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 42
Hooki ng, l andi ng . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 44
Cl eani ng o . . . . , . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 48
Trophi es, records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5 1
Boats . . . . . o . ., . . . . , . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 54
OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION. ... .. I56
INDEX . . ......................... I57
3
4
YLK1 M M
Sport fshi ng-catchi ng fsh for fun-began i n anci ent
t i mes. Man fshed frst for food, of course, t hen made a
sport of i t. Pri mi ti ve man used a gorge, forer unner of to
day's fshhook. I t consi sted of a pi ece of bone, wood, or
shel l sharpened at both ends. A l i ne was ti ed to i ts center,
and the gorge was hi dden i n a bai t. When a fsh swal
l owed t he morsel , the l i ne was pul led t i ght, l odgi ng the
gorge crosswi se i n t he fsh's gullet.
Barbed hooks are menti oned i n the Bi bl e, and the Red
Hackle, an arti fci al fy frst descri bed by the Romans, is
sti l l used to this day. By 1 496, when Dame Jul i ana Ber
ners, a Benedi cti ne nun, publ i shed "The Treatyse of
Fysshynge wyth an Angle" in The Book of St. Abons,
fshi ng had defni tel y become a sport.
Then came l zaak Wal ton, patron sai nt of modern
fshi ng, whose cl assi c book, The Compleat Angler, frst ap
peared i n 1 653. A trul y contempl ati ve angler, l zaak Wal
ton enj oyed a day by the stream as much as the catch.
Hi s descri pti ons of t he art of fshi ng are sti l l i nspi ri ng.
Approxi matel y 25 mi l l i on fshi ng l i censes are sol d an
nual l y i n t he United States, and an esti mated 1 5 mi l l i on
addi ti onal angl ers fsh where l i censes are not requi red,
as i n most sal t-water fshi ng areas. Every year angl ers
take some 500 mil l i on pounds of fsh from fresh waters
and about 600 mi l l i on pounds from sal t. Bi l l i ons of dol l ars
are spent on thi s most popul ar parti ci pati on sport. I n the
Uni ted States, t here are some 1 00,000 l akes and more
t han a mi l l i on mi l es of streams and ri vers for the fresh
water fsherman and more than 90,000 mi l es of coastl i ne
on whi ch t he sal t-water fsherman can try hi s l uck. Most
i mportant i s the i mmeasurabl e pl easure enj oyed by each
of these mi l l i ons of fshermen.
6
F I S H E S
Fi shes are a vari ed group of some 40,000 speci es, most of
whi ch have skel etons of bone. The few hundred speci es of
sharks, rays, and l ampreys have skel etons of carti l age.
Most bony fi shes are covered wi t h over l appi ng scal es
over whi ch there i s a t hi n ski n that secretes a coati ng of
sl i me. Thi s ai ds the fi sh i n sl i ppi ng th rough t he water and
protects i t from parasi tes. A fsh's age can be deter mi ned
by counti ng t he r i ngs on its scal es. The typi cal fsh has two
sets of pai red fns (pectoral and pel vi c) and three un
pai red fns (dorsal , anal , and caudal ) . I t swi ms mai nly by
waggi ng i ts body from si de to si de and uses i ts fns for
steeri ng. A fi sh breathes by al ternatel y openi ng i ts mouth
to l et i n water, then shutti ng i ts mouth and forci ng the
water back over i ts gi l l s and out the gi l l openi ngs. As the
water passes over the gi l l fl aments, di ssol ved oxygen i s
exchanged for carbon di oxi de.
PARTS OF A FI SH
Detai l of Scal e
lateral li ne
YELLOW PERCH
A fsh's shape is a cl ue to where
i t l i ves, how i t feeds and the sort of
fght i t puts up when hooked. Fi sh of
the open sea general l y have a
spi ndl e- shaped body. They depend
on speed to escape enemi es and to
catch food. They fght hard. Many
ki nds l eap from the water as they try
to get ri d of the hook. Marl i ns, tunas
and mackerel s are among these
fast, streaml i ned fsh.
At the opposite extreme are fat
or chunky bottom-dwel l ers. Usual l y
sl ow swi mmers, t hey do not j ump
when hooked, but may pul l hard as
they bore deeper i nto the water.
Some wi l l saw the l i ne i n two on
pi l i ngs or rocks.
Many fsh that l i ve i n qui et waters
between the surface and the bottom
have a compressed body-fattened
from si de to si de. Members of the
sunfsh fami l y i n fresh water or
pompanos, among others, i n sal t
water are of t hi s type.
Many fshes are protected from
enemi es by sharp spi nes or spi ny
fns, some of whi ch are poi sonous.
A pufer can i nfate i ts body unti l
it is too l arge for a predator to
swal l ow. Groupers and fl ounders
are among the fsh that can change
t hei r col or or pattern so t hat they
bl end wi th thei r surroundi ngs.
OPEN WATER
Cutthroat Trout
Fl athead Catfish
7
8
SENSES Fish detect danger and find their food by
their senses of sight, hearing, smell and taste. Generally
fish with a well-developed sense of sight are predators;
they eat smaller fish or other live, active animals. Their
sense of smell is not so well developed as it is in bottom
feeders, many of which are scavengers.
5lGHT A f i sh's eyes are at the
si des of i t s head hence it can
see behi nd as well as i n f ront .
Experi ments have demonstrated
that many fsh can detect even
sl i ght vari ati ons i n form and that
they can see col ors r angi ng over
the spectr um from red to vi ol et.
F resh-water bass, for exampl e,
often show strong preference for
l ures that are red or yel l ow. A
fsh can focus on near objects
Left Eye Onl y
Ri ght Eye,Onl y
Light rays bend i n passi ng from
water to ai r; hence fi sh's exact
l ocation varie wi th observer's
vi ewi ng angl e.
and can detect even s l i ght move
ments in di stant obj ects. Di stance
vi si on is l i mited by the short
range l i ght travel s i n water. Fi sh
that l i ve at moderate depths or
those that feed i n di m eveni ng
or mor ni ng l i ght may have l arge
eyes. Fi sh that fnd thei r food
mai nl y by i ts odor, as do catfsh
and eel s, have s mal l eyes. Fi sh
that feed mai nl y by si ght readi l y
take artifci al l ures ( p. ).
A fi sh l ooks from the water
through a ci rcul ar wi ndow
,
whi ch
vari es i n si ze wi th the cl arity of
the water an d the fi sh's depth.
current of water
ol factory
nerve (sense of smel l )
HEARlNW Vi brati ons travel
more rapi dl y and al so greater
distances i n water than i n ai r.
lures that gu rgl e, pop, o. r rattl e
ollrocl a fsh' s attenti on; they
con be "heard" without bei ng
seen and or e efective of ni ght
or in murky water where si lent
l u res pass unnoti ced. Fi sh do not
hear fshermen t al ki ng because
these sound waves a re i n the ai r,
but bongi ng on a boot sets up
vi brati ons i n the water that may
fri ghten fsh away. A fsh pi cks
up vi brati ons through the ear
bones i n its skul l ; it has no ex
ternal ear openi ngs. Its l ateral
l i ne, wi th pores openi ng to the
outsi de, detects low-frequency
vi brati ons, such as footsteps on
the bonk, and changes i n pres
sur e or c urrent di recti on.
l i ne
5NELL AND TA5TE ore
cl osel y rel ated, but smel l is efec
tive at a distance, whi l e on ob
ject must be contacted to be
tasted. A fsh's nostri l s ore bl i nd
s acs l i ned wi t h a ti ssue t hat i s
sensitive to odors. At spawni ng
ti me, salmon fnd thei r way from
the sea to thei r parental stream
by the odor of its water. They
con be gui ded to a new spawn
i ng a rea by on odor path of the
ol d stream. Odors given of by
al armed or i nj ured mi nnows at
tract predators. Thus, a boss may
seek a wou nded ( hooked) mi n
now used for bai t. Toste or gans
on the whi skers or barbel s hel p
catfsh, dr u ms, and ot her s fnd
food. Nat ur al baits, especi ally
those with a strong odor (p. 58).
work best for these fsh.
longi tudi nal
Secti on
9
Brown Trout
lar gemout h Bass
Bl uegi l l
1 0
YLX1 1M
Any fsh that is fun to catch on hook
and l i ne qual i fes as a sport fsh.
Opi ni ons vary about whi ch fish are
the most game, however. A 1 4-
i nch Smal l mouth Bass, a prize catch
to a Mi dwest fsherman, mi ght be
scorned by a Fl ori da fsherman ac
customed to battl i ng Tarpon or a
Cal i forni a fsherman who catches
Al bacore. Most fshermen agree that
sal t-water fsh show more speed,
strength, and stami na than do fresh
water fsh.
Gameness varies, too, wi th habi
tat and cl i mate. Largemouth Bass
caught i n cool northern l akes often
fght harder than Largemouths of
t he same si ze from warm southern
l akes. Wal l eyes taken from rivers
battle much harder than do Wal l
eyes from l akes. But extra si ze may
make up for the di ference, as
Largemouth Bass grow l arger i n t he
South and Wal l eyes l i vi ng i n l akes
grow l arger than those i n streams.
The gameness a fsh shows de
pends al so on the ki nd of tackl e
used. A quarter- pound Bl uegi l l
haul ed i n on a 20- pound test l i ne
puts up no fght at al l , whi l e the
same fsh caught on a l i mber fy rod
and fne l eader i s a real battl er.
Most fsh, i n fact, fght gamel y when
caught on light enough tackl e. li ght
tackl e puts more zest i n a sal t-water
fsh's fght, too, and real l y l arge-size
battl ers can be bested with l i ght
tackl e if i t i s used properl y. The
fghti ng chance l i ght tackl e gi ves the
fish makes fshi ng more fun.
Fi sh normal l y swi m about as fast
as a man wal ks. But when hooked,
some fsh l i teral l y burn the l i ne from
a reel . Marl i n and sai l fsh may
reach speeds of 60 mi l es an hour i n
short bursts. Tarpon can ri p of l i ne
at 30 mi l es an hour, and even smal l
game fsh, i ncl udi ng fresh-water
trout and bass, have been cl ocked
at 20 mi l es an hour. The harder and
faster a fsh fi ghts the mor e exciti ng
it i s to catch, as any veteran fsher
man wi l l testi fy.
The pri nci pal sport fsh of fresh
and sal t waters i n North Ameri ca
are descri bed and i l l ustrated on the
fol l owi ng pages. I ncl uded wi th the
sport fsh are some of t he common
rough and pest speci es that provi de
sport or fun si mpl y because they are
caught so abundantl y. The common
names used are those recommended
by the Outdoor Writers Associ ati on
of Ameri ca; the sci enti fc names are
those adopted by the Ameri can
Fi sheri es Society.
Stri ped Bass
Tarpon
Croaker
JJ
1 2
L1-1bK Mb
WMRE AND WMN HOW AND WMY
TARFON range over the coastal
waters of the Gul f of Mexico and
i n t he Atl anti c north t o Virgi ni a
and as far sout h as Brazi l . I n
shore fsh, they often ascend riv
ers to fresh water. They are per
manent resi dents i n the Fl ori da
Keys and 1 0,000 Isl ands. I n U. S.
waters they are most abundant
i n spri ng and s ummer, mi grati ng
northward i n s pr i ng.
8ONFl5H are found on t he
fat s borderi ng warm seas t he
worl d over. I n the conti nental
U. S. they rarel y occur north of
Bi scayne Bay on the Atl anti c or
the 1 0,000 I s l ands on the Gul f.
They are pl enti ful the year round
i n the Fl ori da Keys and the Ba
hamas. Most active on the ri si ng
ti de, they feed n ight and day.
LADYFl5M are found i n the i n
shore waters of tropi cal seas t he
worl d over . They a re pl enti ful i n
t he Gul f of Mexico and range
northward i n summer to the Car
ol i nas in the Atl antic. Ladyfsh
are active al l year i n souther n
Fl ori da, feedi ng day and ni ght.
They are caught ar ound i nlets
an d over deep fats.
ANR1CAN 5 HAD en t er
rivers on the Atl anti c from New
Engl and to North Fl ori da. Hick
ory Shad do not occur abundant
l y south of the Carol i nas. Both
are caught in fresh water duri ng
spri ng spawni ng r uns.
Trol l i ng, drifti ng, and sti l l fsh
i ng are best methods for bi g
Tarpon. Smal l er fsh a re taken
by spi nni ng, bai t casti ng, or fy
fshi ng. Noct ur nal feeders, they
are caught most readi l y at ni ght.
Favored natural bai ts are l ive
crabs, pi nfsh, pi gfsh, an d mul
l et. Cut mul l et or bonito are al so
good, as are j i gs, pl ugs, spoons,
and fies.
Bai ti ng an area with conch chum,
then sti l l fshi ng i s cl assi c fshi ng
met hod. More popul ar i s stal k
i ng the fsh by pol i ng or wadi ng
across fats. Best natural bai ts
are shri mp, hermi t crabs, and
conch. Efective l ures are pork
c hun ks, bucktai l j i gs, worm j i gs,
and fl i es. Spi n n i n g gear i s best;
fly tackl e i s more s porti ng.
Casti ng small bucktai l s wi th spi n
ni ng t ackl e i s the best way t o
cat ch Ladyfsh. Best natural bai t
is l ive shri mp, but t hey al so t ake
cut mul l et and l ive mi nnows.
Streamer fi es, smal l s urface
pl ugs, and spoons ore good at
ti mes. Whatever the l ure, i t
shoul d be fshed behi nd a heavy
nyl on or l i ght wi re l ead<"
Most popul ar angl i ng method i s
cast i ng smal l spoons or bri ghtl y
col ored weighted fi es with spi n
ni ng tackl e. Trol l i ng is al so prac
ticed i n sl ow rivers of the South.
Shad are rarel y taken on nat
ural bai ts.
TARPON
Mega lops atlaniice
Av., 5-20 l bs.
Common, 50- 1 00 l bs.
Reaches, 300 l bs. pl us
BONE FI SH
Albula vulpes
Av., 3-41bs.
Reaches, 20 l bs.
LADY FI SH
flops saurus
Av., V2- 1 l b.
Common, 1 -21bs.
Reaches, 7 l bs.
AMERI CAN SHAD
Alosa sapidissima
Av., 2-4 l bs.
Common, 4- 6 l bs.
Reaches, 1 0 l bs.
HI CKORY SHAD
Alosa mediocris
Av., 1 -21bs.
Common, 2-3 l bs.
Reaches, 4 l bs
1 3
1 4
WHERE AN D WHEN
ATLANTI C MACKEREL roam
the open waters of the Atl a nti c
north of Cape Hatteras. School s
appear of Hatteras i n March,
mi grati ng northward to New
Engl and by l ate May, and there
they venture i nto i nsi de waters.
El sewhere, they slay ofshore.
KI NG MACKEREL wi nter i n
the Car i bbean and al ong the
Fl or i da Keys . I n spri ng, mi gra
li ons carry them i nto the north
er n Gul f and as far north as
North Carol i na. Us ual l y found
a mi l e or more ofshore.
SPANI SH MACKEREL r ange
thr ough i nshore and ofshore
waters of the Gul f and the At
l anti c south of Vi r gi ni a capes. I n
s ummer they r ange northward;
resi dent i n souther n Fl ori da.
CERO MACKEREL are rarel y
found i n t he U. S. north of the
Fl ori da Keys . Common in the
Bahamas . They l i ke coral reefs.
PACI FI C MACKEREL occur
al ong the Paci fc Coast from
Washi ngton south to Mexi co.
Most abundant of beaches south
of Santa Bar bar a to Ensenada.
SI ERRA MACKEREL r ange
f r om Per u to Baj a Cal ifor ni a.
Rar el y s een north of Ensenada.
WAHOO a re n owhere abun
dant, but are fou nd i n the Gul f
Stream and over coral reefs
south of Hatteras. Most numerous
i n Bahamas and West I ndi es.
HOW AND WHY
Trol l i ng wi t h feathers, spoons, or
di amond j i gs i s the standard
angl i ng method . Alter a school
i s l ocated by trol l i ng, mackerel
may be caught by casti ng wi th
fy or s pi nni ng tackl e. Nat ur al
baits are rarel y used, but fsh
wi l l hi t trol l ed str i p bai ts.
Trol l i ng wi th spoons or l ar ge
feathers is the most popul ar fsh
i ng method. Chummi ng wi th
pi eces of mul l et i s practi ced i n
the western Gul f. Many ore taken
on trol l ed boils of bal l yhoo or
mul l et when fshi ng for sai l fsh.
Trol l i ng with s mal l spoons or
white bucktai l and nyl on j i gs i s
the most popul ar method. Cast
i ng the same l u res wi th spi n ni ng
tackl e a l so good. Mi n nows and
shr i mp are best nat ural baits.
Ceres ore best caught by trol l i ng
smal l bucktai l s or spoons ar ound
the outer reels. Deep retri eves
with buckt ai l s are favored.
Usual l y caught from pi ers or
s mal l boats on stri p baits, l ive
sar di nes, or a nchovi es. They
readi l y stri ke trol l ed spoons,
squi ds, and s mal l bucktai l j i gs .
Tr ol l ed stri p bai ts, j igs, and
spoons are efective. Good l ive
bai ts are a nchovies, sardi nes.
Deep trol l i ng over coral l edges
i s best method. Wi re l i ne i s often
used wi th l ar ge feathers or
spoons. Best bai t i s whol e Span
i s h Mackerel trol l ed deep.
ATLANTIC MACKEREL
Scomber scombrus
Av., V2-l l b.
Common, 1 -2 l bs .
Reaches, 4 l bs.
KI NG MACKEREL
Scomberomorus caval/a
Av., 6-1 0 l bs.
Common, 20- 30 l bs.
Reaches, 75 l bs.
SPANISH MACKEREL
Scomberomorus maculatus
Av., 1 -2 l bs.
Common, 3-5 l bs.
Reaches, 12 l bs.
CERO MACKEREL
Scomberomorus reg a lis
Av., 1 -2 l bs.
Common, 4-6 l bs.
Reaches, 20 l bs.
PACIFIC MACKEREL
Scomber japonicus
Av., lib.
Common, 2-3 l bs.
Reaches, 6 l bs.
SI ERRA MACKEREL
Scomberomorus sierra
Av., 1 -2 1 bs.
Common, 3-5 l bs.
Reaches, 12 l bs.
WAHOO
Acanthocybium solandi
Av., 1 5-20 l bs.
Common, 30-40 l bs.
Reaches, 1 50 l bs.
15
1 6
WHERE AND WHEN
BONI TOS range from Long
I sl and to Fl ori da i n the Atl a nti c
and i n the Gul f. I n the Pacific
they ar e found south of Pt. Con
ception . Us ual l y s t ay ofshore;
most pl enti ful i n s ummer .
BLUEFI N TUNA ar e f ound
f r om Bahamas to Nova Scoti a.
I n the Paci fi c they occ ur south of
Pt. Concepti on ofshore. Atl anti c
school tuna ( 1 0- 1 00 l bs. ) stay
ofshore, but gi ants (over 1 00
l bs. ) work i nshore in n orth.
BLACKFI N TUNA r ange south
of Cape Hatteras to the Gul f of
Mexi co and the Cari bbean. Bl ue
wat er fi sh, they roam open seas
and edge of Gul f Stream. Sum
mer fs hi ng i s best i n U. S. waters.
YELLOWFI N TUNA roam the
Atl anti c south of Hatteras and
the Paci fc s out h of Sant a Bar
bara. They are most pl enti ful i n
s pr i ng an d s ummer i n bl ue water
wel l ofshore.
SKI PJACK TUNA or "Oceani c
Boni to11 occ ur south of New Jer
sey in Atl anti c an d south to Pt.
Concepti on i n Paci fc. Prefer
bl ue water, s ummer weather .
LI TTLE TUNA r ange fr om New
J ersey sout h i n t he open sea and
edge of the Gul f Stream. Some
ti mes come cl ose to i nl ets and
beaches. Summer and f al l best.
ALBACORE are found i n the
Paci fc north to Al aska, often i n
the deep bl ue water near s hoal
gr een. Most common i n summer.
HOW AND WHY
Many Boni tos ar e c aught by
angl ers trol l i ng for Bl uefi sh or
for school tuna ( 1 0- 1 00 l bs. ) .
Stri ke stri p baits, bucktai l s,
spoons, and metal j i gs. I n Pa
ci fc, l ive sardi nes are favored.
School t una a re taken trol l i ng
wi t h s poons , j i gs , an d pl asti c
sq ui ds and fi sh. I n Paci fc, l ive
sar di nes and a nchovies are used .
Gi ant t una are chummed with
herri ng and bai ted wi th mul l et
or mackerel .
Trol l i ng wi th stri p baits, buck
t ai l s, or spoons is best method.
Large speci mens often hi t sai l
f i sh bai t s off Flori da. Someti mes
caught from compact school s by
cast i n g j i gs, squ i ds, or spoons.
Us ual l y caught more by acci dent
than desi gn, these fsh often
stri ke trol l ed mul l et or bal l yhoo
baits i ntended for sai l fsh or
mar l i n. In Paci fc waters, they
pi ck up Bl uefn Tu n a bai ts.
Fast trol l i ng wi th feathers, metal
j i gs, or spoons i s most consi stent
method. Stri p bai ts ar e f ai r for
trol l i ng. Li ve sardi nes a re the
favori te bai t in the Paci fc.
Very fast trol l i ng wi th stri p
baits, metal s qui ds, or bucktai l
and feather j i gs i s best method .
Casti ng the same l ures works
wel l when school i s l ocated.
Caught from l ive- bait boats of
Cal i for ni a on anchovi es and sar
di nes. Trol l i ng wi th feathers or
metal j i gs al so good .
ATLANTI C BONITO
Sarda sarda
Av., 3 l bs.
Common, 4 6 l bs.
Reaches, 15 l bs.
BLUEFIN TUNA
Thunnus thynnus
school fi sh
Av., 1 5-251bs.
gi ant fi sh
Av., 400 l bs.
Common, 60-700 l bs.
Reaches, 1 500 l bs.
BLACKFIN TUNA
Thunnus at/anticus
Av. , 3-5 l bs.
Reaches, 30 l bs.
YELLOWFIN TUNA
Thunnus albacores
Av. , 1 00 l bs.
Common, 1 50 l bs.
Reaches, 250 I bs.
SKI PJACK TUNA
Euthynnus pelamis
Av., 6-1 01bs.
Common, 1 2- 1 51bs.
Reaches, 40 l bs.
LI TTLE TUNA
Euthynnus alletteratus
Av., 5-8 l bs.
Common, 1 0- 1 21bs.
Reaches, 35 l bs.
ALBACORE
Thunnus alalunga
Av., 1 0- 1 5 l bs.
Common, 20 l bs.
Reaches, 80 l bs.
1 7
1 8
WHERE AND WHEN
SAI LFI SHES occ u r i n the war m
er waters of t he At l ant i c and the
Paci fc. The Atl a nti c Sai l fsh
ranges south of Hatteras, stay
ing nea r the Gul f Stream, and
into the Gul f of Mexi co. The Po
ci fc Sai l fsh, al so a bl ue-water
fi sh, i s fou n d t hr oughout the
tropi cal Paci fc north to Baja
Cal i for ni a. Both ar e active the
year r ou nd.
MARLI NS r oam the war m seas
of the wor l d . They ar e hi ghl y
regarded game fi s h. The Bl ue
Mar l i n occ u rs f ar out i n the
Gu l f Stream from Cuba to Hal
teras and al so i n the West I n
di es an d Bahamas. Marl i n fshi ng
i s best i n spri ng and s ummer
i n U. S. and Bahamas waters.
Stri ped Mar l i n range from the
mi ddl e Cal i for ni a coast south to
Chi l e i n deep, bl ue water . Active
al l year from Mexico south, they
ar e fou n d i n Cal i forni a waters
from spri ng u nt i l fal l . Whi te
Mar l i n r ange from Montau k
south t o t he West I ndi es. Most
abundant late wi nter to s ummer
i n Fl or i da and Bahamas; reach
Long I s l and i n l ate s ummer.
SWOR D F I S H a r e v i r t u a l l y
worl d- wi de i n di st r i but i on, r ang
i ng sout h fr om Santa Cr uz to
the tropi cs and in the Atl antic
from Nova Scoti a lo the Tropi c
of Capr i cor n. Best spots are the
far ofshore waters out of Mon
ta u k and Bl ock I sl and; San
Pedr o to Aval on; and of Peru
and Chi l e. Swordfsh a re highl y
pri zed an d nowhere common.
HOW AND WHY
Best method i s trol l i n g bai l s of
mul l et, bal l yhoo, mackerel , or
sar di nes, wi th l i ne cl i pped t o an
outri gger. Sai l fi sh stri kes the
ski ppi ng bai t wi th his bi l l an d
j erks the l i ne from the out r i gger .
As the |i ne goes sl ack, t he boi l
si nks os if st u n ned. Sai l fsh t hen
pi c k s u p bait and r uns wit h it.
Slow t rol l ing with l ive f i s h f or
bait is also a good met hod.
Trol l i ng i s by far t he best
method for mar l i ns . Outri ggers
are used to keep the boils on
the s urface and t o a l l ow a d rop
back when o fsh str i kes. For
Bl ue Mar l i n t he t ackl e i s heavy
and the bai ts l arge-Bonefsh,
Spani sh Macker el , or Dol phi n up
to 5 or pounds. For Stri ped
Marl i n the favored baits ar e
mackerel , mu l l et, and Ayi ngfsh.
These fi sh wi l l al so hi t very
l arge feat her ji gs and stri p
bai ts. Whi te Marl i n ar e caught
on baits i nt ended for sai l fsh.
They al so take t r ol l ed macker el ,
eel s, and sq u i ds. Pl asti c s qui d
and smal l fi sh i mitati ons make
good l u res, as do l arge feathers
and nyl on ji gs .
Us ual techni que i s to fnd the
fsh baski ng near the s u rface,
t hen to trol l bai ts of squi d or
mackerel i n fs h1s l i ne of vi si on .
I t i s best t o stop t h e boa! an d
al l ow t h e bai t t o s i n k sl owl y i n
f r ont of the fi s h. This bri ngs
many stri kes. Tackl e must be
heavy, but dr ag on r eel set l i ght,
as Swordfsh have tender mout hs
despite power and stami na.
ATLANTI C SAI LFI SH
lstiophorus albicans
Av., 30 l bs.
Reaches, 1 20 l bs.
PACI FI C SAI LFI SH
/stiophorus greyi
Av., 80- 1 00 l bs.
Common, 1 50 l bs.
Reaches, 220 l bs.
BLUE MARLI N
Makaira nigricans
Av., 300 l bs.
Reaches, 800 l bs.
STRIPED MARLI N
Tetrapturus audax
Av., 250 l bs.
Common, 400 l bs.
Reaches, 700 l bs.
WHITE MARLI N
Tetrapturus albidus
Av., 50-60 l bs.
Common, 75 l bs.
Reaches. 1 60 l bs.
SWORDFISH
Xiphias gladius
Av., 1 50-300 l bs.
Common, 400-700 l bs .
Reaches, 1 200 I bs.
1 9
Z
WHERE AND WHEN
AMBERJACKS r ange from Hat
teras south to Brazi l al ong the
edge of t he Gul f Stream, over
ofshore wrecks and around
heavy cor al reefs. Present al l
year i n Fl or i da and Bahamas.
Mi grate nort hward i n s ummer.
CREVALLE JACKS range from
North Car ol i na to t he Cari b
bean . They are found the year
round from Fl or i da south; sum
mer el sewhere. Enter bays and
rivers, even fr esh wat er i n Fl a.
HORSE-EYE JACKS are com
mon i n West I ndi es and Ba
hamas, al so Fl a. Rang. i nshore
and over ofshore reefs.
BLUE RUNNERS occ ur over
same r ange as Creval l e but more
i n outsi de waters. I nl ets good.
BAR JACKS r ange t hr ough the
same waters as Yel l ow Jacks,
often in the same school s.
YELLOW JACKS are common
from t he Cari bbean north to
Fl ori da Keys and Bahamas. They
ar e found al l year over reefs.
GREEN JACKS r ange from
Baj a Cal iforni a to Peru. Most
abundant of Central Ameri ca.
PAC I FI C YELLOWTAI LS
range from Pt. Concepti on south
to Guadal u pe. Most pl entif ul of
Baj a Cal i forni a and i n Gul f of
Cal iforni a. Waters ar ound i s
l ands wi th rocky shores, al so
kel p beds. Al l year Baj a Cal if. ,
north i n spri ng and s ummer.
HOW AND WHY
Best method i s sl ow drifti ng wi th
l ive baits of gr unts1 croakers, or
ot her s mal l fsh. Chum of fsh
c hunks wi l l exci te fsh to stri ke.
Spoons ond buc kt ai l s are good
arti f i c i als. Hooked f i sh may be
kept overboard t o att ract ot hers.
Caught mostl y by cast i ng or
trol l i ng bucktai l j i gs, spoons,
pl ugs, or fl i es. Al l nat ur al bai ts
are good, wi th l ive s hr i mp best.
Creval l e Jacks are usual l y taken
whi l e seeki ng other fsh.
Smal l spoons, j i gs, and fi es best
fi shed with l i ght tackl e. Use fast
retri eve. Ni ght fshi ng is t he
most prod ucti ve.
Best method i s cast i ng s mal l
bucktai l j i gs ar ound buoys out
si de i nl ets. Spoons al so good.
Casti ng or trol l i ng wi th s mal l
j i gs , spoons, or s t r i p bai t s ar e
best met hods. Use fast retri eve.
Fast trol l i ng wi t h met al ii gs,
spoons, or bucktai l s i s best
method. Same l u res are al so
efecti ve when cast.
Best ca ught trol l i ng or casti ng
wi th j i gs, s poons, and squi ds.
Li ve fshes, st r i p baits good .
Most popul ar method is c h um
mi ng wi th l ive anchovies, butter
fi sh or sardi nes, us i ng same
chum and bait. Sl ow trol l i ng
wi t h feathers and s poons i s al so
efective. Deep j i ggi ng wi th
l ar ge bucktai l s or metal j i gs can
produce fne catches.
AMBERJACK
Seriola dumerili
Av., 1 020 l bs.
Common, 40.60 l bs.
Reaches, 1 50 l bs.
CREVALlE JACK
Caranx hippos
Av., 1 -2 l bs.
Common, 8-1 2 l bs.
Reaches; 55 l bs.
BLUE RUNNER
Caranx crysos
Av.,
-1 l b.
Common, 2 l bs.
Reaches, 7 l bs.
YELLOW JACK
Caranx bartholomaei
Av., 1 -21bs.
Common, 8-1 0 l bs.
Reaches, 1 5 l bs.
GREEN JACK
Caranx cabal/us
Av., %-1 l b.
Common, 1 -2 l bs.
Reaches, 5 l bs.
PACIFIC YELLOWTAIL
Seriola dorsalis
Av., 1 0-1 51bs.
Common, 20-30 l bs.
Reaches, 90 l bs.
2 1
22
WHERE AND WHEN
POMPANO occ ur along t h e At
l anti c Seaboard from Vi rgi ni a to
Fl or i da and i n the Gul f of Mex
ico. A fsh of the surf, i nlets, and
bays; al so ofs hore oi l r i gs i n
Gul f. Resi dent i n Gul f and Fl or
i da, summer to t he north.
PERMI T, or Gi ant Pompano, are
found i n limited numbers on the
l ower Gul f Coast of Fl ori da, i n
t he F l ori da Keys, and on east
coast of Mexi co. They li ke very
deep passes, r ange over shall ow
fats also. Summer best.
AFRI CAN POMPANO range
through the Car i bbean and
West I ndies north to Flori da
Keys a nd Bahamas. Found over
bri ght sand bottom near outer
reefs. Fishi ng best from l ate
wi nter through summer.
LOOKDOWNS occur in tropi
cal Atl anti c north to South Flor
i da, someti mes strayi ng farther
north i n s ummer . Common i n
Keys ar ound bri dges, inshore
reefs or wrecks, an d also in
creeks. All year, n ight ti me best
.
BLUEFI SH are world-wi de i n
di stri buti on. They roam t he west
er n Atlanti c from Mai ne to Bra
zi l , i ncl udi ng the Gulf of Mexico.
Bl uefsh travel i n school s, feed
i ng well ofshore, in t he surf,
a round i nlets, a nd i nto bays.
Their mi grat i ons are errati c, but
they pr efer rat her war m water.
Found ai l year i n Fl ori da waters,
roami ng north to cooler waters
from spri ng u nti l fal l.
HOW AND WHY
Best method i s s urf fi s hi ng wi th
baits of sand fl eas or cl am. Al so
good i s cast i ng and j i ggi ng wi th
smal l bucktai l s and other j i gs.
Chummi ng wi t h cr ushed clam or
cr ab wi l l attract Pompano t o
area to be fi shed .
Fi shi ng deep in passes wi th bl ue
cr abs i s bes t met hod. Per mi t can
al so be stalked on fats l i ke
Bonefsh, usi ng s pi nni ng tackl e
and bucktai l l u res. Pi nk j i gs es
peci al ly good. Cr abs or l i ve
s hr i mp good bai ts for fats.
Trol l i ng over reefs wi th stri p
baits, spoons, or metal j i gs i s
best method. Trol l fast up to
1 0 mph. Casti ng with ei ther spi n
ni ng or bait-casti ng gear an d
usi ng spoons or bucktails i s also
a prod uctive techni que.
Caught by dri fti ng l ive s hr i mp
wi t h t i de; s pi nni ng and fy fsh
i ng ar e a l so good. Smal l
streamer fl i es and bucktai l j i gs
fi shed ar ound bri dge shadows
at night catch many fsh. Use
very l i ght tackle.
Many methods ar e su itabl e for
bl uefs hi ng. Ofshore, trol l i ng
wi t h metal squi ds or feathers i s
preferred. Near i nl ets and i n
boys, t he fsh or e attracted by
chummi ng wi th g round- up men
haden, t hen fshed for by cast
i ng j i gs or squi ds. I n the surf
they o re caught by s qui ddi ng
( usi ng a rti fci al baits) or by fs h
i ng wi t h cut mullet or menhaden.
Will hit al l lures, most bai ts.
POMPANO
Trachinofus carolinus
Av., 1 -2 lbs.
Common, 2-3 lbs.
Reaches, 7 lbs.
PERMIT
Trachinotus goocei
Av., 1 5-20 lbs.
Common, 30 lbs.
Reaches, 50 lbs.
AFRI CAN POMPANO
Alectis crinitus
Av., 8- 1 2 lbs.
Common, 20-30 lbs.
Reaches, 40 lbs.
LOOK DOWN
Selene vomer
Av., %lb.
Common, 1 lb.
Reaches, 3 lbs.
BLUEFISH
Pomafomus sa/latrix
Av., 1 -3 lbs.
Common, 5- 1 0 lbs.
Reaches, 25 lbs.
23
Z
WHERE AND WHEN
BLACK GROUPERS r ange
north to ofshor e Sout h Car ol i na
i n s ummer but a re resi dent i n
Fl or i da waters and i n the Gul f.
They prefer coral reefs or other
rocky bottom wel l ofshore. Onl y
the s mal l fsh vent ure cl ose i n
shore. I n Gul f best.
GAG GROUPERS occ ur north
i nto Fl or i da and Bahamas waters
and t he Gu l f of Mexi co. They
are found on coral reefs, but
unl i ke Bl ack Grou pers, they al so
enter i n s hore and i ns i de waters.
Common i n summer on i n s h ore
gr as s f l at s on Gul f Coast.
YELLOWFI N GROUPERS are
found in the Fl or i da Keys, in the
Bahamas, and on rocky bottom
ofshore i n the Gul f . Smal l speci
mens move i ns hore i n Keys
ar ound coral patches. Adul t fsh
stay on r ugged ofshore reefs.
Active al l year .
RED GROUPERS, the most
abundant g rouper s i n U. S. ,
range from the banks of North
Car ol i na southward and Into the
Gul f of Mexi co, where numer
ous. Found mostl y on ofshore
banks but a l so come to i nshore
passes. Fi shi ng good al l year.
NASSAU GROU P E RS a r e
more n u mer ous i n t h e Bahamas
t han i n U. S. waters, but t hey are
fai r l y common i n t he Fl ori da
Keys. They occur south to the
West I n di es. They rarel y ven
t ure far fr om coral reefs. Nas
sau Groupers are active al l year.
HOW AND WHY
Deep trol l i ng wi t h feathers
t i pped wi th stri p bai t i s best
method. Dri fti ng over rocks wi th
baits of cut mul l et, spi ny l obster
t ai l , or s mal l l ive fi sh i s al so
good. Do not use l i ght tackl e, for
Bl ack Gr ouper must be "horsed"
from rocks.
Spi nni ng or bai t cast i ng wi th
bucktai l s, spoons, or pl ugs are
best methods. As Gags feed i n
comparati vel y s hal l ow wat er , ar
ti fci al l ures can be used. Drift
i ng over grass fats with l ive
mi n nows or s hr i mp al so good.
Sl ow trol l i ng best ofshore.
Most Yel l owfn Gr ou pers are
caught more or l ess by acci dent
when fshi ng for ot her speci es.
They stri ke buckt ai l s, pl ugs, and
spoons. Best bai ts are cut mul
l et, s pi ny l obster t ai l , and l ive
s hr i mp. Bottom fs hi ng on outer
reefs best method .
Sti l l fshi ng and sl ow trol l i ng
wi t h l ive fsh or s hr i mp or wi th
cut mul l et are best methods.
Feat her, buc ktai l , and worm j i gs
worked deep are best l u res. Red
Groupers up to 3 or 4 pounds
pur s ue l u res act i vel y; l ar ger f i s h
do not .
Dri fti ng over outer reefs wi th
baits of l ive fsh, cut mu l l et, or
l obster tai l fshed near bottom
i s best met hod . Smal l speci mens
often st r i ke bucktai l s and feath
ers i nt ended for Yel l owtai l Snap
per s or ot her f i s h. A s l ow r e
t ri eve i s best .
BLACK GROUPER
Mycteroperca bonaci
Av., 4-6 lbs.
Common, 10 lbs.
Reaches, 50 lbs.
GAG GROUPER
Mycteroperca microlepis
Av., 1-21bs.
Common, 3-5 lbs.
Reaches, 20 lbs.
YELLOWFIN GROUPER
Mycteroperca venenosa
Av., 1-21bs.
Common, 4-5 lbs.
Reaches, 10 lbs.
RED GROUPER
Epinephelus morio
Av., 3-6 lbs.
Common, 8-10 lbs.
Reaches, 35 lbs.
NASSAU GROUPER
Epinephelus striatus
Av., 2-3 lbs.
Common, 5-10 lbs.
Reaches, 30 lbs.
25
26
WHERE AND WHEN
SPOTTED JEWFI SH ar e found
i nshore or ofshore on reefs from
t he east coast of Fl ori da to the
Gul f Coast and Mexi co. They
often move i nto i nsi de waters
and passes. Active al l year.
BLACK J EWFI SH a re bottom
fsh of deep waters from the
Car ol i nas to Gul f. Most pl enti ful
spri ng and s ummer, ofshore.
SEA BASS are found i n Atl anti c
from Cape Cod to Fl ori da. A
cl osel y rel ated speci es occurs i n
Gul f. Sea Bass are n umerous of
shore on hard bottom in depths
to 100 feet. Smal l speci mens en
ter i nsi de wat ers of Atl anti c and
Gul f. Fi shi ng best i n summer.
GI ANT SEA BASS occur i n the
Paci fc from mi ddl e Cal i forni a
south to Mexi co. Most abundant
s out h of San Di ego. They prefer
deep c hannel s and kel p beds,
often cl ose to shore. Al l year.
KELP BASS ar e found i n the
Paci fi c as f ar north as San Fran
ci sco. Most abundant south of Pt.
Concepti on. Sand Bass r ange
nort h to Monterey. Bot h speci es
are fbu nd i n kel p beds al l year.
Summer fshi ng best.
STRI PED BASS, or Rockfsh,
r ange i n the Atl anti c from Mai ne
to Fl or i da, and i n t he Paci fi c
from Coos Bay, Oregon to Mon
terey, Cal iforni a. A few fsh l ive
i n ri vers emptyi ng into the north
ern Gul l. Stri pers roam t he s urf,
bays, and ri vers. Spr i ng and fal l
best, d a y or ni ght.
HOW AND WHY
Sti l l fshi ng wi t h baits of l i ve
j acks or other fsh i s best method.
Sl ack ti de best ti me to fsh.
Tackl e must be heavy to haul
these powerf ul fs h f r om thei r
rocky underwater l ai rs.
Usual l y caught on cut bai t from
dr i ft boats bottom fshi ng on
deep ofshore reels. Heavy
tackl e necessary.
Bottom fshi ng from party boats
accounts for most of the Sea Bass
l anded. Baits are us ual l y cl am
or squi d, but near l y. any bai t
wi l l do, as wi l l any tackl e, i n
cl udi ng hand l i nes. Deep j i ggi ng
wi t h bucktai l j i gs i s good. Young
fsh i n bays stri ke l ures readi l y.
Best method i s sti l l fshi ng on
bottom wi t h baits of mul l et,
mackerel , or ot her fsh, whol e or
cut. Tackl e must be heavy, as for
Spotted Jewfsh. Use SO- pound
t est l i ne, si ze 14/0 hook.
Live-bai t fs hi ng wi th a nchovi es,
q ueenfsh, or tommy croakers
best method. Stri p bai ts, shri mp,
and squi d al so good . Arti fci al s
efective if they can be used
wi thout hangi ng in kel p. Weed
l ess spoons, bucktai l j i gs best.
Squi ddi ng wi th l arge pl ugs, j igs,
rigged eel s, and squi ds i s popu
l ar when fsh ar e i n s urf. Spi n
ni ng wi t h l i ght t ackl e and l u res
good lor ri ver and bay fsh. Fl y
fshi ng al so good i n bays . Trol l
i ng of beaches wi t h pl ugs, feath
ers best for bi g fsh. Squi d, her
r i ng, crabs good nat ur al baits.
Paralabrax clathratus
Av., 1-1 Y lbs.
Common, 2 lbs.
Reaches, 4 lbs.
SPOTTED JEWFISH
Epinephelus itajara
Av., 25-50 lbs.
Common, 100-200 lbs.
Reaches, 700 lbs.
BLACK JEWFI SH
Epinephelus nigritus
Av., 20-30 lbs.
Common, 100-200 lbs.
Reaches, 500 lbs.
SEA BASS
Centropristes striatus
Av., 1-1%1bs.
Common, 2-3 lbs.
Reaches, 8 lbs.
GI ANT SEA BASS
Stereolepis gigas
Av., 75-100 lbs.
Common, 200 lbs.
Reaches, 600 lbs.
SAND BASS
Paralabrax nebulifer
Av., 1-21bs.
Common, 3 lbs.
Reaches, 6 lbs.
STRI PED BASS
Roccus saxatilis
Av., 5-10 lbs.
Common, 15-30 lbs.
Reaches, 70 lbs.
27
28
WHERE AND WHEN
SNAPPERS, a fami l y of tropi cal
and subtropi cal fsh of over 250
species, r ange in size from a few
ounces to over 1 00 pounds. Man
grove Snappers, t he most i mpor
tant speci es to sport fshermen,
l ive on coral reefs and i n creeks
and bays. Acti ve al l year, they
range nort h to Fl ori da and the
Gu l f. School master Snappers are
found in same r ange and l oca
ti ons. lane Snappers frequent
grass fats and hard bottoms
i n same range. Muttonfsh oc
c ur on reefs on both coasts of
Fl ori da. Yel l owtai l s are abun
dant over reefs in Keys and Ba
hamas; Red Snappers in deep
water ( over 1 00 ft. ) i n Gul f
and Atl anti c from N. C. south.
GRUNTS, rel ated to s nappers,
are a fami l y of mostl y tropi cal
panfi s h. They feed day and ni ght
on bottom. The White Grunt oc
cur s on Fl ori da' s l ower east coast
and in t he Keys. li ke most gr u nts
i t prefers hard bottom and is
found both i nshore and ofshore
The Margate Grunt occurs i n the
Bahamas and Fl ori da Keys. The
Bl uestri pe Grunt r anges north to
m1d-Fiori da al ong both coasts .
The French Gr unt, a very s mal l
species, strays up Fl or i da' s east
coast in s ummer. The Bl ack Mar
gate, l argest of the gr unts, is
more abundant in Bahamas but
al so occurs i n Keys. The P.orkfsh
is found on Gul f and Atl anti c
coasts of south Fl or ida. Pi gfsh
occurs i n Gu l f a nd, i n s ummer,
north to Chesapeake Bay, where
it i s known as Hogfsh.
HOW AND WHY
Al l of t he snappers (except Red
Snapper) can be caught by the
same methods. Ch u mmi ng wi th
chapped or g rou nd- up mu l l et,
preferabl y mixed wi t h sand,
wor ks wel l t o attract these wary
fi s h. When t he fsh ar e taki ng
chum freel y, use u nwei ghted
bai ts of t he c hum on monofl a
ment l i ne. Bottom fs hi ng wi th a
bai t of cut mu l l et is good, espe
ci al l y at ni ght. live s hr i mp are
very efective i n creeks and bays.
Do not use ei ther a fl oat or a
si nker. Bucktai l an d feather j i gs
are the best artifci al s and s houl d
be fs hed deep and retrieved
j erki l y. Red Snappers are caught
bottom fs hi ng wi th cut fsh ail,
us ual l y from party boats.
Bottom fshi ng wi th l i ght tackl e s
the best method in fs hi ng for
gr u nts. The best bai t i s l ive
shr i mp, though cl am and cut mul
l et al so wor k wel l . I n the i deal
r i g, the l i ne r uns f r eel y t hr ough
on egg si n ker, wi t h a short mono
fi l ament l eader and size 1 /0
hook at the end. Thi s a l l ows bit
i ng fsh to take out l i ne wi thout
feel i ng the wei ght of t he si n ker.
Use thi s rig i n hard- bottomed
swash chan nel s, from br i dges,
and around coral heads. Tackl e
shoul d be fresh-water styl e bai t
casti ng or s pi nni ng gear. Most
gr u nts wi l l stri ke smal l arti fci al
l u res fshed cl ose to t he bottom.
Bl ues t r i pe Gr unt s , Wh i te Gru nts,
and Pi gf i s h readi l y hi t s mal l
ji g s t i pped wi t h bi ts of s h r i mp
or mul l et . Fi s h t h e l ures s l owl y,
retri evi ng wi th short jer ks.
. MANGROVE SNAPPER
Lutjanus griseus
Av., %-1 lb.
Cammon, 2-3 lbs.
Reaches, 20 lbs.
4. MUTTONFISH
Lutjanus ana/is
325 lbs.
2. SCHOOLMASTER SNAPPER 5. YELLOWTAI L
Lui janus apodus
%-Sibs.
3. LANE SNAPPER
Lutjanus synagris
1-3 lbs.
Haemu/on plumieri
Av., %lb.
Common, 1 lb.
Reaches, 3 I bs.
2. MARGATE GRUNT
Haemu/on a/bum
%8 lbs.
Ocyurus chrysurus
Y
2-? lbs.
6. RED SNAPPER
Lutjanus blackfordi
4-40 lbs.
4. FRENCH GRUNT
Haemu/on ffavo/ineatum
1-1 lb.
5. BLACK MARGATE
Anisotremus surinamensis
Y2-20 lbs.
3. BLUESTRIPE GRUNT 6. PI GFISH
Haemu/on sciurus
Y
2-3 lbs.
Orthopristes chrysopterus
1-1 Y lbs.
29
30
WHERE AND WHEN
PORGI ES of vari ous speci es oc
cur i n the At l a nti c from Cape
Cod south to the West I ndi es.
Sheepshead range from Chesa
peake Bay to the Gul f Coast.
J ol thead Porgi es occur from
souther n Fl or i da southward .
Nort her n Porgi es ar e found from
Cape Cod to Hatteras, mostl y
ofshore on hard bottoms. South
ern Porgi es, nearl y i denti cal i n
. appearance t o the northern spe
ci -es, range from Hatteras to the
Gul f over hard bottom. Grass
Porgi es ar e found i n t he Gul f on
grass bottom, as a re Pinfsh,
whi ch occ ur i n bays and l agoons
from Nort h Carol i na to Texas.
BERMUDA CHU BS are pl enti
ful al l year i n Bermuda, F l or i da
Keys, ard Bahamas waters. They
hover over cor al heads, feed i n
t he s u rf, and someti mes fol l ow
shi ps to feed on wastes thrown
over boar d.
TRI PLETAI LS are known fr om
Chesapeake Bay to Texas, but
are common onl y from Sout h
Carol i na south. Hang around
buoys and pi l i ngs near i n l ets
and passes. On Gul f Coast,
enter i nsi de water. Al l year
southern Fl a. , to north s ummer .
SNOOK a re found i n t he i n
shore wat er s of the At l ant i c and
Gul f from Fl or i da to Cent r al
Amer i ca; al so i n Gul f of Cal i
for ni a and Pacifi c Coast of Mex
ico. Ascend rivers to fresh water,
where they spend l ong peri ods.
Feed day and ni ght al l year, but
s pr i ng and s ummer best.
HOW AND WHY
Use l i ght bait-casti ng or s pi nni ng
gear for al l porgies. The l i ght
bi ti ng Sheepshead i s best caught
wi t h the ri g descri bed f or grunts
( p. 28) , usi ng fi ddl er crabs or
s andbugs for bai t . Hang bai t
near pi l i ng j ust of bottom or
over shel l bed. At f rst si gn of
a t ug, l ower rod gentl y as fsh
pul l s, then stri ke har d. North
er n and Southern porgi es ar e
caught by bottom fs hi ng wi th
baits of cr ab, cl am, or s hr i mp.
Jol t head Por gi es ar e caught
mostl y by acci dent f r om party
boats. Grass Porgi es an d Pi nfsh
take l ive or cut s hr i mp fshed
over grassy bott om.
Chubs are best ca ught on smal l
bai ts of s hr i mp, cr ab, or c u t fi sh.
Use s mal l hook (size 2-4) and
fsh near bottom. Stri ke h ard t o
set hook i n t ough mout h. Ber
muda Chubs stri ke fl i es and smal l
j i gs fshed sl owl y.
Best method i s spot cast i ng to
fi sh after si ght i ng them at chan
nel markers. Use medi um-wei ght
bai t casti ne or s pi nni ng t ackl e
and buckt ai l or f eat her j i gs. li ve
cr abs and s hr i mp are best nat
ural bai ts. Pi nfsh are al so good .
F i sh hi t best on strong ti de.
Bai t casti ng, s pi nni ng, and fy
fi s hi ng are al l excel l ent methods.
Snook stri ke nearl y al l a rtifi ci al
l ures, i ncl udi ng su rface and u n
derwater pl ugs , spoons, j i gs,
fi es, and s pi nners. Cast l u res
cl ose to shorel i nes where fi s h l i e.
Pi nfsh, mul l et, and s hr i mp a re
good nat ur al bai ts, used l ive.
1 . SHEEPSHEAD
Archosargus
probatocephalus
Av., lib.
Common, 351bs.
Reaches, 20 l bs.
3. NORTHERN PORGY
Sfenofomus chrysops
1 -41bs.
4. GRASS PORGY
Calamus arctifrons
Y2-2 l bs.
2. JOLTHEAD PORGY
Calamus bajonado
5. PINFISH
Lagodon rhomboides
%-lib. 1 8 l bs.
BERMUDA CHUB
Kyphosus sectatrix
Av. , Y l b.
Common, 1 l b.
Reaches, 4 l bs.
TRIPLET AIL
Lobotes surinamensis
Av. , 35 l bs.
Reaches, 30 I bs.
SNOOK
Centropomus undecimalis
Av. , 2-4 l bs.
Common, 1 0- 1 5 l bs.
Reaches, 65 l bs.
31
32
WHERE AND WHEN
WEAKFI SH r ange f r om Cape
Cod to northern F l ori da in i n
shore waters. They ar e most
abundant from Long I sl and to
Vi rgi ni a. Feedi ng day and ni ght,
they roam the surf and i nto bays
and ri vers. Summer best.
SPOTTED WEAKFI SH are
common in the i nshore waters of
the Gul f and north i n the Atl an
t i c to Vi rgi nia, strayi ng r ar el y t o
New Jersey i n fal l . Found i n
bays, i nl ets, and surf. Grass fats
good. Al l year in South.
WHI TE SEABASS, cl osel y re
l ated to Atl anti c weakfshes, are
found in t he Paci fc from Al aska
to Baj a Cal iforni a. Most abun
dan! ar ound kel p beds of south
ern Cal i forni a. Often enter i n
si de waters. Al l year.
ATLANTI C CROAKERS occur
f r om Del aware Bay to Texas, wi th
the center of abundance Chesa
peake Bay. Feed over shel l or
sand bottom i n bays and l ower
reaches of ri vers, and most ac
tive i n l ate s pri ng and summer.
SPOTFI N CROAKERS are
found i n t he Paci fc from Pt . Con
cepti on to Pt . Banda. Feed i n
surf, bays, and sl oughs and a re
active year r ound. Most abun
dan! i n l at e s ummer and fal l .
YELLOWF I N CROAKE RS
range from Pt. Concepti on to
Gul f of Cal i forni a al ong sandy
beaches and up to a mi l e of
shore. Most abundant i n Baj a
Cal iforni a. Late s ummer and fal l .
HOW AND WHY
Use fresh-water bai t casti ng, fy
or spi nni ng gear for both n at
ur al bait ond arti fci al l ure fsh
i ng. Good l u res are bucktai l s,
spoons, and streamers. Best baits
are peel er crabs, squi d, and
shri mp. Ni ght fshi ng best.
Spi nni ng with smal l jigs and re
l ated l ures is best method . Bai t
casti ng and fy fshi ng are al so
productive. Pl ugs and streamer
fi es good l ures. Best nat ural
bai t s are l ive shr i mps and mi n
nows, fshed under a foat.
Best method i s drifti ng over kel p
beds an d submerged banks wi th
bai ts of l ive sardi nes or an
chovies. Sl ow trol l i ng wi th str i p
baits, spoons, or j i gs al so efec
tive. Fish deep i n dayti me, near
surface at ni ght.
Bottom fshi ng wi th bai ts of cut
shri mp, cl ams, or peel er crabs i s
best method. I t i s preferabl e to
drift sl owl y rather t han to an
chor. Bucktai l and feather j i gs
wi l l catch croakers when bumped
sl owl y al ong bott om.
Surf fshi ng wi th baits of mussel ,
cl ams, sandworms, or crabs i s
most popul ar method. Bottom
fshi ng i n bays
w
i th same bai ts
i s al so good. Use fresh-water
styl e tackl e for most sport.
Best method i s surf fshi ng wi th
bai ts of sea worms, cl ams, mus
sel, or crabs. Bottom fshi ng whi l e
sl owl y drifti ng wi th same bai t s i s
efecti ve ofshore. For most f un
us e very l ight tackl e.
WEAKFI SH
Cynoscion regalis
Av., 1 lb.
Common, 23 lbs.
Reaches, 15 lbs.
SPOTTED WEAKFISH
Cynoscion nebulosus
Av., l ib.
Common, 35 lbs.
Reaches, 15 lbs.
WHITE SEABASS
Cynoscion nobilis
Av., 10-151bs.
Common, 20-30 lbs.
Reaches, 80 lbs.
ATLANTIC CROAKER
Micropogon unculatus
Av., l ib.
Common, 2-3 lbs.
Reaches, 8 lbs.
SPOTFIN CROAKER
Roncacor stearnsi
Av., l ib.
Common, 1 Y2-2 lbs.
Reaches, 6 lbs.
YELLOWFIN CROAKER
Umbrina roncacor
Av., Y2 lb.
Common, 1 lb.
Reaches, 2 lbs.
34
WHERE AND WHEN
CHANNEL BASS range a l ong
the Atl anti c and Gul f coasts from
Del aware to Texas. They are surf
and i nl et dwel l ers in the north
ern part of thei r range (spri ng
to fal l ) but prefer fats and
shorel i nes i n i nsi de waters i n
Fl a. and al ong Gul f a l l year.
BLACK DRUM are found i n the
i nshore waters of t he Atl anti c
from Del aware Bay to Fl ori da,
and over the Gul f Coast to Texas.
Thei r favori te haunts are oyster
bottoms in bays and l agoons.
Spri ng and fal l are best.
SI LVER PERCH are common
from New Jersey to Texas i n
bays a nd l ower reaches of riv
ers. All year i n Fl ori da.
SPOTS occur i n bays and rivers
from New J ersey to Texas. Espe
ci al l y abundant i n Chesapeake
Bay. Most active i n s ummer.
CORBI NAS, cl osel y rel ated to
Atl anti c whi t i ngs, are found i n
shore i n the Paci fc from Pt. Con
cepti on south to Gul f of Cal i
forni a. Sandy s urf i s best . Al so
bays on sand bottom in water
2 to 20 feet deep. Al l year.
WHI TI NGS are represented by
th ree speci es.
Northern Whi ti ngs

range from Cape Cod to the
Vi r gi ni a Capes. Souther n Whit
i ngs are fou n d from Maryl and
to Fl ori da' s east coast. Si l ver
Whi ti ngs ar e common onl y on
t he Gul f Coast . F ish of t he surf
and most active in summer .
HOW AND WHY
Surf cast i ng wi th crab, cut mu l
l et, or Menhaden bai ts is c l assic
method for l ar ge fsh. Trol l i ng
of i n l ets wi t h l ar ge spoons al so
good . Smal l er fsh, cal l ed "pup
py dr um, " are taken on bucktai l
j i gs or pl ugs wi t h l i ght tackl e.
Live shr i mp and crab good.
Sti l l fshi ng wi t h cut bl ue crab
i s best method. Fi sh on shel l bot
tom where tide fow i s strong.
Ot her good bai t s are cl am and
shri mp. Surf t ackl e best for bi g
fsh, but fresh- water gear i s fne
for smal l fsh.
Best met hod i s bottom fshi ng
wi t h s mal l baits or cut shr i mp,
crab, or mu l l et. Smal l j i gs and
squi ds are good fshed deep.
Sti l l fshi ng on bottom wi th smal l
baits of shri mp, cl am, or sea
worms is best method. Use very
l i ght tackl e; size 6 hooks.
Best method is s urf fshi ng wi th
baits of sea worms, crabs, cl am,
or shri mp. Bottom fshi ng i n bays
around ol d pi ers al so good. Car
bi nes wi l l stri ke smal l j i gs and
squids fshed sl owl y al ong bot
tom. Use l i ght tackl e.
Surf fshi ng wi th baits of sand
bugs, shr i mp, or crab i s the best
method. Where s urf i s l ight, use
fresh-water tackl e. In heavy surf
or where l ong casts are needed,
heavi er squi ddi ng gear may be
necessary. Whi t i ngs strike smal l
j i gs and squi ds bumped sl owl y
al ong bottom.
CHANNEL BASS
Sciaenops ocellata
Av., 5-1 0 lbs.
Common, 20-40 lbs.
Reaches, 80 lbs.
BLACK DRUM
Pogonias cromis
Av. , 36 lbs.
Common, 30-50 lbs.
Reaches, 1 40 lbs.
SILVER PERCH
Bairdella chrysura
Av., % lb.
Common, V2 lb.
Reaches, 1 I b.
SPOT
Leiostomus xanthurus
Av. , % lb.
Common, V2 lb.
Reaches, 1 y lbs.
CORBINA
Menticirrhus undulatus
Av. , %-1 lb.
Common, 1-2 1bs.
Reaches, 8 lbs.
NORTHERN WHITING
Menticirrhus saxatilis
Av., I | b.
Common, 1 %-2 lbs.
Reaches, 3 lbs.
35
36
WHERE AND WHEN
TAUTOGS r ange from Mai ne
to South Car ol i na on rocky
shores and around jetti es, wrecks,
and ol d pi l i ngs . Most pl enti ful
from Cape Cod to Cape May,
they bi te best i n spr i ng and fal l .
CUNNERS are f ound f r om Lab
rador to New Jersey i nshore
ar ound docks, pi l i ngs, and jet
ties. Al so ofshore to depths of
200 feet. Often found wi th Tau
togs. Spri ng to fal l .
CALI FORNI A SHEEPHEAD,
often cal l ed Sheepshead, occur
fr om Monterey Bay to Gul f of
Cal ifor ni a the year round. Fi sh
around kel p beds, mussel beds,
and rocky shores. Enter very shal
l ow water on hi gh t i des.
ROCKFI SHES, or Scorpi on
fshes, ar e an i mportant fami l y,
wi th some 56 species on the Pa
ci fc Coast. The Bocacci o ranges
from Br iti sh Col umbi a to San
Di ego i n water depths of 300
feet and over. The Ol ive Rock
fsh ranges from San Franci sco
to San Quent i n Bay in s hal l ow
water, ar ound kel p beds.
SEAPERCHES oad SURF
PERCHES are i mportant fsh on
the Paci fc Coast. Seaperches
general l y occur i n comparati vel y
deep water or al ong rocky
shores; s u rfperches are found of
sandy beaches. Barred Surfperch
roam Cal i forni a' s sandy s urfs
south to San Di ego al l year .
Wh ite Seaperch range from Van
couver to San Di ego i n bays and
i nl ets the year round.
HOW AND WHY
St i l l fi s hi ng on bottom wi th baits
of green crab, fddl er crab, sea
worms, grass shr i mp, or cl am i s
best method. Use medi um-wei ght
t ackl e, as t hese fsh di ve i nto
rocks l i ke grou pers.
Bottom fshi ng wi th smal l bai ts of
cut seaworms, cl am, or l obster is
best method. Use smal l hook (si ze
4 maxi mum) and fresh-water
tackl e to overcome thei r bait
steal i ng ski l l .
Best method i s sti l l fs hi ng o r
sl aw dri ft i ng wi th bai ts o f mus
sel , cl am, s hr i mp, or crab. Ready
bi ters. Cal i for ni a Sheephead
someti mes take l ive fshes or
t r ol l ed s t r i p baits or j i gs. Deep
fshi ng us ual l y best.
Best method i s sti l l fshi ng wi th
baits of l ive or dead fsh, or mus
sel , cl am, shr i mp, or st ri p baits.
Larger, deep-water speci es, l i ke
Bocacci a, prefer baits of smal l
macker el , her r i ng, or other smal l
fsh. Rockfshes of s hal l ow waters
prefer mol l usks or crustaceans,
but wi l l hi t spoons and j i gs s l ow
l y trol l ed.
Bar red Surfperch and other s urf
perches are cauqht best by surf
casti ng wi th baits of cl am, mus
sel, rockworms, or sand crabs
an smal l hooks. Fr esh-water
tackl e i s adequate, but heavi er
gear must be used someti mes to
make l ang casts to reach fsh.
Whi te Seaper ch and ather sea
perches are caught by st i l l fsh
i ng wi th s mal l bai ts of sand
wor ms, shr i mp, mussel , or cl am.
OLIVE ROCKFISH
CUNNER
Taufogolabrus adspersus
Av. , V4 l b.
Common, %- 1 l b.
Reaches, 2 l bs.
Pime/omefopon pulchrum
Av. , 2-4 l bs.
Reaches, 25 l bs.
Sebastodes paucispinis
Av., 2-3 l bs.
Common, 5-8 l bs.
Reaches, 18 l bs.
Amph.istichus argenfeus
Av. , V2 l b.
Common, 1 l b.
Reaches, 2 V2 I bs.
37
38
WHERE AND WHEN
POLLACK r ange from Nova
Scoti a to long I s l and i n open
bays and ofshore to depths of
over 1 00 feet. Spr i ng and fal l
best, but north of Cape Cod,
Pol l ack are active al l s ummer.
COD occur i n the North Atl anti c
south to Maryl and . Al l year north
of Cape Cod; wi nter south. Tom
cods, s mal l er, enter bays from
Nova Scoti a to Va. , fal l to spri ng.
HADDOCK range from Nova
Scoti a to New Jersey in deep
water ( over 1 00 feet) ofshore.
Found al l year on hard bottom.
SI LVER HAKES range from
Nova Scoti a to New Jersey, com
i ng i nshore i n fal l and earl y
wi nter. Active al l summer i n col d
waters nort h of Cape Cod.
FLATFI SHES are i mportant on
bot h U. S. coasts. Summer Fl oun
ders occur from Cape Cod to
Hatteras, i nshore i n summer . A
sout her n form is found from
Vi rgi ni a to Texas. Wi nter Fl oun
ders, f r om Nova Scoti a to Hal
teras over mud fats in bays.
Spri ng best. Sta rry Fl ounders
occur al l year from Al aska to
Pt. Concepti on in i nsi de waters.
Cal if. Hal i but, from Pt. Concep
l i on to Mexi co. Summer best.
WINTER FLOUNDER
Pseudopleuronectes american us
Av., Y-1 Y 1 bs.
Common, 2-3 l bs.
Reaches, 5 l bs.
HOW AND WHY
I n ofshore waters bottom fsh
i ng with bai ts of cl am, squi d, o
r
herri ng is best method. I n shore,
use s pi nni ng, bai t cast i ng, or fy
fshi ng wi th bucktai l s, pl ugs, or
streamer fi es.
Best method for Cod i s bottom
fshi ng ofshore wi th baits of
cl am, squi d, or her r i ng. For Tom
cod, sti l l fshi ng wi th s mal l baits
of cl am; seaworms best.
Most practical method is hand.
l i ni ng wi t h heavy si n kers and
baits of cl am or squi d. Mor e a
commerci al t han a sport fs h.
Best method is bottom fs hi ng
wi t h baits of si l versi de mi n nows
or sand l aunces. Stri p baits,
bucktai l s, and metal squi ds a re
efecti ve if fshed very deep.
Best met hod for Summer Fl oun
ders i s d ri fti ng whi l e d raggi ng
bai t s of l ive ki l l ifsh al ong bot
t om. Deepfshed bucktai l s are
good l ures. Wi nt er Fl ounders
caught best by sti l l fshi ng with
seaworms, cl ams, or mussel s.
Chum of crushed mussel s attracts
fs h. Starry Fl ou nders taken by
d rift i ng bottom wi th stri p baits
or l ive mi nnows. Cal i forni a Hal i
but us ual l y caught d rift i ng wi th
l ive fsh or stri p bai ts.
STARRY FLOUNDER
Platichthys stellatus
Av., 1-31bs.
Common, 4-6 lbs.
Reaches, 20 lbs.
POLLACK
Pollachius virens
Av., 2-5 lbs.
Common, 5-1 0 lbs.
Reaches, 40 lbs.
COD
Gadus morhua
Av. , 5-1 0 lbs.
Common, 20-25 lbs.
Reaches, 200 lbs.
TOM COD
Microgadus tomcod
Av., va | b.
Common, Y lb.
Reaches, 1 lb.
HADDOCK
Me/anogrammus aeg/efinus
Av., 2-3 lbs.
SILVER HAKE
Merluccius bilinearis
Av., %-1 lb.
Common, 1-2
lbs.
Reaches
, 6 lbs.
Common, 4-6 lbs.
Reaches, 25 lbs.
CALI FORNIA HALI BUT
Paralichthys californicus
Av., 5-1 0 lbs.
Common, 1 5-30 lbs.
Reaches, 7 5 I bs.
39
40
WHERE AND WHEN
GREAT BARRACUDAS roam
i nshore waters of Fl ori da Keys
and Bahamas; ofshore, they
range Gul f and north to Hat
teras in Atl a nti c. Summer best
.
PACI F I C B ARRACU DAS
range from Pt. Concepti on to
Baja Cal iforni a in ofshore
waters. Al l year of Baj a Cal i
forni a; spri ng to fal l in Cal if.
DOLPHI N r ange over the warm
seas of t he worl d i n bl ue water.
Pl enti ful i n Gul f Stream from
Hatteras south. fai r l y common
of Baj a Cal iforn i a. Often near
foati ng seaweed or debr i s. Al l
year where wat er stays warm.
COBI A are found i nshore and
ofshore i n Gul f and on Atl antic
seaboard north to Chesapeake
Boy i n summer. I n wi nter, near
edge of Gul f Stream of Fl ori da
Keys. They l i ke shade of buoys,
pi l i ngs, and l i ght houses.
LI NGCOD occur from Al aska to
Pt. Concepti on, us ual l y ofshore
i n deep water. They enter shal
l ow i ns hore wat er for spawni ng
i n wi nt er months.
SEA CATFI SH range from Vi r
gi nia Ia Gul f of Mexi co of
beaches and i n bays and ri vers.
Often i n bracki sh water. Al l year
in Fl a. ; s ummer el sewhere.
GAFFTOPSAI L CATFI SH ar e
known from Hat t er as to fl ori da
i n Atl anti c, but are most abun
dan! i n Gu l f. Commonl y on s and
bottom i n surf and bays. Summer.
HOW AND WHY
Best method i s trol l i ng stri p baits
from smal l boats. Drifti ng wi th
l ive fsh bai ts and cast i ng or
trol l i ng spoons, pl ugs, and buck
tai l s are al s o good.
Dri fti ng or st i l l fs hi ng wi th l ive
sardi nes and anchovi es or stri p
baits i s best method. Feather j i gs
and metal squi ds often efective,
ei ther cast or trol l ed.
Best method i s trol l i ng wi t h stri p
baits, bucktai l s, or spoons. Once
school i s l ocated, keep a hooked
fsh i n water and cast to school
wi th j i gs or pl ugs on l i ght tackl e.
When fshi ng for l arge fsh, use
l ight trol l i ng gear.
Sti l l fshi ng wi th l i ve crabs or
smal l fsh is best method. F l oat
may be used to keep bai t hi gh,
or bait may be d rifted wi th ti de
on sl ack l i ne. Spot casti ng to fi sh
wi th l arge bucktai l s and feathers
i s exci t i ng tech ni q ue.
Best method i n s hal l ow water i s
sl ow trol l i ng wi th stri p baits or
feather j i gs. I n deep water, bot
tom fshi ng wi th l i ve fsh, shr i mp,
or squi d bai ts i s best.
Bottom fi shi ng wi th al most any
nat ural bai t i s bes t method. Cut
fsh, shri mp prefer red. Us ual l y
consi dered pests, Sea Cat fs h wi l l
hi t deepfshed j i gs .
Best method i s bottom f i sh i n g
wi th c u t mu l l et or shri mp. Sl ow
dri f t i ng preferabl e to st i l l f i sh
i ng. E i ther buc ktai l or worm j i gs
ore best art i f i c i ol s.
GREAT BARRACUDA
Sphyraena barracuda
Av. , 3-7 l bs.
Common, 1 0-20 l bs.
Reaches, 70 l bs.
PACI FI C BARRACUDA
Sphyraena argentea
Av. , 2-3 l bs.
Common, 4- 6 l bs.
Reaches, 12 l bs.
DOLPHI N
Coryphaena hippurus
Av. , 2-4 l bs.
Reaches, 7 5 l bs.
COBIA
Rachycentron canadus
Av. , 8- 1 0 l bs.
Common, 20-30 l bs.
Reaches, 1 00 l bs.
LI NGCOD
Ophiodon elongatus
Av., 8-1 2 l bs.
Reaches, 70 l bs.
SEA CATFI SH
Galeichthys Felis
Av., %- 1 l b.
Common, 1 -1 % 1 bs.
Reaches, 3 l bs.
GAFROPSAI L CATFI SH
Bagre marin us
Av., 1 -2 l bs.
Common, 2- 3 l bs.
Reaches, 8 l bs.
41
42
WHERE AND WHEN
SPADEFI SH r an ge from Chesa
peake Bay to Texas, south
t hr ough the Car i bbean . Pri mar
ily cora l reef fs h, but al so l i ke
oyster bottoms, pi l i ngs, and
wrecks. Abundant near oi l r i gs
i n Gul f. Al l year fr om Fl a. sout h.
TRI GGERFI SH occur i n Fl or i da
and on Gul f Coast, strayi ng
north to Hatteras i n summer. On
coral reefs and ar ound wrecks
and pi l i ngs. Al l year i n Fl ori da
and sout hern Gul f.
PORCUPI NE FI SH are found
f r om Fl ori da and Bahamas south
to West I ndi es over coral reefs
and hard bottom. Al l year.
PUFFERS r ange from Cape Cod
to Texas, t he northern form b
i ng found south to Fl or i da,
where sout her n for m takes
over. Gr assy bays, shel l bottoms.
TOADFI SH are found i n bays
and ri vers from New Jersey to
t he Gul f and south to Cari b
bean. Summer north of F lur i da.
SOUTHERN SEA ROBI NS oc
c ur over Gul f Coast and north in
Atl anti c to Hatteras. Car ol i na
Sea Robi ns r ange nort h to N.J .
HOUNDFI SH r ange t hr ough
the Car i bbean and north to Ba
hamas and southern Fl a. Al l year
over s hal l ow ofshore ban ks.
NEEDLEFI SH a re common i n
Fl ori da and the Gul f Coast,
strayi ng nort h to New Jersey in
summer . Near s u rface, i nshore.
HOW AND WHY
Best method i s sti l l fshi ng wi th
smal l baits of cl am, shri mp, or
cr ab. Us e r i g and techni que t hat
have been descri bed for gr u nts
{ page 28). Spadefsh fght hard,
but fresh- water tackl e i s f ound
to be adeq uate.
Sti l l fshi ng or drift i ng wi th
bai ts of fddl er crab, s hri mp, or
cut fsh i s best method . Fi sh are
usual l y but not al ways near bot
tom. Smal l bucktai l s a re efec
tive arti fci al s.
Sti l l fshi ng or sl ow drifti ng wi t h
deep-fshed bai t s of shri mp,
spi ny l obster pi eces, or cut fsh
i s best met hod.
Best method i s sti l l fshi ng or
sl ow dr ift i ng wi th smal l hooks
and bai l s of cut shr i mp or cr ab.
Voraci ous t hough smal l -mout hed,
Pufer s st r i ke bucktai l s readi l y.
Bottom fs hi ng wi th any nat ur al
bai t is efective i n catchi ng t hi s
nui sance fsh. Ji gs are fai rl y
good arti fci al s.
Best method i s bottom fshi ng
wi th bai t s of cr ab or shr i mp.
Bottom-bumped buckt ai l s and
feathers are good arti fci al s.
Casti ng wi th stri p baits or s mal l
buckt ai l s i s best met hod. Us e
s pi nni ng tackl e, smal l hooks, and
l i ght, brai ded wi r e l eaders.
Fl y fi shi ng wi th smal l streamers
i s best method . Fi sh al so hi t
s mal l spi nni ng buckta i l s, por k
r i nds, and str i p baits.
1 . SPADEFISH
Chaetodipterus ...
Av. , . .
Common, 2-3 ..
..
..15 ..
2. TRIGGERFISH
Batistes carolinensis
Av., %- 1 .
Common, 1 - 1 Y ..
.....3 ..
3. PORCUPINE FISH
Diodon hystrix
Av., 1-2 ..
Common3-5 ..
.....20 ..
4. NORTHERN PUFFER
Spheroides maculatus
Av., .. .
Common, Y .
.....1 .
b. TOADFISH
Opsanus t au
Av. , 114-% .
Common1 .
.....2 ..
0. SOUTHERN SEAROBIN
Prinotus tribulus
Av., '-% .
Common, 1 .
.....2 Y2 ..
7. HOUNDFISH
Strongylura raphidoma
Av., 1 . 2 ..
Common, :. .. 3-4 ..
.....1 0 .. 5 ..
8. NEEDLEFISH
Strongylura marina
Av., 114 . 1 5 in.
Common, Y . 1 Y ..
..
..3 .. 4 ..
.
43
44
WHERE AND WHEN
MAKO SHARKS r ange over
warm, deep waters of both
Atl anti c and Pacifc but are no
where abundant . Most common
ar ound New Zeal and. Fr equent
l y seen in Gul f Stream, someti mes
near school s of Ki ng Mackerel ,
on whi ch they prey.
HAMMERHEAD S HARKS
(fve speci es) ar e fou nd i n the
Atl anti c and t he Paci fc. Very
common i n l ar ge passes al ong
Gul f Coas t . Oft en attack hooked
Tar pon. Al l year i n South.
TI GER SHARKS, al ways very
dangerous, r ange i nshore and
ofshore i n al l warm s eas . Very
common of F l ori da and Gul f
Coast, especi al l y i n the Gul f
Stream. Active al l year.
SAND SHARKS are found on
the Atl anti c seaboard from New
J ersey and south to Brazi l . Al l
year i n South.
DOGFI SH a re common i n the
Atl anti c. Spi ny Dogfsh occur i n
shore from Nova Scotia to North
Carol i na. Smooth Dogfsh range
south to Fl or i da.
STI NG RAYS are common over
the enti re Atl anti c seaboard
south of Cape Cod. The southern
form ranges north to Hatteras;
the northern form to Cape Cod.
SKATES of vari ous s peci es are
found i n t he Atl anti c from Nova
Scotia to F l ori da, but most occur
onl y north of Hatteras. I n shore
i n s urf and bays.
HOW AND WHY
Best method i s t r ol l i ng baits of
whol e ri gged fsh such as mack
erel or mul l et wi th fai rl y heavy
tackl e (80- to 1 30- pound test
l i ne) . Us ual l y caught by acci dent
when trol l i ng for t una, mar l i n,
or swor dfsh. Baski ng Makos oc
casi onal l y take bai ts.
Best method i s sti l l fshi ng on
bottom wi th l ar ge bai ts of cut
fsh and heavy tackl e. Bl oody or
oi l y fsh l i ke boni to or tuna make
best baits. Ni ght fs hi ng most
prod ucti ve.
Best method i s dr ift i ng i n or
near Gul f Stream wi th l arge,
unwei ghted cut bai ts of bon ito,
t una, or other bl oody fsh. Use
1 30-pound test l i ne, chai n
l eader, 1 6/0 hook, 1 2/0 reel .
St i l l fs hi ng at ni ght on fai rl y
s hal l ow fats wi th baits of cut
fi sh is best method. Tackl e may
be rel ati vel y l i g ht.
Bottom fshi ng i n s ummer wi th
baits of crab, shr i mp, or squi d is
a s ure way to hook these n ui
sances. They are maj or pests on
the mi ddl e Atl anti c seaboar d.
Pests rather t han gamefsh, Sti ng
Rays may be caught at any ti me
when bottom fi s hi ng. Best bai ts
ar e cl am, crab, or shr i mp, but
cut fi sh wi l l al so cat ch t hem.
Very easi l y caught by bottom
fshi ng wi th al most any bai t.
Skates ar e consi dered pests
rather t han gamefsh. Surf fsh
i ng i s probabl y "best" method .
MAKO SHARK
/surus glaucus
Av., 1 00- 1 50 lbs.
Reaches, 1 ,000 l bs.; 1 2 ft.
HAMMERHEAD SHARK
Sphyrna zygaena
Av. , 1 00- 1 50 J bs.
Reaches, 1 ,400 l bs. ; 1 3 ft.
TI GER SHARK
Galeocerdo cuvieri
Av., 400-600 l bs.
Common, 900- 1 ,500 J bs.
Reaches, 2,000 l bs. ; 1 B ft.
SAND SHARK
Garcharius taurus
Av., 30-50 l bs.
Common, 1 00 l bs.
Reaches, 400 l bs. ; 1 0 ft.
SMOOTH DOGFISH
Mustelus canis
Av., 4-7 J bs.
Reaches, 30 J bs.
SOUTHERN STINGRAY
Dasyatis americana
Av., 1 0-20 l bs.
Common, 35 J bs.
Reaches, 1 00 l bs.
LI TTLE SKATE
Raja erinacea
Av., 3-4 l bs.
Common, B J bs.
Reaches, 15 l bs.
45
46
SAL T- AND F RESH- WATER F I SH E S
WHERE AND WHEN
KI NG SALMON .....
..,. . . ...... .....
.- ..., . ....
.... , .. ......
... . . .--. .. .. ,.
CHUM SALMON .,.. .,
... ..... .-..
.. . .. ....
..... ,
.... . . .......,..
.. --. .... ,. ...
SOCKEYE SALMON .....
... ......- ..
.. . . . .. . . ...
..--. .... . ... ..
.. ....,. : . . ..
.....,.. ..--.
COHO SALMON .,..-
.... . .. ....
..,. .. .. -... . ..
.... -.. .......
. .,.. .. ... . . ..
. .--. , ... .,.. ,
HUMPBACK SALMON . .
.. .. ... ......-
.. .. . . . .
..... .... .,.. , ..
..,.-.. ......
ATLANTI C SALMON .....
... . ,.. ..... . .
......-. .. ..,
.. -... ... ..
..... :..,. ., , .
.. ,. ...
LANDLOCKED SALMON, .
.- . . . .. -. ..
..... . ..... ....-.
.-.............
... ... ., ,... ...
HOW AND WHY
... -... .. ... ..,.
....,. ,. .,....
., .. . ,. .... .
. .. .-.... ..-. -.. ...
..-. ., .. .....
. ,. .,....., ..
........ .. ..-.. -
. ... ............ ,
..., . .. , ..,..
.. .. ...-.. ...
. ....., . , ....,.
. .... , ,. . . ,.. .
.,...-...... .-...
, . .. ,... . ,O
. ,.. . .... .- ...-
. ..... 45 ., . , 1 23) .
... .. ,.. . ... , .
.. ,... ,.. . .. ,.
. . ... .. ,. ,....
. ., . . .. . , .
.,.... ,. , .-.. ..
.....
... -... . . .. . ,
. . ... .... . .
. . , , .. ... , ,. .-.
.. ,. , , . .. . . .-..
.. , .. .....,.. , ..
- , -... . , , .,.. .
...,. , . ......
.....,.. , .. ....
... ,.... ,,.. .. ..
.. , . ..... . .,.
: .....,,.... .....
... -... . . , .
...-. .. .,... . . ,
. . - .. .--. ...,.
, .......,. ... .
, ... , .-.... . , ,
KING SALMON
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Av., 1 0- 1 5 1 bs.
Common, 20-30 l bs.
Reaches, 1 00 l bs.
CHUM SALMON
Oncorhynchus keta
Av., 6-8 l bs.
Reaches, 30 l bs.
SOCKEYE SALMON
Oncorhynchus nerka
Av., 3-5 l bs.
Common, 1 0 l bs.
Reaches, 15 l bs.
HUMPBACK SALMON
Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Av., 3-4 1 bs.
Common, 5-6 l bs.
Reaches, 1 0 I bs.
COHO SALMON
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Av., 5-1 0 l bs.
Common, 12-15 l bs.
Reaches, 30 I bs.
ATLANTIC SALMON
Salmo salar
Av., 1 0- 1 2 1 bs.
Reaches, 60 l bs.
LANDLOCKED SALMON
Salmo salar
Av., 2-4 l bs.
Common, 6-8 l bs.
Reaches, 20 l bs.
47
48
F R E S H- WAT E R F I S H E S
WHERE AND WHEN HOW AND WHY
BROOK TROUT, . , . , .
.. . . .... . . ..
.... ..... ......
.. .... ....-...,...
... . . . . ... ,
.. .. .. ., , .. .
BROWN TROUT, ...... .
-. -. .. .- :. .,.
... . ... .........-.
......... .. .. . ...
.. -. .... ......
GOLDEN TROUT . ... .
.- , . .... . .....
1 0,000 ... .... -...
..... . . ., .... .
-.., .... ..--. ...
CUTTHROAT TROUT .,.
.- ....,... . ...
. . .. . .- .... .
.. . . ... .... ..
...-. ... . . . ...
DOLLY VARDEN TROUT ..
... ..... ...-. .-
. . .. . . . .
.... .... ,.. ...
... ., , .. .
RAI NBOW TROUT, ...
.
.... .. -. .. ...
... .. .... ... . ....
. .. ..-. ... -... . .
: ... .. .... .....
., ,.. . .--.
LAKE TROUT .. .. .
. . . ..., .... . . .
. . .. ..... . .--.
.,,....,...1 00
.-.. ... . ...-
... .. .... , ,...
,... , . .. .. .,
......-...-..,.,. .
-... ... .. ,. , .
.. . ,. .. -. . . -.
- ... .. ,. . ... ..
. ...,... .-. , .,.
... -... . . ,, . ,
.... .. . ... ... ....
..... . .....-. . . ..
,... .-...- ......
.. . .. ,. , ,
... -... .,... ,.
.. .. ...-.. .. . -.
. , .. ., ... .,...
. .. .--. .... . . .. .
. . . -. - ...
...-... . . ,,.
, .... ...... ...
, . , , . . , .
.,... . , .. . , .,. .
.-.. .. .-. - ... ,...
... -........ ... ,.
. ,. .,.... . , ..
. .......-. . ,....
.-. . ..... .... -.
.....
... -... . ...-. . ,
... ,. ... . , ....
...-.. .. . , .
..-. .. .. -. .,,. . ..
,... . , . .,... .
. , . . ... ....
.. .. -... . ...,. ,
.. ,.,..... . . .
.. ,., ,. . . -, .. ,
.. ... , . . ., , . .
... . . .. ., .., ..
. ... .. . .. .
BROOK TROUT
Salve/in us fontinalis
Av. , 14- 1 l b.
Common, 1 -2 l bs.
Reaches, 1 0 l bs.
BROWN TROUT
Salmo fruita
Av., 1- 1 V2 l bs.
Common, 2-4 l bs.
Reaches, 30 l bs.
GOLDEN TROUT
Salmo aguabonita
Av. , V2 l b.
Common, 1 l b.
Reaches, 1 0 l bs.
CUTTHROAT TROUT
Salmo clarkii
Av. , 1- 1 1 l bs.
Common, 2-3 l bs.
Reaches, 40 l bs.
DOLLY VARDEN TROUT
Salve/in us malmo
Av. , 5-7 l bs.
Reaches, 30 l bs.
RAINBOW TROUT
Salmo gairdneri
Av. , 1- 2 l bs.
Common, 4-8 l bs.
Reaches, 35 l bs.
LAKE TROUT
Salveli nus namaycush
Av. , 5- 1 0 l bs.
Reaches, 60 l bs.
49
50
WHERE AND WHEN
LARGEMOUTH BASS ..
... .... ...-. ..
... .. . ..... ..
.. .. . .....-.......,
..... .... ..-. -....
.... . ... .. .... .
... .. . ... . ,..
... . .--. .. ..
SMALLMOUTH BASS ,..
. .. ... ......-. ..
.... ... .- ..... .
... . + . ...., .
........ .... ,. .--.
... .....,. . ,
SPOTTED BASS, ... .-
- ..... , .....
. .... ,.. ..., ,.. .
... .....-. .....
. .. .. ...-. ....
.,. . ,... .
SUNFI SH . ...--. .
,. .,.. .. . . .., ...
...,... . .., . .-,.
.........,...,.. ....
.. ,... .. . .. ... .
...-. ............
..., ...-. .. ... ....
.-... ... .,,.
....
.,... .. . .. .....
,....-.,,... .... ..
..... ... .. . ..-.
CRAPPIES ....... .. ,
...... ........ -..
..+ S. . ....... .. ..
. ..... ...., ...
.... .. ,.. . ...
HOW AND WHY
.. ... , , . , ..
. , , . -., ,,.. .
, .,. .,... . , .. ..
,.., , ..,. ,.. ... .
, .. . ....-. ... ...
. ............,. . ...
.... . . .. ... ...
. . ,....,......,.
...-. ...-..... .,
. ,..., ,. .,
. ... .... . . . .. ..
. , . .. . , .-- ..
- ... ..-. .... ..
... , . . , ,. , .,.
, . , . .-. . ....
..,.. , . ... ...-..
...--.... .. , .
.-. , .,. .. .,... . ..
,... ... . . . ... ..
....-.
.,. - ...
...-....-..... .
. . ,. ......-.
.... . .., . .... ,
... ,. . -.. .-. .
. . .-. ... A ..... .
. .... .-...-...
. ,. ....... . . . ,
. ,. .. ... , ..
. . -. ,.,, , ..,. .....
. ... , .. ..,......
... ,. .., .
,. . ,. . ... ,
. .-. ..- ... ,...
,.... ,....-..
......,...., ,.... ..
,...-....
BLACK CRAPPIE
Pomoxis nigromacu/atus
.Y
2 .
..--. 1 .
.....3 ..
Lepamis gibbosus
11- 1 l b.
Lepomis mega/otis
1k1 l b.
ROCK BASS
Ambloplifes rupesfris
1/4-2 l bs.
BLUEGI LL
LARGEMOUTH BASS
Micropferus salmoides
Av. , 1 -2Y2 l bs.
Common, 4-7 l bs.
Reaches, 18 l bs.
SMALLMOUTH BASS
Micrapferus dolomieui
Av., 1 l b.
Common, 2- 4 l bs.
Reaches, 1 0 l bs.
SPOTTED BASS
Micropferus puncfulatus
Av., Y l b.
Cammon, 1 l b.
Reaches, 2 l bs.
Lepamis macrochirus
Av., 1-% l b.
Cammon, %- 1 l b.
Reaches, 3 l bs.
Chaenobryffus gulosus
1-1 Y2 l bs.
Lepamis puncfafus
Y-Y
2 l b.
Lepomis auritus
Y4- 1 l b. 5 1
52
WHERE AND WHEN
WHITE BASS .. ...
.... . . ...-. .....
.. . .. ..... ., .
... .., . .. .. ,,
. .,.... ..... .... .
.. ... . . .... ., ,
. .. .--. ...
YELLOW BASS .. ...
.... .. ...-. ..,.
.. .. ,, . ., . . .
.... .. ..... ...
. .... .. .. , .- .,.
.... . . , , .. . .--.
WHI TE PERCH .... ...-.
. . ... . .. . .. ..,.
.- . .. ... .. . .
..--. .. ... ....
...:, .. .. . .,. .
.. . . .--. ......
. , , .. . ....,....
..,.. ... ..
YELLOW PERCH .....

-.. .. .. . . . .,.
. . ...... . ... . .
.. . .. . .. .....
., . .. .. .. ,, . .,
.. .... .. .. ..
... ..... . . .., ..
...-. . .. . ,..
WALLEYES, .... ...
....... ..... ....
. . ...... .. .... .
. .. ... .. - ...-..
... .... ..... . ...,
.,.. , ..... -....
.. . , ,.. .
SAUGERS . ...--. ...
.. ..... .... ..
.... ,,. .. . ...
., ,... .....
HOW AND WHY
. , , . . ,. ..
- ... . ..-. . ...
. .--.... ...... .
.... .. . ... ,. . . ...
,. , , .. ... , . .-,
. ,. .,... . , .. .
...-.- ..
. . , . .. - ...
. .-. .., . . ,.... ,
... ., , .. -, . ,
. . -. . ,... . , .. ..
...-. - .. . . . .. ,...
-....... .....
... -... . . .. . ,
. - .. .. . , . ..-
. . .. .. .... . .
.... . . ,. ..-
... . ,.. . . -,. . ...
.., , . ,. . , .
.. . , .,... . . . ,
,. . -. , ,. . .,...
. . , . .. - ...
.... .. . . . . .--.
,. ,. ...-...
. ....,......,.-..
.. . , ,. . . ., ,
. . -. . ,... . , ,. .
.,.. , ,... . ,, , .,...
. ..-..... ... ,
. ,. , . . . ...,
. , . . ,. , ... .
.. .- .. .... . .
, . .. - ... . . ..
,... . ...-........ ...
, . ., , . ..., .
,, .,..,...., ,.
..-... .. .. ...,.
,. . . ...,. , . . .
- ....-. . .. . .
,. - ..... . .,...
WHI TE BASS
Roccus chrysops
Av., l i b.
Common, 1 V2-2 l bs.
Reaches, 5 l bs.
YELLOW BASS
Roccus interruptus
Av. , y l b.
Common, 1 - 1 % l bs.
Reaches, 3 l bs.
WHI TE PERCH
Roccus american us
Av. , V2 l b.
Common, 1 l b.
Reaches, 4 l bs.
YELLOW PERCH
Perea f/avescens
Av. , V2 l b.
Common, 1 - 1 V4 l bs.
Reaches, 3 l bs.
WALLEYE
Stizostedion vitreum
Av. , 2-4 l bs.
Reaches, 20 l bs.
SAUGER
Stizostedion canadense
Av. , V2 l b.
Common, 1 l b.
Reaches, 2 l bs.
53
54
WHERE AND WHEN
NORTHERN PI KE l ive i n s hal
l ow weedy areas i n l akes and
ri vers i n Canada and nor t her n
U. S. west t hr ough Great lakes.
Bi te al l year; spri ng, fal l best.
MUSKELLUNGE occ u r in Can
ada and i n nor t her n U. S. from
New York to Great lakes ar ea.
Al so i n streams on west si de of
Appal achi ans . Prefer weed beds
i n s hal l ows of l akes and r ivers.
CHAI N PI CKEREL ar e com
mon i n weedy l akes and qu i et
streams from Mai ne Ia Fl o. and
t hroug hout Mi ssi ssi ppi Vol l ey.
SQUA WFI SH o re found i n
ri vers of t he Paci fc Coast f r om
cent r al Cal if . nort hwar d. Abun
dant in Owyhee Reservoi r, Ore.
CREEK CHUBS occ ur i n s mal l
cl ear streams f r om Canada t o
Georgi a and west to t he Ozorks.
FALLFI SH range from Mari
t i me Provi nces to Yo. , i n streams.
ARCTI C GRAYLI NGS ore
fou nd i n Al aska and Bri ti sh Co
l u mbi a, i n streams t ri but ary to
Arctic Ocea n . Subspeci es found
i n Montano's Mad i son and Gal
l at i n ri vers. Caught any t i me
streams are i ce free.
SHEE- FI SH ore common n
most l arge streams and some
l a kes (Great Sl ave and Great
Bear) i n Arcti c Canada. Often
ent er sal t water. Shee-fsh or e
acti ve year r ound an d may be
token whenever water i s ice free.
HOW AND WHY
Best method i s ba it costi ng wi th
wobbl er spoons or s pi nner- buck
tai l combi nat i ons. Pl ugs al so
good. Live suckers an d s mal l
per c h ore best bai ts.
Boi l cast i ng and t rol l i n g wi th
I orge spoons, pl ugs, and s pi nner
l u res ore best met hods. Repeated
cost i ng to l i kel y spots i s advis
abl e. Sti l l fs hi ng with l ive c hu bs
or suckers is al so good.
Bai t cast i ng and s pi nni ng wi th
wobbl i ng spoons or s pi nner
l u res ar e prefer r ed. St i l l fi s hi ng
wi t h l i ve mi n n ows al so good .
Best method is fly fi s hi ng wi th
wet fi es, dr y fi es, or streamers.
Spi nni ng or bai t casti ng wi th
pl ugs and spoons al so efecti ve.
Fl y fi s hi ng wi th sma l l wet or
dr y fi es and sti l l fi s hi ng wi th
worms ore good methods.
Best method i s fl y fshi ng wi th
s mal l wet fl i es and st reamers.
Best method is fly fi s hi ng. Wet
fl i es of standard t r out patter ns
or e good, but they s houl d be
fshed deep. Grayl i ngs take a fly
very gentl y, and you must be
al ert to hook t hem. Dur i ng fy
hat ches, dry fl ies may wor k wel l .
Best methods or e bai t costi ng
and s pi nni ng wi th fai r l y I orge
pl ugs, spoons, or spi n ners. St i l l
fi s hi ng wi th baits of l i ve suckers
or ot her smal l fi sh (to 1 2 i n.
l ong) al so works wel l . Trol l i ng
good near r i ver mout hs.
NORTHERN PI KE
Esox lucius
Av. , 4-5 l bs.
Reaches, 45 l bs .
MUSKELLUNGE
Esox masquinongy
Av. , 8- 1 0 l bs.
Reaches, 70 l bs.
CHAI N PI CKEREL
Esox niger
Av. , l - l Y2 I bs.
Common, 2-3 l bs.
Reaches, 10 l bs.
SQUAWFI SH
Ptychocheilus oregonensis
Av., 2-4 l bs.
Reaches, 60 l bs.
CREEK CHUB
Semotilus atromaculatus
Y4- l l b.
FALLFI SH
Semotilus corpora/is
V-3 l bs.
ARCTI C GRAYLI NG
Thymallus arcticus
Av., l i b.
Common, 2 l bs.
Reaches, 3 l bs.
SHEE-FI SH
Stenodus leucichthys
Av., 5- 1 0 l bs.
Reaches, 50 l bs.
55
56
WHERE AND WHEN
CATFI SH, native to much of
the U. S. east of the Rocki es,
have been establ i shed i n the
West. Channel Catfsh are com
mon i n cl ear ri vers on Atl anti c
seaboard and i n Mi ssi ssi ppi
Val l ey. Fl athead Catfsh occur i n
s l ow ri vers f r om the Great lakes
through the Mi ssi ssi ppi Val l ey
and are most abundant in the
South. Bl ue Catfi sh are found
i n t he Mi ssi ssi ppi and its t r i bu
tari es, a l so i n other sl ow ri vers
and mud-bottomed l akes of
Southeast. Whi te Catfsh occur
i n ri vers from New Yor k to Fl or
i da and have been i ntrod uced
successf ul l y in Cal ifor ni a waters.
BULLHEADS a re popul ar over
muc h of the U. S. Brown Bul l
heads occu r i n l akes and streams
from Mai ne to Fl a. ; al so i n Great
Lakes regi on, Ohi o Val l ey, and
Cal if. Bl ack Bul l heads found
f r om Hudson Bay s out h to Gul f
Coast. Yel l ow Bul l heads common
from nor t her n Mi dwest to At
l anti c coast, south to Fl a.
CARP oad SUCKERS provi de
sport for many a ngl ers. Car p
are found i n l akes an d streams
of al l U. S. mai nl and states ex
cept Mai ne and Fl or i da. Suckers
occ ur i n cl ear streams east of
Rocki es. Spr i ng best.
B OWF I N S , GAR S , o a d
OTHER ROUGHFJ SH are
found i n most ri vers, streams, l akes,
and canal s. Few f ur nis h sport.
BOWFI N
~m0 calva
2-20 l bs.
HOW AND WHY
Most catfi sh ar e caught by bot
tom fs hi ng wi th nat ur al or spe
ci al l y prepared bai ts. Sti n k baits
made of cheese, d ri ed bl ood, or
spoi l ed chi cken ent r ai l s are
favori tes. Ni ght fs hi ng is gener
al l y best. Channel Catfsh feed
more by si ght and l ess by scent
than other catfsh and often bite
wel l i n dayti me. They st ri ke
such arti fci a l l u res as spoons,
j i gs, and spi nner fi es. Fl athead
Catfsh prefer sti n k baits, cut
fsh, or crayfsh tai l s. Bl ue Cat
fsh wi l l bi te cut or whol e fsh
as wel l as sti n k bai ts. White Cat
fsh can be caught on worms,
mi n nows, or crayfsh.
Bottom fshi ng at ni ght i s the
best method for al l bul l heads.
They al so bi te wel l d ur i ng day
l i ght hou rs i n roi l ed waters. Bai ts
may be cheese, sti n k baits, or
even soap. The more conven
ti onal worms, doughbal l s, c ray
fsh, or mi n nows wi l l al so catch
bul l heads. Worms are probabl y
used the most.
Best method for Carp i s sti l l fi sh
i ng on bottom wi th doughbal l s
or speci al preparati ons which
may be purchased i n cans. Do
not use s i nker or foat. For suck
ers, sti l l fsh on bottom wi th
worms. Ni ght fshi ng best.
Most roughfsh are caught whi l e
seeki ng game speci es. Bowfns,
gars, and sturgeons may be
caught wi th cut bai ts.
CHANNEL CATFI SH
/ctalurus punctatus
Av., 23 l bs.
Cammon, 68 l bs.
Reaches, 55 l bs.
FLATHEAD CATFI SH
Pyladictis alivaris
Av., 24 l bs.
Common, 1 0 30 l bs.
Reaches, 1 00 l bs.
BLUE CATFI SH
lctalurus furcal us
Av. , 25 l bs.
Common, 1 525 l bs.
Reaches, 1 50 lbs.
WHI TE CATFI SH
lctalurus cat us
Av. , 1 2 1 bs.
Common, 3 l bs.
Reaches, 1 2 l bs.
BROWN BULLHEAD
/ctalurus nebulosis
Av., 1.1 l b.
Common, 1 2 l bs.
Reaches, 5 l bs.
CARP
Cyprinus carpio
Av. , 25 l bs.
Common, 1 01 5 l bs .
Reaches, 80 l bs.
COMMON SUCKER
Catostomus commersoni
Av. , Y 1 Y l bs.
Common, 23 l bs.
Reaches, 6 l bs.
57
58
a re easi l y
shal l ow wa
ters wi th a smal l sei ne.
NAT UR AL BAI TS
More fsh are caught on natural bai ts t han on arti fci al s.
Thi s i s true partl y because more fshermen use natural
bai ts but al so because natural bai ts have a fami l i ar
shape, movement, or odor. Cat chi ng fi sh wi t h natural
bai ts, t hough requi ri ng l ess ski l l , is sti l l great sport.
F R E S H
MI NNOWS are t he pr i nci pal
nat ur al food of many fi shes.
Most of t he many ki nds of mi n
nows used for bai t measure si x
i nches or l ess i n l ength. They
are caught i n sei nes, i n traps
bai ted wi th bread or cor nmeal ,
or occasi onal l y on s mal l hooks
baited wi th bread, dough, or
"moss. " Thos e from sti l l or sl ow
movi ng waters wi l l l ive l onger.
Mi n nows kept too l ong i n a
bucket wi l l di e from l ack of oxy
gen. l f the mi nn ows begi n to
t ur n on t hei r si des, sti r or sl osh
WATE R
the water. Or ai r can be bl own
i nto the bucket t hrough a hose,
ei ther by mouth or wi th a wi nd
dri ven or battery-powered ai r
pump. Por ous , , breather" bai t
buckets hel p to keep water cool
so that mi nnows ar e l ess active
and hence use oxygen l ess
rapi dl y. I ce pl aced on the buck
et's l i d so t hat water dri ps i n
as t he i c e mel ts he I ps to keep
water cool . Many bai t buckets
have a detachabl e i n ner section
t hat can be fl oated i n the water
at t he fs hi ng spot.
HOOKI NG LI VE MI NNOWS For
l i ve mi n now f i s hi ng, hook throug h
mus cl es of b a c k n e a r dorsal f i n
( 1 ) , t hr ough both l i ps {2) , o r
through tai l ( 3) . Do not hook
through the backbone.
SHI NERS, a wi del y d istri buted
gr oup of mi nnows, are found in
ponds, l akes, and s l uggi s h
streams. The Gol den Shi ner ,
br i ght yel l ow i n the breed i ng
season, i s easi l y reared i n ponds .
Common Shi ner s prefer streams.
Many other ki nds used for bai t .
DACE are stream mi nnows and
do not keep wel l i n a bait buck
et. Acti ve mi n nows, they are
used especi al l y in fshi ng for
trout. The Redbel l y Dace, a
hardy member of the g roup, i s
propagated i n cool -water ponds.
The Bl acknose Dace i s al so a
popu l ar bai t for trout.
MUDMI NNOWS, c l osel y re
l ated to pi kes and pi ckerel s, are
bottom-dwel l ers i n sl ow streams
and i n ponds_ They wi ggl e i nto
the mud tai l frst to hi de. Mud
mi nnows are eas y to keep al i ve,
as t hei r oxygen needs are l ow_
They are al so l i vel y on t he hook.
CHUBS are l arge mi n nows and
some of t hem are sporty pan
f
s
h. Ri ver Ch ubs prefer l arge
streams; Cr eek Ch u bs, t he
smal l er , swi fter streams. These
and other c hubs ar e hardy bai ts,
and t he l arge ones are used for
Northern Pi ke and Muskel l unge_
CREEK CHUB
1 2 i n.
GOLDEN SHI NER
5 i n.
6 i n.
REDBELL Y DACE
RI VER CHUB
HOOKI NG DEAD MI NOWS
For trol l i ng, sew mi nnow onto
hook by passi ng hook through the
mouth, then out a gi l l openi ng
and t hr ough t he thi ck porti on of
tai l . Snel l ed (eyel ess) hooks best_
For casti ng, pi erce body i n tai l
regi on, then wrap l i n e ar ound
body and pi erce agai n i n mi d
secti on. Pass hook t hrough a gi l l
openi ng and ou t t hr ough mouth.
59
60
CRAYFI SH, al so cal l ed Craw
dads, Craws, or Crawfsh, found
i n ponds and streams. Caught i n
mi nnow sei nes by l i fti ng rocks
i n ri fes and l etti ng cu rrent wash
them i nto net, or taken i n traps
bai ted wi th meat. I f kept wet
and cool , wi l l stay al ive for a
day. Hard shel l is shed peri od
ical l y; soft-shel l ed stage best for
bai t. J u st before sheddi ng, peel
WORMS can be fshed s i ngl y,
several to a hook, or cut i nto
pi eces. For l i fel i ke wi gg l e, i nsert
hook u nder worm's yel l owi sh
col l ar. Run hook through worm
twi ce to make secu re; l et end
dang l e. Three types used as baits
are: smal l redworms ( 1 -3 i n. ) ,
found i n man u re or ot her or
ganic debri s; medi um-si zed gar

den worms (3-6 i n. ) , abundant i n
moist, r i c h di rt; and ni ght crawl -
Ni ghtcrawl er doubl e-hooked
through col l ar, tail dangl i ng.
'
U.'.h hookod
through tai l ; front
cl aws removed.
of to make a "softy." For pan
fsh, use onl y t ai l , squeezi ng out
meat or cracki ng shel l t o par
ti al l y str i p of. Meat fr om l arge
pi ncers can al so be used for
panfi sh. For bass and ot her
l ar ge fsh, crayfsh i s used whol e
and al ive, hooked t hr ough tai l .
Dead crayfsh, t hreaded on hook,
are good for catfs h or may be
fshed l i ke arti fci al l u res for bass.
ers (to 12 i n. ) , c aught on s urface
i n sodded areas. Wil l l ive i ndef
ni tel y i n damp soi l , away from
s un. Feed on cracker c r umbs,
mash, or si mi l ar foods. On tri ps
do not crowd; carry i n can or
bai t bucket, i n damp s oi l or moss.
LEECHES l ive in l i tter on the
bottom i n sti l l waters. Hooked
l i ke worms; very hardy. Good
for bass, catfsh.
Several smal l worms
on one hook.
Catal pa
Worm
Caddi sworm Hel l grammi te
I NSECTS of many ki nds are
fi ne bai ts. Methods of hooki ng
i nterchangeabl e. Soft-bodi ed i n
sects, such as gr ubs, threaded on
hook l i k e worms. Tough bai ts,
such as hel l grammi tes, hooked
t hrough t ai l or col l ar .
Cri ckets and cockroaches can
be attracted to baits, such as
br ead, or a re easy to rai se i n
l ar ge cans wi t h damp sand i n
bottom. Feed t em mash or corn
meal . Both ar e t ender and har d
F ROGS A N D SALAMAN
DERS are good l ive bai ts for
bass or other gamefsh. Best bai t
s: ze 2-3 i n . Dead ones excel l ent
catfsh bai t. To fi s h l i ve, ho
o
k
t hr ough l i ps or l eg muscl e, l eav
i ng t hem free to swi m. Tadpol es,
al so good baits, are hooked
through t hi ck t ai l . Dead ones can
be str ung on hook. Sal amanders
best hooked under backbone i n
f r ont of tai l . Keep c ool , damp.
to keep on hook. Grasshoppers,
abundant i n l ate s ummer or f al l ,
are t ougher, eas i er to keep al ive.
Hel l gr ammi tes, t he st r ong-
j awed l arvae of Dobsonfl i es, l ive
under rocks in swift water . Espe
ci al l y good for Smal l mout h Bass.
Bee or wasp l arvae, catal pa
wor ms, meal wor ms, or nymphs of
water i nsects-al l ar e good bai t
for bass, trout, or panfs h. Cad
di sworms ar e r emoved from cases
or cases are l i g htl y cr ushed.
SALMON EGGS, wher e t hei r
us e i s l egal , a re popul ar bai ts
for trout or s al mon. Often sol d
i n bai t shops i n j ars. Thread one
or more on a hook.
F rog hooked t hrough
; ,, fo H.."bo" Hhl o'
Tadpol e hooked
through t ai l .
61
sh, whi ch nd food by teste or
odor. Among the many ki nds are
smel l y cheeses, d ri ed chi cken
bl ood, and sour cl ams-to whi ch
oi l of a ni se or r hodi um are
added to i ncrease odor. Bai t i s
toughened wi th cotton, sponges,
or s i mi l ar s ubstances. Suppl y can
be made and t hen frozen .
DOUGHBALLS are a favorite
bait for Car p and a re al so good
for cats h. They are made of
four , cornmeal , an d water, wi th
cotton, honey, oi l s1 or other s ub
stances added to toughen bai t
and give i t odor.
PORK RI ND bai ts ar e made of
pig ski n wi th t he fat scra ped of,
then soaked in br i ne to preserve.
They may be cut i nto var i ous
shapes and si zes and ar e ei t her
bl eached or dyed. Hooked be
hi nd a spoon or shed al one,
they are good bai ts for al l fresh
water gamefsh and a re used
al so i n sal t water.
W1 bX
spl it t ai l

Among the many ki nds of natural bai ts good i n sal t
water, smal l fsh are tops i n popul arity. But whi l e one
fsher man bai ts hi s hook wi t h a menhaden t o catch a
mackerel , another baits with a mackerel to catch a shark.
MENHADEN, al so cal l ed Moss
bun kers, Hardheads, or Razor
Bel l y Shad, are s mal l fsh of the
herri ng fami l y. For bait, use
whol e or cut. They moke good
chum, l eavi ng a heavy oi l sl i ck
behi nd boat . Menhaden spoi l
quickl y and often must be
t
i ed
to hook. Good for fash, ki ng
sh, mackerel s, and others.
MULLET are a commerci al fs h
of the Atl a nti c and Gul f. Cut
l ar ge ones ( 1 2 i n. or more) i nto
fsh- shaped fl l ets or i nto c hunks .
Fi sh s mal l ones whol e and al ive.
Mul l et may be cast or trol l ed.
Wi th backbone removed, dead
fsh is l i mber and l i fe l i ke.
HERRI NG are smal l , school i ng
fi sh found i n bot h Atl anti c and
Paci fc. They are a maj or food
of many fsh, hence excel l ent
bai t . Can be fs hed whol e and
al ive or cut i nt o c hu nks or st ri ps.
Backbones someti mes cut from
dead fi sh as wi th mu l l et (see
above) . Oi l y, her r i ng make a n
excel l ent c h u m. Her r i ng c a n be
bought in markets, t aken in nets
or by hook and l i ne.
ANCHOVI ES are s mal l bai t
fi shes (4-5 i n. ) popul ar on t he
Pacific Coas t for yel l owtai l , hal i
but, bar r acuda, and mackerel .
Oi l y, they make a good c hum.
Us ual l y hooked behi nd eyes.
BALLYHOO and other hal f
beaks bel ong to the needl efsh
fami l y. The tradi tional sai l fsh
bai t but are equal l y good for
t unas, barracudas, and others.
EELS, top-rated for trol l i ng or
casti ng for Stri ped Bass a nd
other sport fi s h, can be fshed
l ive or dead or c ut i nto c h u n ks or
stri ps. An eel ski n stretched over
a l ead- headed metal frame i s O
popul ar casti ng or t r ol l i ng l ure
cal l ed an eel bob.
Doubl e-ri gged eel
backbone removed
and fish sewed shut.
Herri ng stri p cut
to make a s pi nner
for trol l i ng.
Anchovy, hooked
j ust behi nd eyes.
OTHER BAIT FI SH i nc l ude
ki l l ifs h ( mu mmichog) , si l versi des
( spear i ng) , sand l aunces ( sand
eel s) , pi nfsh, and pi gfsh. They
can be fshed whol e or as cut
bai ts. Most fi s h can be used for
bai t. They are netted i n shal l ows
or bought i n a bai t store.
w
w
Si l versi des
63
64
SHRI MP of ony speci es l arge
enough to put on a hook are
good as bai t. Live s hri mp, prob
abl y the best al l -around bai t
for sout hern waters, are hooked
t hrough head or tai l . Dead
shri mp are cut i nto pi eces and
threaded on hook, or onl y t ai l i s
used. Can be bought i n bai t
shops or i n frozen packages;
al so netted i n bays or s hal l ows.
To keep al ive, pl ace i n cl ean,
aerated water and keep them
cool . Can al so be used as c hum.
SANDBUGS, or Mol e Crabs,
l i ve i n sand at the tide l i ne. For
smal l fsh, use one; for l arge fsh,
several to a hook. Excel l ent for
pompano, sheepshead, whi ti ng.
Bl ue Crab
Hard- shel l ed crabs are hooked through
the body or at edge of shel l by l eg
membrane.
Sand bug i s hooked
from u ndersi de and
through shel l on back.
CRABS of al l si zes can be used
i n some manner as bai t. Green,
Bl ue, Lady, Her mi t , Fi ddl er-al l
ar e good, especi al l y for s urf,
d rift, and sti l l fs hi ng. Shel l s of
l arge ones ar e cracked and t he
meat st ri pped out. Pi eces can be
ti ed to hook wi th t hread. Mem
branes where l egs j oi n body
make good anchor age for hook.
Crabs are best as bai ts j ust be
fore they shed t hei r shel l s; they
can be ' ' peel ed. " Cr abs can be
caught i n bai ted traps, dug from
bu rrows, or chased down on
beach. Thev are sol d i n bai t
shops. To fsh crabs al ive, remove
big cl aws. Crabs are easy to
keep al ive, -even wi thout water
if kept cool .
Hermi t Crab i s removed from
shel l and th readed on hook.
Break of crab' s l arge pi ncers.
SHELLFI SH of oi l sorts-even
oysters, conchs, and scal l ops
wi l l catch fsh. Cl ams are used
most. Softshel l ed Cl am ( Nan ny
goose) i s dug out wi th a c l am
hoe or r ake. Observe l egal l i mi ts.
Shel l i s cracked, meat l eft i nsi de.
Hardshel l ed Cl ams ( Quahog,
Li ttl eneck, Cher rystone) ar e d ug
from mud fat s or s and beaches.
Shel l i s pr i ed open and meat cut
out. I t i s hooked t hr ough snout
(actual l y cl am' s foot), one or
mor e to hook. Soft meats may be
t i ed to hook wi t h t hr ead.
SQUI DS, or l n kfsh, ar e common
on both coasts. They can be
bought i n bai t shops. As sq ui d
spoi l qui ckl y, they must be kept
cool , frozen, or sal ted if not used
i mmedi atel y. Squi ds can be fshed
whol e, used as cut bai t or for
c hum. Tough, l eathery str i ps stay
on hook for casti ng or trol l i ng
wi t h j i gs or spoons. Whol e ones
retrieved wi th a twi tch.
WORMS of sever al ki nds l ive
i n shal l ow waters, bur rowi ng i nto
the sand or hi di ng beneath rocks.
Most common for baits ar e Cl am
wor ms an d Bl oodworms. They
keep wel l i n damp seaweeds.
Hook worm t hr ough head for
trol l i ng; str i ng one or more on
hook for st i l l fshi ng. Good for
fatfsh, croakers, and others.
Hardshel l ed
Softshel l ed
Su rf
Razor
Cl am meat
on hook
Squi d ri gged wi th tandems ( above)
and wi th si ngl e hook ( bel ow) .
6
66
A1 I F | L | AL L UIb
Some anci ent fi sherman di scovered t hat fi sh woul d stri ke
at pi eces of shel l or bi ts of bone skittered through the
water. By attachi ng a l i ne to thi s " l ure" he had found a
new way to catch fsh. Though some artifci al l ures i mi tate
a fsh' s natural food, many successful l ures l ook l i ke not hi ng
a fsh has ever seen before. Apparentl y t hei r unusual acti on
or g_esi gn attracts the fsh' s attenti on.
Fi shi ng wi t h arti fi ci al s demands more efort t han does
natural bai t fi shi ng
.
At the very l east an arti fi ci al must be
trol l ed, and many ki nds gi ve thei r fsh- enti ci ng acti on
onl y when mani pul ated properl y
.
An experi enced fi sher
man can often catch more fi sh wi th l ures t han wi th nat
ural bai ts. He fshes more water more carefu l l y. Lures
come i n thousands of desi gns and col ors. Al l wi l l catch
fi sh. Some are better than others, but none is i nfal l i bl e.
There ar e si x basi c types of l ures : I l spoons, rel a
tivel y heavy and wi th curved or di shed-out bodi es, wob
bl e but do not revol ve; 2| spinners, rel ati vel y l i ght
wei ght, wi th bl ades revolvi ng on shafts or swi vel s; ( 3)
plugs, wi th a di sti nct body of wood or pl asti c, may r un
deep, shal l ow, or on surface on retri eve; (4) jigs, the
most versati l e of al l l ures, have l ead heads and tai l s of
bucktai l , feather, or syntheti c fi bers; ( 5) soft plastic
worms, desi gned to be fi shed very sl owl y, have a l i fe
l i ke feel ; ( 6) flies, i mi tati ons of i nsects or mi nnows,
made of feather or hai r . Many l ures are combi nations
of these basi c types.
Fl ashi ng, hammered metal spoon
wi th col or wi ndows and free
swi ngi ng trebl e hooks.
bPOONb,al so cal l ed Wobbl ers,
a re used for trol l i ng and casti n g
i n fresh and sal t water . Thei r oval
to rou nd bodi es may be of metal ,
pl asti c, or mother-of-pearl . The
amount of wi ggl i ng and di ppi ng
a s poon does when retri eved i s
deter mi ned by its thi ckness an d
by its scooped- out area. Spoons
r ange from fy rod si ze ( 1 i nch)
to t rol l i ng si zes of 4 to 5 i nches
for fresh water and up to 1 2
i nches for sal t water. Those wi th
F ree-swi ngi ng trebl e hooks on
spoon of popul ar s hape and col or.
A gol d, fy-rod si ze spoon,
wi th tai l fi pper.
free-swi ngi ng trebl e hooks a re
best in open water, for they s nag
easi l y. Those wi t h a si ngl e hook
fastened r i gi dl y r i de poi nt up
and shoul d sl i de over obstructi ons .
Weedl ess spoons are us ual l y s i n
gl e-hook model s wi t h wi r e gu ard
to protect hook from s naggi ng.
When fi sh stri kes, i t presses the
guard out of the way. Spoons may
be fi shed trai l i ng a pi ece of por k
r i nd, a por k c hunk, feathers, or
pl asti c stri ps t o i ncrease acti on.
Shoehorn-shaped s poon wi th
si ngl e, ri gi dl y fastened hook.
Spoon wi th t r ai l i ng
trebl es an d rattl ers.
Mother-of-pearl spoon i n shape
of fsh. Free-swi ngi ng trebl es.
Pol i shed, silvery metal spoon,
wi th s i ngl e, detachabl e hook
and a weed guar d.
67
68
TYPES OF SPI NNER BLADES
SPI NNERS are l u res with
bl ades that whi r l on s hafts or
swi vel s as they are retri eved. The
hook i s fastened at the end by
means of a s nap. Spi n ners can
be fshed al one or ahead of fi es,
pork r i nds, or nat ur al bai ts. They
attract fsh by commoti on as wel l
as by t hei r fash and col or. For
t hi s reason they work wel l i n
cl oudy water, when si l ent l u res
are u n n oti ced. Spi nner s are
made i n si zes for bai t casti ng,
spi nni ng, fy fs hi ng, trol l i ng.
J une bug spi nner
wi th ni ghtcrawl er
Bear Val l ey
I daho, I n di ana, and Wi l l ow
l eaf a re the common bl ade
shapes fshed ahead of fl i es.
J une bug spi n ners are especi al l y
sui ted for sl ow t rol l i ng wi t h mi n
nows or ni ght crawl ers. The Bear
Val ley, gener al l y fshed al one, i s
an I daho bl ade wi th the shaft
decorated wi th red beads. The
Col orado, an I daho bl ade
mounted on swi vel s wi th spl i t
ri ngs, may be fshed a l one or
wi t h an arti fci al fy or wi th sal
mon egg bai t .
Beaded Wi l l ow Leaf
wi th fly
Col ored s pi n ner
wi th beaded s ha n k
SURFACE
PLUGS ar e made of wood or
pl asti c and have one or mor e sets
of s i ngl e, doubl e, or t r ebl e
hooks. Most pl ugs are equi pped
wi th metal l i ps, a gouged- out
head, spi n ners, or other feat u res
to produce acti on or commoti on .
They ar e avai l abl e i n s mal l si zes
for fy fi s hi ng to l arge s urf cast
i ng an d trol l i ng pl ugs . Surface
plugs move al ong t he s urface i n
t he retri eve. Some, such as da rt-
Surface
ers, poppers, an d i n j u red mi n

now types, must be worked by
j er ki ng rod tip to gi ve t hem ac
t i on. Ot hers g u r gl e or w.obbl e
a utomati cal l y. Semi-surface plugs
foat at rest but d ive when re
tri eved. Sinking plugs r un deep.
They s i nk sl owl y, and retri eve
can be started when pl ug has
r eached desi red dept h. Most
sal t-water pl ugs do nat have O
bui l t-i n acti on.
SI NKI NG PLUGS
69
JI GS, g
ood in bot h fresh and
s ol ! water, cons i st of a l ead head
cast on a s i ngl e hook. The tai l
i s of buc ktoi l , l eat hers, synt het i c
f i l ament s
,
or soft pl asti c. Ji gs
ar e used i n s pi n n i n g , bai t cast
i ng, and trol l i ng
.
I f head i s
vert i cal , j i g r uns deep; i f hori
zontal , j i g pl anes and can be
f i s hed i n s hal l ows wi t hout s nag
gi n g. Deep- r u n n i n g j i gs may be
bounced al ong bottom by j er ki ng
r od t i p. Heavy model s ar e good
for s urf tasti ng. "Japanese"
feathers ar e s i mi l ar t o j i gs but
l ack hooks. A wi r e l eader i s
pas s ed t hr ou gh a hol e i n l u re' s
head, t hen a hook i s attached.
w s
h
.

(shal l ow r unni ng)
70
Fl ash i ng j i g
Pl asti c war m j i g
METAL S(UI DS ( "ti n cl ads" or
metal j i gs) a re made of bl ock
t i n, l ead, or stai nl ess steel , and
wei gh to 4 ounces. Used most
l y i n sal t water. May have fxed
hooks cast i nto body or free
swi ngi ng si ngl e, doubl e, or t r ebl e
hooks. Some are feathered . Pl ai n
hook model s may be fshed wi th
pork ri nds. Squi ddi ng, or surf
casti ng wi th arti fci al s, refers to
use of t hese l u res. If fattened
hori zontal l y, l i ne pl anes and can
be fshed over rocks. Others are
used for trol l i ng or for fast re
tri eves. "Drai l s" ar e heavy mod
el s (to 8 ounces) used on hand
l i nes i n deep ofshore water.
Di amond-shaped squi d
(deep r unni ng)
I MI TATI ONS of nat ur al fsh
foods or e mode of mol ded pl as
ti cs. Some pl asti c boi ls ore mode
i ncred i bl y l i fel i ke i n feel and
smel l as wel l as i n a ppearance.
Many ore sol d wi thout hooks;
others or e mol ded over a hook
or a seri es of hooks. Al l i mi ta
ti ons of nat ur al foods must be
fshed l i ke arti fci al l ures. Some
ore efecti ve if d ri fted.
Pl asti c earthworms, the most
popul ar of the nat ur al boi l i mi
tati ons, are someti mes fi shed be
hi nd a s pi nner but ore al so ri g
ged wi t h a si ngl e hook and
crawl ed al ong t he bot t om wi t h a
sl ow retri eve. They are good i n
ei t her f r es h or sal t water1 as ar e
pl asti c eel s . Pl asti c eel s , s ol d i n
l engt hs u p to 20 i nches, come
ei t her ri g9ed or u n ri gged and
are excel l ent l u res for St r i ped
Bass. Mackerel and s quid i mi ta
ti ons, as wel l as those of fyi ng
fsh, mul l et, and bal l yhoo, have
become popul ar l ures for trol l i ng
i n s al t wat er for mar l i n and
other bl ue-water fs h.
I nsect i mi tati ons are good fy
rod l u res for fresh-water game
fsh and panfs h. Though us ual l y
mol ded over hooks, some ore
sol d wi t hout hooks. There ore
al so i mi tati ons of frogs, mi nnows,
crayfsh, and others.
71
72
McGi nty wi ng
hackl e
FLI ES may i mitate i nsects, mi n
nows, or cr ustaceans, whi ch ore
the natural foods af fshes, or
may be unus ual , gaudy c reati ons
! hot attract fsh ei ther by cal or
or by di sti nctive appearance.
Fl i es are best known as l u res for
trout, sal mon, and bass but are
al so used for a vari ety of pan
fsh and to a l i mi ted degree i n
sal t wat er . They consi st of yar n,
feathers, hai r , t i nsel , or other
materi al s ti ed to a hook wi th
t hr ead. Some of the many thou
sands of patter ns are centu ri es
ol d. Many ardent fy fsher men
carry fy-tyi ng materi al s wi t h
t hem and ti e patterns to i mi tate
what the fsh are feedi ng on at
the moment. Thi s i s cal l ed
"matchi ng the hatch. " Arti fci al
fi es are di vi ded i nto two mai n
categori es: wet fi es, whi ch si nk
beneath the su rface; and dry
fi es, whi ch foat. Streamer fi es,
su rface bugs, and s pi nner fi es
are speci al types of fi es set apart
by use or by constr ucti on.
Coachman
Red- and - whi te
Mul ti - wi ng
(sal t water)
P i n k Shr i mp
( sal t water)
WET FLI ES (above), genera l l y
ti ed on a heavy hook, ar e sparse
l y d ressed, wi th fat wi ngs or na
wi ngs and wi th a soft, absorbent
hackl e. They i mi tate d rowned i n
sects, i mmat ur e stages of aquati c
i nsects, or smal l cr ustaceans.
Wi ngl ess ones resembl i ng i m
mat ure i nsects are c al l ed oymhs.
STREAMER FLI ES ( bel ow) ore
wet fi es i mi tati ng mi nnows, not
i nsects. Us ual l y ti ed on a l ong
shank hook, they are dressed
wi th wi ngs of saddl e hackl es or
of bucktai l . long, sl ender, and
l i fel i ke when darted t hrough
water; wei g hted streamers may
be us ed wi t h s pi nni ng gear .
Bl ack Ghost
( hackl e)
Mi ckey Fi nn
( bucktai l )
DRY FLI ES ( above and r i ght
)
foat on t he s urface. They or e
t i ed wi t h s t i f hackl es t hat pro
j ect at r i ght angl es to the hook' s
shank. The hook i s us ual l y of
l i ght wi r e. Dry fies i mi tate ei t her
l ivi ng or dead i nsects. They o re
fshed in t he nat ur al drift of t he
wat er and ar e not given acti on
by t he angl er.
SURFACE BUGS ( ri ght) hove
l i ghtwei ght bodi es of cork, pl as
ti c, or hai r. They may i mi tate l iv
ing t hi ngs, s uch as moths, frogs,
or cri ppl ed mi n nows, or may be
si mpl y ottroctors. One type wi th
a concave face produces a pop
pi ng s ound when twi tched on
t he s urface. Popul ar for boss.
SPI NNE R FLI ES ( bel ow) ore
I or ge wet fi es d ressed wi th a
hackl e or wi t h bucktoi l and ti ed
on a r i ngedeye hook. Spi nner
fi es or e us ual l y wi ngl ess a nd o re
desi gned to be fshed behi nd a
spi nner . They o re excepti onal l y
good l u res f or fresh-water boss
but ore al s o a hi ghl y efecti ve
combi nat i on for ponfsh.
Bee
Yel l ow Mi l l er
(wi th spi nner )
Brown Bi vi si bl e
Popper
(cork-bodi ed)
73
74
T AC KL E AND I T S US E
Tackl e consi sts of rod, reel , l i ne, l eader, si nker, hook-al l
t he manufactured i tems a fsherman uses i n catchi ng fsh.
Arti fci al bai ts or l ures ( p. 66) are al so tackl e but are de
scri bed separatel y i n thi s book because of thei r si mi l arity
to natural bai ts (p. 58) in action, appearance, and use.
Accessori es ( p. 1 06) are equi pment that hel p di rectl y or
i ndi rectl y but are not essenti al for catchi ng fsh.
Whi l e some ki nds of tackl e are desi gned for a spe
ci fi c type of fi shi ng, they may serve a vari ety of pur
poses or be used i nterchangeabl y. Tackl e that i s made
especi al l y t o cast artifi ci al baits can be used al so for
sti l l fi shi ng, for trol l i ng, or even for surf fi shi ng
. li ght
fresh-water equi pment wi l l catch fi s h i n sal t water but
may not al ways do as wel l on l arger sal t-water fi s h as
heavi er gear, whi ch i s made al so of materi al s resi stant
t o sal t-water corrosi on. Si mpl e makeshift tackl e, such
as the fabl ed wi l l ow pol e, stri ng, and bent pi n, wi l l
cat ch fi sh, but properl y sel ected tackl e i n ski l l ed hands
wi l l take more fi s h and gi ve greater sati sfacti on t o the
fi sher man. I n these pages, the basi c tackl e, consi sti ng
of rod, reel , and l i ne, i s descri bed fi rst general l y and
comparativel y, then i n greater detai l i n t he units for
whi ch it is desi gned to be used.
TYPES OF TACKLE PRI NCI PAL AND OTHER USES
Fl y casti ng fl i es, sti l l fi shi ng, fr esh and sal t
Spi nni ng casti ng l ures, trol l i ng, sti l l fi shi ng, fresh and s al t
Bai t and Spi n Casti ng casti ng l ures, trol l i ng, sti l l fi shi ng, fresh and sal t
Surf surf casti ng, squi ddi ng, sal t water
Bay and Big Game bottom fi shi ng and trol l i ng, sal t water
Bai t Casti ng
kL5 are devi ces on whi ch l i ne i s stored. The l i ne can
be rel eased or retrieved as needed. A reel may be O
si mpl e ungeared spool equi pped wi th a handl e for cran k
i ng and set i n a frame. The si ngl e-acti on fl y reel is of
thi s type. Or a reel may be a preci si on mechani sm wi th
mul ti pl e gears and even an el ectri c-motor-dri ven spool ,
as i n some bi g- game reel s. The pri nci pal types of reel s
are fl y, bait casti ng, spi n casti ng, spi nni ng, and sal t water,
al l manufactured i n a wi de range of si zes. Most reel s are
made of al umi num al l oys or of chrome- pl ated brass, wi th
some gears and many other parts made of pl asti c.
bTAR DRAG, n amed for t he
star-shaped adj ust i ng wheel at the
base of the reel handl e, consi sts
of a seri es of metal and l eather
or composi ti on di scs that sl i p l ess
freel y as the star wheel i s tight
ened. Thi s is the most common of
drag adj ustments that control the
tensi on on a reel spool .
LEVEL Wl NDdevi ces, fou n d on
nearl y al l bai t-casti ng reel s, con
si st of a worm gear, or carri age
screw, and a pawl that moves a
l i ne gui de back and forth across
front of spool so that l i ne i s wound
on evenl y. Movement of l evel -wi nd
mechani sm i s synchroni zed wi th
spool " s gears.
\
pawl
75
-
76
BASI C TYPES OF RODS
REEL SEATS
Bo| tCost| og
ood5p| oCost| og
5p| oo| ogbxed
w
5p| oo| og-reel boods
Fl y
GUI DES
Bo| tCost| og
5p| oCost| og
5p| oo| og
Fl y
RODS furni sh t he l everage for cost
i ng and for setti ng the hook. The
rod's fexi bi l i ty, cal l ed i ts "acti on, "
puts the sport i n pl ayi ng a fsh. A
rod's acti on, rangi ng from l i mber to
stif, is determi ned by the toper,
thi ckness and materi al of whi ch the
rod i s mode. Wood, steel , spl i t
bamboo-a vari ety of materi al s
hove been used, but most rods ore
now mode of hol l ow fber gl oss or of
spun gl oss i mpregnated wi th pl asti c.
Strong for thei r wei ght and uni form
i n acti on throughout thei r l ength,
gl oss rods give l ong servi ce and re
qui re l i ttl e core. Rods may be mode
i n one pi ece or, for portabi l i ty, i n
two or more secti ons j oi ned by fer
rul es. I denti fyi ng features of some
pri nci pal rods ore shown .
LI NES range from sewi n g thread
for catchi ng bai t mi nnows to %
i nch ropes for haul i ng i n sharks or
j ewfi s h_ Most l i nes or e rated i n
pounds test : that i s, t he maxi mum
wei ght in pounds they wi l l l i ft wi th
out breaki ng. They may al so be
desi gnated by thei r di ameter i n
cross secti on. Some monofi l oments
ore col ored for vi s i bi l ity to the fi sh
erman, but they become nearl y i n
vi si bl e to t he fi sh underwater.
MATERI AL
Brai ded Nyl on
Braided Si l k
Brai ded Dacron
Round
Monofament
Wire Li nes
and Lead-cored
Braids
H M L Mb
ADVANTAGES
Smooth fni sh, smal l
di ameter, hi gh knot
strength, resistance t o
r at , needs l i ttl e care.
Good for bai t casti ng,
squi ddi ng.
Very smooth fn ish,
hi gh knot strength,
excel l ent spool i ng, l ow
stretch. Good l i ne for
bai t casti ng.
Very smal l di ameter,
l ow d rag in water,
high speci fc gravi ty.
Good l i ne for t rol l i ng,
bottom fshi ng, or bai t
casti ng.
Low d rag i n wi nd and
water, l ow vi si bi l i ty t o
fsh, good knot
strengt h. Good for
spi nni ng, trol l i ng and
bai t casti ng.
DI SADVANTAGES
Low speci fc gravi ty,
excessive stretch, some
t endency to fray, com
parati vel y hi gh d rag
i n water.
Comparati vel y l arge
di ameter for test, very
s ubject to rot, requi res
g reat deal of care for
l ong l i fe.
Often too water-repel
l ent and excessivel y
d ry, maki ng i t hot on
t humb in cast i ng; knot
strength l ower than
s i l k or nyl on.
Tends to be sti f i n al l
but l i ghtest tests, very
"dry" to cast with re
vol vi ng spool reel s.
Wears g ui des rapi dl y.
Fast si nki ng wi thout Hard to pay of reel
si nkers. Especi al l y good wi thout backl ashi ng.
for deep t rol l i ng. Tend to ki nk.
77
78
HAND LI NES, used wi thout ei ther rod or reel , can be
efci ent fsh catchers. Wi th practi ce, a fsherman can
cast l ong di stances by twi rl i ng the si nker to bui l d momen
t um, then l etti ng i t go at the r i ght moment . Coi l i ng t he
l i ne neat l y i s the secret of casti ng success. Hand l i nes are
used mostl y i n sti l l fshi ng or fshi ng on the bottom by
dri fti ng. They are good al so for fshi ng from bri dges,
pi ers and party boats. Whi l e used most commonl y for
bai t fshi ng, hand l i nes are fne al so for trol l i ng wi th arti
fci al l ures. They are the common tackl e of commerci al
fshermen i n both fresh and sal t water for getti ng fs h out
of the water fast, wi th l i ttl e concern about "sport. "
CANE POLES are si mpl e fshi ng rods, rangi ng from
7 to 1 5 feet l ong and varyi ng i n acti on from whi ppy to
fai rl y sti f. The l i ne may be ti ed onl y to the ti p of the pol e
or, i n some cases, secured al so t o the butt end to prevent
the l oss of a fsh and tackl e i f the pol e breaks. The l i ne
may be monofl ament, brai ded or sol i d wi re, or brai ded
si l k, l i nen, nyl on, or dacron. Monofl ament is probabl y
best for general use. As a rul e, the l i ne shoul d not be
much l onger than the pol e, as l onger l i nes are di fcul t to
manage. Some pol es are ri gged wi th gui des and wi th
si mpl e l i ne- hol di ng reel s.
Cane pol es are commonl y used i n bai t fshi ng for fresh
water panfsh. They are good al so for "j i ggi ng" smal l
bucktai l s f or crappi es and perch or i n f hi ng wi th fi es,
spoons, pork ri nds, or other artifci al s for bass or pi ckerel ,
especi al l y i n weedy waters. I n sal t water, cane pol es are
used from pi ers and bri dges to catch sea trout, mackerel ,
and sal t-water panfsh. Stout pol es ri gged wi t h wi re l i ne
are efecti ve i n dr aggi ng l arge snook and other si zabl e
fsh fr om the deep hol es around barnacl e- encrusted pi l
i ngs or si mi l ar l ai rs.
HAND LI NES are usual l y made
of twisted or brai ded l i nen or af
nyl on. They are coarse text ured,
maki ng t hem easy to hol d.
Though har der Ia handl e, heavy
monofl ament hand l i nes give
l ong servi ce. For sal t.water fsh
i ng, l i nen l i nes are often treated
wi th coal tar or creosote as a
preservati ve. For bi g gr ou pers,
sharks, or other l arge fi sh, fi sher
men use gi ant-si zed hooks wi th
a chai n l eader and a rope l i ne.
HAND LI NES
fresh water
bi g hook wi th c a o n eader
on a rope l i ne
A CANE POLE i s si mpl y a stal k
of bamboo of sui tabl e si ze and
l engt h. l ong pol es may be cut i n
hal f and ferrul ed i n t h e mi ddl e
to make t hem easi er to carry.
Moder n "cane pol es" are made
of gl ass or of metal . Some come
i n secti ons j oi ned by ferrul es;
others t el escope. Si mpl e pol es
are a frst step i n gett i ng more
sport from a fi s h. Even a smal l
panfsh's anti cs are ampl i fed at
t he end of a pol e as opposed to
haul i ng i n t he same si ze fsh on
Si mpl e li ne-hol di ng Reel
a hand l i ne.
Twopi ece
Metal Pol e,
wi th gui des
Cane Pol e,
l i ne tied at
t i p
79
80
SPI NNI NG, which originated in Europe, is by far the
most popular fishing method in America. I n spinning,
the line simply slips, or "spins, " from the end of the reef
spool , which does not revolve as it does in a bait-casti ng
reel . Spi nning is a hi ghl y versatile method and can be
used for casting arti fci al l ures, for trol l i ng or for natural
bai t fshing. A wi de range of l ure and bai t wei ghts can be
used wi th spi nning tackl e. With a spinning outft, smooth
casting can be mastered qui ckl y, and the playi ng of fsh
is easy.
SPI NNI NG REELS are manu
factured in a wi de r ange oF si zes
and styl es, but al l have a num
ber af features i n c ommon. Al l
t r ue s pi nni ng r eel s have an open
faced spool . They ar e mou nted
bel ow the rod hand l e, wi th the
axi s of the spool more or l ess
paral l el with the rod. For ri ght
handed casters, the c r ank i s on
the l eft si de. left- handed model s
a re al so avai l abl e. Al l shoul d hol d
at l east 1 00 yards of l i ne, whi ch
Spi nni ng Reel
wi th ri gi d fnger
pi ck-up
extra
spool
i s wou nd on the spool by O re
vol vi ng bai l , fnger or stud. The
spool i s moved i n and out by O
center shaft to cross-wi nd t he
l i ne as i t i s retrieved. Qual ity
s pi nni ng reel s have a l i ne g ui de
or rol l er of stai nl ess steel or
hard al l oy to mi n i mi ze l i ne wear .
Adj ustabl e drags, us ual l y r egu
l ated by wi ng n uts at t he front
of the spool , can be set so that
l arge fsh can be handl ed safel y
wi th very l i ght l i nes.
Spi nni ng Reel
wi th ful l bai l
pi ck- up
SPI NNI NG RODS range i n
l engt h from 5 t o 1 0 feet, wi th
6- to 7-foot l engths most popu
l ar. The butt gu ide i s very l arge
t o gat her t he frst l arge l oops of
l i ne that spi n from the reel du r
i ng t he cast. On sal t-water spi n
ni ng r ods, t he butt gui de may
be as much as 3 i nches i n di am
et er. The gu i des di mi ni sh i n si ze
to the ti p, but t o mi ni mi ze l i ne
fri cti on i n casti ng, al l gui des are
l arge compared to t hose on bai t
cast i ng or fy rods. A fast-taper
spi n ni ng rod-wi th a powerfu l
butt t aper i ng t o a l i mber t i p
provi des t he best al l -round ac
t i on. Most spi nni ng rods are
made of gl ass, ei ther hol l ow or
s ol i d. A f ew expensive r ods ar e
made of spl i t- bamboo. Nearl y al l
spi nni ng rods today have fxed
reel seats-t hat i s, a knurl ed
r i ng that can be screwed t i ght l y
on a th readed secti on to hol d t he
r eel fr ml y i n pl ace. The gri ps
are usual l y of cor k.
5FlNNlNGllNL5 are made ex
c l us i vel y of s ol i d syntheti c mono
f i l ament s t hat or e rou nd i n
cross sect i on. Monof i l aments
cast better and wear l onger than
brai ds , and t hey are al so l es s
vi s i bl e to t he f i s h. Stren, nyl on,
and i mported s ynt het i cs are t he
mast popul ar. Mos t s pi n n i n g
l i n es ar e produced i n neutral
trans l uc ent s hades . However,
s ome that ar e br i ght l y col ored
or even f l uor escent i n t he ai r
become near l y i nvi s i bl e t o t h e
f i s h u n derwater. Spi n n i n g l i n e s
r ange from '/- t o 20- pound test.
Heavi er s i zes ar e too sti ff to
cast wel l , even wi th l.arge l ures.
Two-piece
regul ar taper
spi nni ng rod,
with reel bands
One-pi ece
spi nni ng rod,
with fxed reel
seat
Two-piece,
fast-taper
spi nni ng ro ,
wi th fxed
reel seat
8 1
82
M1 L11M MM M1LKLc Hold
the spi nni ng rod sl i ghtl y above a hori zontal position,
wi th t he l ure hangi ng down a few i nches from the ti p.
Catch the l i ne on the bal l of your forefi nger and l et
the wei ght of the l ure hol d i t there as you open the bai l
(or fi nger) to rel ease the l i ne. Now bri ng the rod up
sharpl y t o sl i ghtl y past the verti cal posi ti on and i m
medi atel y snap it forward agai n. As t he rod comes
down near t he hori zontal , strai ghten your forefi nger
to rel ease t he l i ne, and the cast i s underway. When
the l ure reaches the target, drop your fi nger to the edge
of the spool to stop t he l i ne from spool i ng off the reel .
When fi shi ng wi th spi nni ng tackl e, al ways set the
reel d rag so that i t sl i ps under a tensi on consi derabl y
bel ow the breaki ng strength of the l i ne. If the drag is
set too ti ght, the l i ne wi l l break when a fi sh makes a
sudden l unge. Never try to wi nd a fi sh i n whi l e it i s
t aki ng l i ne. Thi s wi l l resul t i n a twisted l i ne and com
monl y l oses the fi sh. When ei ther casti ng or sti l l fi shi ng,
do not engage the anti -reverse l ock unt i l a fi sh i s
hooked. I n trol l i ng, keep the anti -reverse l ock engaged.
SI DE CAST is used where an
overhead cast i s not possi bl e.
Wi t h wri st, move t he rod from
si de to si de and rel ease l u re i n
l ow fi ght i n di recti on of target.
FLI P CAST i s useful i n fshi ng
ti ght spots. Wi t h 3 or 4 feet of
l i ne out, gras p t he hook by its
bend. Pul l rod down and then
r el ease hook to l et i t shoot out.
1 . Hol d rod wi th second and
thi rd f ngers straddl i ng r eel l eg,
the forefnger hol di ng l i ne.
3. Br i ng rod up sharpl y to be
tween 1 2 and 1 o'cl ock posi ti on.
Forefnger sti l l hol ds l i ne.
5. Snap r od forward, ga1 nmg
more power. Do not appl y power
past 1 1 o' cl ock posi ti on.
2. St ar t wi t h rod near 10 o'clock
posi ti on, the l u re hangi ng a few
i nches from tip. Open bai l .
4. Moment um bends rod back to
devel op power to propel l ure
forward on t he cast.
6. Rel ease l i ne by strai ghteni ng
f nger. L ure moment um pul l s l i ne
f r om r eel spool .
83
84
FLY FI SHI NG, one of t he ol dest forms of sport fshi ng
wi th arti fci al l ures, probabl y furni shes more fshi ng pl eas
ure per pound of fsh l anded than any other method. The
usual l ures are the vi rtual l y wei ghtl ess fi es ( pp. 72-73),
t hough very s mal l pl ugs, spoons, and other l ures can al so
be used. Fly casti ng is easi er than bai t casti ng, t hough
not qui te so easy as spi nni ng. I n some si tuati ons, as when
fsh are feedi ng on a hatch of i nsects, ti ny fy- rod l ures
may be the onl y artifci al bai ts that wi l l catch fsh.
FLY LI NES provi de the wei ght
needed to cost extremel y l i ght
l u res. Stif, powerful r ods r equi re
heavi er l i nes tha n do l i ght, l i m
ber r ods. F l y l i nes ore mode of
brai ded si l k, nyl on, or docron
i mpreg nated and coated wi th oi l
or pl asti c to give t hem a smooth
fni sh. Some hove hol l ow cores
or ai r bubbl es i n t he fni sh to
make them foat i n fs hi ng s ur
face fi es or l u res; others are
wei ghted to make t hem si nk
qu i ckl y i n fs hi ng deep. level
l i nes ar e t he some di ameter from
end to end . Doubl e topers hove
smal l d iameter ends for del i cacy
a n d h eavy mi d s e ct i o n s f or
wei ght. Wh e n one end becomes
worn, t he l i ne i s reversed. I n tor
pedo topers (wei ght forward) ,
the heavy front secti on makes
costi ng easy. As fy l i nes ore
bul ky, they s houl d be used wi th
l ong l eaders to decei ve the fsh
(pp. 98-99) .
STANDARD FLY LI NE WEI GHTS
SYMBOLS FOR
STANDARD FLY LI NE
DT ~ Doubl e Toper
WF ~ Weight Forward
# Wt. Range" * # Wt. Range
1 60 54-66 7 1 85 1 n- 1 93
(Torpedo Taper)
F ~ Fl oating Li ne
S ~ Si nki ng Li ne
I ~ I ntermediate Li ne
(fl oats or si nks)
DT S DACRON
TI P 30 ft. 240 GRAI NS
DT F NYLON
TI P 30 ft. 240 GRAI NS
2 80 74-86 8 2 1 0 202-2 1 8
3 1 00 94- 1 06 9 240 230-250
4 1 20 1 1 4- 1 26 10 280 270-290
5 1 40 1 34- 1 36 1 1 330 31 8-342
6 1 60 1 52- 1 68 12 380 368-392
"Wetghf is i n grai ns based on fi rst 30 ft.
of l i ne excl usi ve of taper ti p.
" "onge al l ows for acceptabl e manufactur
i ng tolerances.
Si ngl e-action Fl y Reel
' FLY REELS general l y have
nar
row spool s of l arge di ameter.
Because of the narrow-wi dth
spool , a l evel -wi nd mechani sm i s
not necessary, and the l arge
spool di ameter makes possi bl e a
faster retri eve. I n s i ngl e-act i on
reel s, the spool rotates once for
each turn of the handl e. Doubl e
mul t i pl i ers s peed retr i eves. Auto
mat i c reel s hol d l ess l i n e and
have s pr i ng to retri eve l i ne at
t he touc h O a l ever or tri gger.
FLY RODS are desi gned to han
dl e t he heavy fly l i nes that pro
vi de the wei ght for casti ng fli es
or other l i ghtwei ght l ures. The
reel seat i s l ocated behi nd the
gri p to make i t easi er to stri p
l i ne from t he reel . Fl y rods vary
i n l ength from 6V to 1 7 feet; i n
wei ght, from 1 to 20 ou nces. Pop
ul ar si zes wei gh 4 to 7 ounces,
i n 7V- to 9-foot l engths. Lig ht
but very powerf ul , fast-taper
model s handl e a wi der r ange of
l i ne si zes. Most fl y rods today
ar e made of hol l ow fber g l ass,
but spl i t-bamboo i s sti l l fai r l y
popul ar . Most fy r ods come i n
2 or 3 pieces, the secti ons bei ng
connected by fer r ul es.
Automati c Fl y Reel
Two-pi ece
tip-top
Th ree-pi ece
Fly Rod
ferrul e /
.
butt gui de
hand
gri p
reel
seat
Fast Taper Fl y Rod
85
86
A fy rod may be g ri pped wi th
the t humb at the si de, or wi th
t he t humb on top of t he handl e.
Many angl er s al t er nate to rest
t hei r wr i sts.
HOW TO FLY CAST Let out about Zb feet of l i ne in
front of you and then, hol di ng the rod as shown above,
stri p of a few more feet and hol d i t wi th your left hand.
Rai se t he r od sl owl y unti l the l i ne i n front of you i s free
of sl ack. At thi s poi nt the rod shoul d be a l i ttl e above the
hori zontal . Now bri ng the rod up bri skl y to the verti cal
posi ti on, and pause as the l i ne soars i nto the ai r behi nd
you. I t may hel p t o l ook back over your shoul der to watch
the l i ne on the back cast. Start your forward cast when
the l i ne has nearl y strai ghtened but has not begun to fal l .
Bri ng the r od forward wi th t he same force used on the
back cast, easi ng of on the power wel l before the rod
reaches the hori zontal . As the rod snaps strai ght, the l i ne
wi l l be propel l ed out i n fr ont of you. Whi l e t he l i ne i s sti l l
movi ng fast, rel ease t he sl ack l i ne hel d i n t he l eft hand
for greater di stance.
I n fy fshi ng for trout and panfsh, use a l i ght-acti on
rod wi th a smal l si ngl e-acti on or an automati c reel . For
bass, sel ect a rod that wi l l handl e heavi er l i nes and
bul ki er l ures and ei ther a si ngl e-acti on or automati c reel .
For sal mon or sal t-water s peci es, use a powerful rod,
at l east 9 feet l ong, and a l arge reel fi l l ed wi th backi ng
l i ne for t he l ong r uns made by these fi s h.
Start the bock cost (above) wi th
the rod between 1 and 2 o'rlock,
sl owl y l ifti ng the rod to el i mi
nate sl ack l i ne (A). Rai se t he rod
bri skl y to near 1 2 o' cl ock ( B).
Stop the rod ot about 1 2 o'cl ock
and pause whi l e l i ne strai ghtens
out i n ai r behi nd you (C).
When the bock cost has neary
strai ghtened out (bel ow), bring
the rod forward wi th force (D).
Ease of on the power between 1
and 2 o'clock and l et l i ne r ol l
forward ( E) . As l i ne reaches
maxi mum speed, rel ease s|ock
in
l eft hand for more distance (F).
87
88
BAI T CASTI NG AND SPI N CASTI NG are techni
cal l y si mi l ar . I n bot h, t he reel i s mounted on t he top of
the rod handl e, the t humb control s t he l i ne in casti ng,
and t he same type of rod may be used . But i n bai t cast
i ng, t he reel spool revol ves as the l i ne runs out, whi l e i n
s pi n casti ng t he l i ne s l i ps from t he end of t he spool as
i n a t r ue spi nni ng reel ( p. 80) . Bai t casti ng works best
wi th l ures that wei gh more t han , of an ounce. Lures
wei ghi ng as l i ttl e as / of an ounce can be used wi th
spi n-casti ng tackl e.
BAI T-CASTI NG REELS have
a rather wide spool that revol ves
four times for each t ur n of the
handl e. I n most ki nds, the reel
handl es turn on the cast, but i n
s ome, the handl es can be di sen
gaged for free-spool i ng. Nearl y
al l bait-casti ng reel s have a
l evel -wi nd mechan ism to spool
the l i ne evenl y and a "cl i ck" that
can be set when not cast i ng to
keep the spool from t ur ni ng free
l y. On some reel s, a star drag
al l ows t he l i ne to be pul l ed from
the reel under tensi on when pl ay
i ng l arge fsh.
Bait-cast i ng Reel
SPI N-CASTI NG REELS a re a

modi fed type of spi n ni ng reel ,
wi th the spool encl osed i n a con
i cal cover . The l i ne passes
t hr ough a hol e i n the center of
the cover . A t humb- operated tri g
ger, or push button, at the rear
rel eases the l i ne for t he cast and,
when pus hed agai n, stops t he
fow of l i ne f r om the s pool . li ke
baitcosti ng reel s, most spi n-cast
i ng reel s are reel ed in wi th the
ri ght hand. Al l have d rag mech
anisms for smooth pl ayi ng of fsh.
Gear rati os vary from 2 to 1 to
4 to 1 .
cl i ck
Spi n-casti ng Reel
CASTI NG RODS range from
4 Ia 7 feet. Average l ength of a
true bait-casti ng rod, whi ch has
l ow gui des, i s 5 feel; of Q s pi n
casti ng r od, whi ch has l arge,
hi gh- bri dged g ui des, 6Y2 feet. A
fast-taper spi n-cast i ng rod can be
used a l so wi th bait-cast i ng reel ,
handl i ng l ures from !s to 1
ounce. Bait-casti ng rod can be
used for spi n cast i ng but does
not cast l i ghtwei ght l ures. Both
rods usual l y have detachabl e
hand l es wi th ofset, l ocki ng reel
seats. Most are of hol l ow gl ass;
sol i d gl ass, spl it- bamboo, and
metal al l oys ar e used al so.
CASTI NG L I NES ar e made of
syntheti c monofi l ament or of
brai ded syntheti cs, such as nyl on
or dacron. Brai ds testi ng from
10 to 30 pounds are best for bai t
casti ng, but monof i l aments up to
1 5- pound test may be used. For
s pi n casti ng, us e s pi nni ng l i n es
of 6- or 1 0- poun d test. The col or
for a brai ded casti n g l i n e i s a
matter of personal choi ce, but
bl ack i s t he most popul ar.
L I NE TYPES AND COLORS
Brai ded
bl ack
tan
camouf l aged
Monofl aments
mi st
fuorescent
oval
-
round
Two- pi ece
Bai t-casti ng
Rod
hi gh- bri dged

g ui des
/
Fast-taper
Spi n-casti ng
Rod
89
90
BAI T CASTI NG 1 . Hol d the
rod at about the 2 o'cl ock posi
ti on, wi th reel handl e faci ng u p.
2. Wi th a smooth wri st acti on,
l i ft the rod sharpl y to about the
1 2 o' cl ock posi ti on .
HOW TO BAI T CAST Hol d t he rod sl i ghtl y above t he
hori zontal , wi th the reel handl es faci ng upward and wi th
the l ure hangi ng a few i nches from the ti p. Bri ng the rod
up sharpl y to a verti cal posi ti on but keep wri st strai ght.
The wei ght of the l ure wi l l bend the rod ti p. Snap the rod
forward agai n wi th a smooth fex of your wri st. As the
rod strai ghtens, ease your t humb pressure to al l ow the
spool to turn. Keep the reel handl es up. Appl y a l i ght
thumb pressure on spool t o prevent i t from t urni ng faster
t han l i ne goes out, causi ng a backl ash or l i ne tangl e on
the spool . When l ur e reaches target, thumb the spool to
stop cast and to cause l ure to drop.
3. As t he l ure bends r od ti p 4. li ft thumb sl i ghtl y so spool
back, gi ve forward cast power can turn and l et l i ne out. Thumb
wi t h wr i st to 1 o' cl ock. spool to slop cast at t he target.
3 .
SPI N CASTI NG 1 . Hol d rod at 2. Snap r od upward bri skl y t o
about 2 o' cl ock; push trigger about 1 2 o' cl ock, keepi ng t he
wi th t humb to r el ease l i ne. tri gger pressed wi th t humb.
HOW TO SPI N CAST Spi n casti ng i s easi er than bai t
casti ng because i t i s not necessary to use t humb control
to prevent backl ashes. But wi thout the del i cate control
possi bl e wi th the thumb, there i s l ess accuracy. To spi n
cast, poi nt the rod at a spot over the target, l etti ng t he
l ure hang a few i nches bel ow the ti p. Rel ease t he l i ne for
casti ng by pressi ng the t humb tri gger, t ur ni ng the cran k
backward i f necessary. Keep your thu mb on t h e tri gger
as you l i ft rod sharpl y to verti cal . Fl i ck i t forward agai n
i mmedi atel y, usi ng your wri st. As rod strai ghtens, rel ease
th u mb tri gger to l et l i ne go out. To stop cast, press tri g
ger. Then turn crank to put reel i n gear for retri eve.
3. Br i ng r od down and forward
wi th wri st act i on, appl yi ng
power to about 1 o' cl ock.
3
4. Rel ease t ri gger to l et l i ne go
out f or cast. Press t r i gger agai n
to stop l u re at target.
92
Su rf-casti ng Rod
reel seat ferru l es
butt hand gri p hand gr i p
SURF CASTI NG can be done wi th any type of tackl e,
but heavy surf gear i s best where waves rol l in hi gh. I t
t akes l ong casts t o reach t he frst l ine of breakers where
game fish often feed. The long surf rod helps hold line
hi gh to clear foaming breakers, and the sturdy reel with
stands strains of casting heavy weights and figting
fish. Many types of artificial lures can be used for squid
ding, a form of surf fishi ng, but most surf fisherman
prefer to fish on bottom with natural baits.
SURF-CASTI NG REELS have
wi de spool s that hol d at l east
200 yards of l i ne. They have a
retr ieve rati o of at l east 3 to 1
and ar e free-spool i ng for easy
casti ng. Al l have star dr ags to
al l ow fsh to pul l l i ne out under
desi red tensi on . Many model s
hove l evel -wi nd devi ces.
free- spool l ever
S urf-costi ng Reel
SURF SPI NNI NG REELS ore
bui l t l ike convent i onal s pi nni ng
r eel s ( p. 80) , but ore l ar ger and
heavi er. Gear s and d rags ore
heavy duty. Thei r spool s may
hol d 200 to 500 yar ds of 8- to
1 5- pound lest monofl ament.
Most hove boi l -type pi ck- ups
and hardened l i ne r ol l ers.
Su rf-spi nni ng Reel
B & I
Rod Bel t for
s urf fshi ng
SURF-CASTI NG RODS have
a l ong t i p and a l ong hand l e.
The t i p, made of g l ass or of s pl it
bamboo, i s us ual l y from 6 to 7
feet l ong and wei ghs 7 to 1 4
ou nces. The t i p attaches t o a
28.- to 32- i nch hardwood hand l e,
whi ch has two gr i ps-one j ust be
hi nd the screw-l ocki ng reel seat
and another at t he butt end. Thi s
ar r angement gi ves l everage for
t he two- handed l ong casts. Most
s urf-s pi nni ng rods, which are 8
to 1 0 feet l ong and wei gh 8 to
1 2 ounces, are made of gl ass
and consi st of two pi eces. They
are j oi ned or fer r ul ed near the
mi ddl e or a few i nches above
the handl e. The handl e has cork
g ri ps above and bel ow the reel
seat. Gui des on su rf-s pi nni ng
r ods ar e ver y I or ge to mi n i mi ze
l i ne fr i cti on i n cost i ng.
lI NL5 f or s urf f i s h i n g ar e
us ual l y of brai ded nyl on or doc
ron , but monof i l aments can be
used by s k i l l ed cast er s. For sur f
casti ng, brai ded nyl on f rom I 8-
lo 45- pou nd test is popul ar . On
t he ot her hand, because of s mal l
di ameter an d hi gh speci f. i c grav
i ty, brai ded dacron' s l ow water
resi stanc e makes i t excel l ent f or
bottom f i s h i n g i n h eavy, foami ng
s ur f . For s pi n n i ng, us e on l y
monof i l oments f r om 6- t o 20-
pound lest.
g ui de
hand gri p
Two-piece Su rf
Spi nni ng Rod
,_ hand gr i p
hand gr i p
Sand Spi ke
to hol d rod
brai ded nyl on
monofi l ament
ti p-top
93
SURF CASTI NG
HOW TO SURF CAST Before attempti ng a cast wi th
a revolvi ng- spool surf reel , wet your l i ne. Thi s prevents it
from bur ni ng your t humb on the cast. Shift reel i nto free
spool and put thumb frmly on the spool . let out Z or 3
feet of l i ne, and hol d the rod poi nted l ow opposite the
di recti on of your cast, the si nker resti ng on t he ground.
Now bri ng the rod up wi t h a powerful overhead sweep,
pul l i ng downward wi th your l eft hand and pushi ng up
ward wi th your ri ght. As the rod comes up past the ver
ti cal , ease your thumb pressure and l et the spool t ur n.
let the l i ne run out under your t humb; removi ng your
thumb wi l l cause a backl ash . As the si nker hi t s t he water,
thumb spool hard. Surf spi nni ng is done wi th same mo
ti ons, usi ng forefnger i nstead of thumb to control l i ne.
SURF SPI NNI NG
2
3
SURF CASTI NG 1 . Grasp rod
fr ml y and stand wi th feet wi de
apart for good bal ance. Surf
cost i ng req ui res power as wel l
as proper t i mi ng.
2. Face at r i ght angl e to di rec
tion of cast; br i ng rod up wi th
overhand sweep; push u p wi th
ri ght hand, pul l down wi th l eft.
3. Fol l ow t hr ough; apply power
past t he verti cal and turn your
body i n di recti on of cast to de
vel op mor e speed and power.
4. Lift t humb s l ightl y, easi ng
press ure on t he spool and al l ow
i ng i t to t ur n. Control speed
wi th gentl e t humbi ng. Stop spool
the i nstant s i nker hits water.
SURF SPI NNI NG may be done
l i ke s urf casti ng ( p. 94) or wi t h a
backcast, shown bel ow. 1 . Hol d
i ng rod as s hown, catch l i ne
wi th forefnger and open the bai l .
2. Gr i p r od fr ml y wi t h ri ght
hand, fnger s straddl i ng reel l eg,
l eft hand on l ower gr i p. Snap
r od back t o posi ti on past vertical .
3. Sweep rod forwar d, pus hi ng
wi t h r i ght hand and pul l i ng wi th
l eft to bui l d t he power and speed
to bri ng out spri ng acti on of rod.
4. Rel ease l i ne by strai ghteni ng
forefnger and l etti ng l i ne s pi n
f r om spool . Drop forefnger t o
the edge of the s pool to slop the
cost where d esi red.
4
4
96
bAL1-WA1bk 1ALKLb Bi g-game fi shi ng is done
l argel y on charter boats wi th the tackl e, bai t and know
how provided by the charter-boat captai n. It i s less ex
pensive for the occasi ona l fi sherman to pay the char
ter fees, rangi ng to wel l over $ I 00 a day, than it i s
to invest i n the equi pment needed for bi g-game fi shi ng.
General sal t-water fi shi ng-trol l i ng, dri ft fi shi ng, bot
tom fi shi ng and l i ve- bai t fi shi ng-can be done wi th
rel ati vel y inexpensive tack l e and boat equi pment .
REELS f or bi g-game and gen
er al salt-water fi shi ng are si mi
l ar i n many featu res. Al l have
free-spool cl utches t urned on or
of wi th a l ever, oversi ze cr ank
g rips, and heavy-d uty s pool s.
Most have star drags, l ocated
beneat h t he handl e h u b and ad
j usted by a star- sh'ped wheel .
Some hi gh- pri ced bi g- game reel s
have d rags wi th cal i brated set
t i ngs. Most gener al - pur poSL sal t-
Bi g-game Reel
water reel s, or bay reel s, ar e
dou bl e- mul t i pl yi ng ( the spool
revol vi ng twi ce for each cran k of
t he hand l e) , wi th r el ativel y nar
row spool s and bakel i te end
pl ates. Bi g-game reel s have
heavi er frames and smoother
d rags, and some have gearshifts
for var i abl e retri eve ratios. Bay
reel s hol d 1 00 to 400 yards of
l i ne; bi g- game reel s, to 1 ,000
yar ds of 1 30-pound dacron.
Bay Reel
RODS for bottom fshi ng, trol l
i ng and bi g-game fshi ng range
i n l ength fr om 5 to 9 feet. Bi g
game rods are bui l t of hi gh
qual i ty spl i t- bamboo, l ami nated
wood, or gl ass. Most have rol l er
t ops and hi gh- bri dged rol l er
g ui des to reduce l i ne fri ct i on.
Ti ps on bi g-game rods are 5 feet
l ong and wei gh from 3 to 40
ounces. The butt secti on vari es
from 1 4 to 24 i nches i n l engt h,
dependi ng on the ti p wei ght .
Reel seats are doubl e- l ocki ng,
and a notched butt cap fts i nto
a gi mbal {socket) on the boat's
fght i ng chai r . Trol l i ng rods are
si mi l ar to bi g- game rods but gen
er al l y l ack t he heavy-d uty fea
t ures. Boot rods, used wi th bay
reel s, ar e us ual l y made of gl ass
and have wooden handl es and
pl ai n gu i des. They vary from
sti f 5-foot model s to whi ppy 9-
footers. Most or e i n two pi eces,
ferrul ed in t he mi ddl e.
lI NL5 f or s al t- water f i s hi ng
ra nge f r om 1 2- to 1 30- pou n d
test. Monof i l aments and br ai ded
dacr on hove become t he stan d
ar d l i nes f or mos t bi g- game
f i s hi ng. Dacron , monof i l oments,
and brai ded wi r e ar e us ed i n
trol l i n g , wi t h wi r e the best for
f i s h i n g deep. For general sal t
water us e, brai ded nyl on i s best
.
butt cap -
1
rol l er top
ti p-top
Boat Rod
r ol l er gui de
butt gui de
I
Bi g- game Rod
foregr i p
- l ocki ng reel seat -
gi mbal notch
97
98
LbPbK may be used to make a nearl y i nvisi bl e con
necti on between t he l i ne and the l ure, thus hel pi ng to
deceive the fish . Other ki nds of l eaders provi de extra
strength and toughness to withstand the cutti ng of sharp
teeth and gi l l covers or the sawi ng abrasi on on rocks,
l ogs, pi l i ngs, or other underwater obj ects. Fi nal l y, and
often over l ooked, l eaders may enhance t he acti on of
l ures. Some l ures, i n fact, do not wor k properl y unl ess
attached to a l eader; others wi l l fou l thei r hooks on the
l i ne un l ess a short, sti f wi re l eader i s used.
FLY -CAbTl NG LADkb are
al most i nvi si bl e. They al so make
it possi bl e to l and a fy l i ghtl y
on the water. ' Nyl on, Siren, and
other synthetic monofmenls
have l argel y repl aced si
f
worm
gut, the cl assi c materi al for fy.
casti ng l eaders. The synthetics
ore stronger and more uni form
i n di ameter than gut, and they
do not have to be soaked to
soften them before they can be
used. A fy-casti ng l eader may be
of equal di amete r, cal l ed l evel ,
2-ft. butt secti on
30- l b. tesl
9-foot
Tapered leader
1 -ft.
20-l b.
2- ft. ti ppet
4- l b. test
t hr oughout i ts l ength, but the
most efective l eader i s tapered
from a heavy but t sect i on to a
sl i m termi nal secti on, cal l ed the
t i ppet. A t apered l eader can be
made by lyi ng t oget her ( wi t h
bl ood knots, p. 1 1 4) a ser i es of
short, g radual l y l i ghter stra nds,
as shown bel ow. Some commer
ci al l eader s are reduced i n di
ameter from butt to t i ppet wi th
out bei ng knotted. Fl y l eaders
average 7 to 9 feet l ong, but
may r un to 1 5 or 20 feet.
Pouch for Fl y leaders
BAI T-CASTI NG oad SPI N
NI NG LEADERS serve mai nl y
ta protect t he l i ne. They t ake t he
br unt af t he wear and tear.
Made af pl ai n ar pl astic-coated
brai ded wi re, or of sol id stai n
l ess steel , t hey r ange i n l engt h
f r om 6 to 1 2 i nches. A safety
s nap at the end makes t he
changi ng of hooks or l ures swi ft
and si mpl e, and a swi vel be
tween the l i ne and the l eader
prevents twi st i ng. When bai t
cost| ng w| th a brai ded l i ne,
whi ch is hi ghl y vi si bl e, a 4- to
6-foot monof l ament l eader may
be used for decepti on. I f a l i ght
test monofl ament l i ne i s used, a
short mono l eader of sl i ghtl y
stronger test than t he l i ne serves
as a good shock absorber.
BOTTOM FI SHI NG LEAD
ERS, of monofl ament or of sol i d
or brai ded wi re, protect the l i ne
from fsh' s teeth and a l so l ocate
hook properl y. Often t he s nel l
on hook serves as l eader.
BI G-GAME FI SHI NG LEAD
ERS r ange from 6 to 1 5 feet
i n l ength an d 70- to 500-pound
test. Most commonl y used mate
r i al s are t i nned steel ( pi ano wi re)
or sol i d stai n l ess steel wi re. Stai n
l es s wi re resi sts corrosi on better
than t i nned steel but i s not as
strong and al so tends to ki nk
after bei ng stretched. Ti nned
wi re i s shi ny, however, and may
refect l i ght i n cl ear wat er. Bi g
game fs hi ng l eaders may be
made al so of heavy monofl a
ment or of cabl ed stai nl ess steel .
Cabl ed wi re i s bes t wher e tests
over 1 50 pounds are needed.
swi vel
pl asti c-coated
wi re l eader
/
Bait-casti ng Leader
Ti nned or Stai nl ess Steel
Leader twi sted to swivel
and hook
i nsert wi re
through eye
or so t i ght, round
t ur ns wi t h short
end of wi re
1 5 ft.
j
99
1 00

Bi te
. . . . . .
I
l
l
X
l
Shank
hope
pt Bend
r
i
l l
| . . . . . . . . . . . . .|
PARTS OF A HOOK
HOOKS catch the fsh. Al l other tackl e serves onl y to
get the hook to a fsh' s mouth. Choi ce of whi ch of the
many fshhook styl es to use depends on the ki nd of fshi ng
and on personal preference. Buy hooks made by a repu
tabl e manufacturer. Cheap hooks have poor poi nts and
may be made of a metal that breaks, bends, or rusts
qui ckl y; they l ose fish. Check the eye. I t shoul d be pul l ed
ti ghtl y agai nst the shank, l eavi ng no cutti ng edge. Oval
or forged shanks i ndi cate an extra step i n manufacturi ng,
as do hol l ow or rol l ed poi nts. I n salt water use hooks
made of ni ckel al l oy or "ti nned" steel . Sal t water rusts
jappaned or lacquered hooks rapidl y. Hone the points
of hooks often; they are l i kely to be dul led in use. New
styles are varieties of basic types (pp. I 02- I03| .
Spear Poi nt
Hol l ow Poi nt
Rol l edi n Poi nt

Ki rbed, Strai ght, and
Reversed Bends
W W
Forged, Regul ar,
an d Oval Wi re
Tapered or
Bal l Eye
Looped Eye
HOOK 5l Z5 range from 2210
or l arger (for sharks) to novel ty
size 32. Above chart shows si ze
of hooks i n r ound bend styl e wi th
standard l ength shanks. Most
man ufact u rers use t hi s syst em.
Avoi d us i ng hooks t hat ar e t oo
l ar ge. A bi g fsh can be c aught
on a s mal l hook mor e eas i l y t han
a s mal l fs h on a l arge hook.
1 0 1
2X Long
Standard
ABERDEEN #6
SPROAT #3/0
wi t h weedguord
#2
DOUBL E HOOK
TREBLE HOOK
1 02
ABERDEEN hook has r ound
bend and wi de gap. Of t hi n
wi r e, it is popul ar l ive-bai t hook
for fresh water. Center hook has
standard- l engt h s hank. left hook
is 2X short: #8 shan k on #6
hook. Ri ght hook i s 2X l ong:
# 4 s hank on # 6 hook.
KI RBY has a rou n d bend and a
ki rbed poi nt-that is, ofset to
the l eft when hook i s hel d s hank
down a nd poi nt toward you.
Poi nt of a reversed hook i s bent
to the ri ght. Ofset i n hook may
speed hooki ng. Sl ices i n s hank
. hel p hol d nat ur al bai ts on hook.
SPROAT has a round bend
much l i ke Ki rby except poi nt is
strai ght rather t han ofset. Bends
sl i ght l y sharper t han i n usual
round bends. Hook shown
equi pped wi th t hi n-wi re weed
g uard to hel p prevent foul i ng.
LAGlL ClAW has a rou nd
bend, and the poi nt i s off set t o
r i gh t when h ook i s hel d sho n k
down wi t h poi n t towar d you.
Poi n t bends i n ward toward sha n k
for f ast penet r at i on an d good
hol di n g power. Ava i l abl e wi th
sl i ces i n sha n k to hol d bai t.
DOUBLE HOOKS ar e made of
s i ngl e wi re with shan ks, bends,
and pai nts at each end. Hooks
are at about 1 20-degree a ngl e
rather t han di rectl y opposed.
Doubl e hooks ar e used pri mari l y
for soft bai ts such as doughbal l s.
Trebl e hooks, made by sol der i ng
a thi rd hook to a doubl e, or di
nari l y have s hi ny fni sh and add
to fash of artifci al l u re.
CARLI SLE has r ound
ki rbed poi nt, and l ong s hank;
commonl y us ed for bi g bai ts.
Hook shown above i s s nel l ed
thot i s, equi pped wi th a l engt h
of l eader . Some snel l ed hooks
hove gut l eaders, others wi r e.
Snel l ed hooks may be eyel ess.
LI MERI CK, mode of heavy
wi re, gener al l y has strai ght
poi nt a nd on al most r ound bend.
Thi s var i es wi th manufact ur er,
however. The Li mer i ck i s of I ri sh
ori gi n. Si mi l ar Ameri can desi gn
i s Ci nci nnati Boss, whi ch has a
ki rbed poi nt and a round bend.
SHEEPSHEAD hooks ar e mode
of heavy wi r e and hove short
shan ks. Desi gned especi al l y for
shar p - toothed and gri stl y
mouthed sal t-water fs h.
SALMON EGG, or Si wosh,
hooks have al most no shan k but
hove extra- l ong poi nts f or deep,
fast penetrati on i n t ough mout h.
HUMPED SHANKS ar e avai l
abl e for many hook styl es. The
cr i mps prevent turni ng of cork,
rubber, or pl asti c body of a rti f
ci al when fastened to l ong s hank.
O' SHAUGHNESSY styl e i s us
ual l y mode of heavy wi re,
forged to g ive t he hook extra
strengt h. Bend i s r ound, an d
poi nt i s t ur ned i n . Thi s i s an
al l - ar ound favori te f or fresh a nd
sal t water. It i s made of ni ckel ,
ni ckel al l oy, or t i nned steel . Si ze
shown i s for bi g fsh.
CARLI SlE #5
s nel l ed
LI MERI CK #1
SHEEPSHEAD #4
SAlMON EGG HOOK #4
HUMPSHANK #7
-
1 03
1 04
OTHE R METHODS of fshi ng can be great fun and
hi ghl y producti ve, t hough often consi dered t o be l ess
sporti ng t han fi shi ng wi th rod and reel. Some of these
methods are especi al l y sui tabl e for taki ng ki nds of fsh,
parti cul ar l y rough fsh, t hat cannot be caught easi l y wi th
conventi onal tackl e. I ce fshi ng equi pment i s for use i n
the northern wi nter season.
bOW5ond AkkOW5 Tac k l e
c ons i s t s of s i mpl e r eel t hat f as t ens
above or bel ow gr i p on bow. The
reel hol ds 50 to I 00 feet of
strong, soft-br ai ded nyl on l i ne.
The l i ne i s t i ed to the arrow or to
the poi nt and s l i ps from reel
easi l y as a rrow i s s hot. Poi nts
ore ba rbed to hol d fs h.
TROT LI NES o re heavy l i nes
from which hong many baited
hooks on short pieces of l i ne.
Stru ng between buoys or bonks,
trot l i nes are used pr i nci pal l y
for such fsh as catfsh in fresh
water and cod i n sal t water. I n
j ug fi s hi ng, each baited hook
and l i ne i s ti ed to a foati ng j ug
or con, whi ch hol ds hooked fsh.
SPEARS oad GI GS ar e used
from bon ks, br i dges, a nd boats
and by ski n divers, who us ual l y
use a si ng l e-poi nt spear wi th a
metal shaft. It may be j obbed by
hand or shot from r ubber s l i ng or
compressed gas gu n . Gi gs, used
from above water, have 3- or S
prong heads and l ong handl e.
_ i th Reel
Harpoon
poi nt
pr obabl y pro
d uces more fi sh per val ue of
t ackl e t han any ather method.
Tool s and t ackl e for ice fi s hi ng
ar e s i mpl e and i nexpensi ve. A
s pud, or ice chi sel , is needed for
cutti ng hol es i n t he i ce. Thi s can
be bought i n a t ackl e s hop or
made by wel di ng a car penter' s
chi sel to a l ength of i ron pi pe.
( A hol e can not be sha ped prop
er l y wi th an axe or a hatchet. )
An ordi nary ki tchen strai ner ca n
be used as a s ki mmer to keep
t he hol e open, but speci al l y de-
Ti p- up
I ce hol e
sig ned s ki mmer s ar e man ufac
tu red . Automati c t i p- ups a re
devi ces desi gned so t hat a fi s h
rai ses a fl ag or r i ngs a bel l when
it stri kes. Ti p- ups ar e mos t use
ful i n l ive-ba i t fi s hi ng for pi ke,
pi ckerel , an d wal l eyes. Fi shi ng
sti cks, whi ch are l i ke t i ny r ods,
ar e excel l ent for use wi t h spoons
or wi t h wei g hted i c e fl i es, whi c h
are j i gged u p and down to at
tract such fs h as perch, cr appi es,
and bl uegi l l s . Al l nat ur al bai t s
are good for i ce fi s hi ng. Cra ppi es
prefe mi nnows.
Fi shi ng Sti ck
Spud
Ski mmer
Use spud to cut hol e wi der at
bottom than at top. Round off
sharp edges.
1 05
1 06
ACCESSORY TACKLE hel ps i ndi rectl y in catchi ng
fi sh and may be very i mportant. A si nker t hat hol ds t he
bai t near the bottom i n t he ti de, or the bobber ( p. 1 08)
that keeps the bai t j ust of the bottom and i ndi cates when
a fsh i s bi ti ng-these are accessori es t hat serve i mportant
f uncti ons. Swi vel s and snaps (p. 1 09) are al so hi ghl y use
f ul . Landi ng nets, gafs, tackl e boxes, bai t buckets (pp.
1 1 0- 1 1 1 )-accessori es of thi s type hel p l ess di rectl y but
add greatl y to fshi ng success. Other accessori es (pp. 1 1 2-
1 1 3) add to t he comfort and conveni ence of a fshi ng tri p.
SI NKERS are l ead wei ghts mol ded i n vari ous shapes
and sizes. They are used mai nl y to keep a bait or l ure at
the desi red l evel i n the water, but i n some cases thei r pur
pose is to provi de wei ght for casti ng. Used in al l types
of fshi ng, si nkers shoul d be j ust heavy enough to hol d t he
bai t where i t i s wanted.
BOTTOM- FI SHI NG SI NKERS
( Sal t Water) The Bon k Si nker
( 1 ) i s on i nexpensi ve good gen
eral - pu rpose si nker. I t i s us ual l y
t i ed bel ow the hook, as ore s uch
ot her common t ypes as t he
Round (2) and t he Di amond
shaped (3). The Egg Si nker (4)
sl i des on t he l i ne and works wel l
for l i ght- bi ti ng, wary fsh; t he
fsherman con feel t he sl i ghtest
bite and the fsh does not detect
the wei ght. The Pyrami d Si nker
(5) i s used i n s urf fs hi ng on sandy
bottoms. The Bul l dozer (6) has
great hol di ng power i n sand bot
toms. The Di psey (7), pear
shaped wi th swi vel ed brass cen
ter stem, good for s urf fs hi ng
over rocky bottoms.
TROLLI NG SI NKERS hol d a
bai t or l u re at the desi red depth
when trol l i ng at a particul ar
speed. I n the conventi onal types
, I ) the l i ne i s fastened at one
end and the l eader at the other.
The fat, heart-shaped styl e ( 2)
fol ds over t he l i ne an d forms a
keel t hat hel ps to prevent t he
l i ne from twisti ng.
STI LL - FI S HI N G S I N KE RS
( Fresh Water) The Adj ustabl e
Si nker , I ) i s attached to the l i ne
by means of coi l ed brass r i ngs
at each end of t he s i nker . Cl i nch
ers ( 2} ar e grooved and have
ears that can be bent ar ound the
l i ne to hol d the si nker i n pl ace.
Spl i t-shot Si n kers ( 3) ar e fas
tened to the l i ne si mi l arl y; l i ke
other si nkers, they come in a
variety of si zes but are never
l arge, r angi ng from BB si ze to
l arge buckshot. The Gator Gri p
Si nker (4) i s r eusabl e, as are
the Wr apar ound Si nkers , 5) ,
whi ch ar e stri ps of l ead r i bbon
that are wou nd ar ound the l i ne
to give the desi red wei ght.
Di pseys ( p. 1 06) ar e al so used.
SPECI AL PURPOSE SI NKERS
i nc l ude t he No- Snag type ( 3)
that pl anes to t he s u rface when
retrieved rather t han d raggi ng
al ong the bottom. Col ored Ban k
Si nkers (4) hel p attract founders
and other ki nds of fsh. Casti ng
Si n kers , 5) a re used ahead of
l i ght l u res to gi ve wei ght for
easi er casti n g.
2
1 07
1 08
BOBBERS, or fl oats, are used mai nl y as i ndi cators to
t el l when a fsh is bi ti ng. They al so hol d baits at a de
si red l evel -out of the weeds and bottom debri s or away
from bottom-feedi ng fsh-and some ki nds are desi gned
to attract fsh. The si mpl est bobbers are made of un
fni shed cor k or of a l i ght wood, such as bal sa. Many of
the commerci al bobbers are made of pl asti c and have
patented devi ces to make i t easy to fasten t hem on the
l i ne or to change thei r posi ti on. Bri ghtl y col ored bobbers
are easi est to see, most common bei ng red and whi te.
PLAI N CORKS ( 1 ) may be sl i t for l i ght. bi ti ng or suspi ci ous fsh,
to hol d t hem on t he l i ne, or they as they ofer l i ttl e resistance.
ca n be bought wi th a center Poppi ng Corks (7) make a gur
hol e t hr ough whi ch t he l i ne is gl i ng or poppi ng noi se when
threaded and t hen hel d i n pl ace jerked and are used to attract
wi th a sti ck ( 2) . One of the most game fsh to the bait. Casti ng
popul ar vari eti es i s t he Cor k Fl oats ( 8) odd wei ght for casti ng
Bal l (3) . Egg Fl oats ( 4) are com l i ght l ures or bai ts and ore usu
man, col orf ul commerci al types, al l y mode to be fl l ed wi th water
whi l e t he Qui l l Fl oat , 5) and the to gel the exact wei ght desi red,
Penci l Fl oat (6) are preferred as ore Pl asti c Bubbl es (9) .
4 5 6

Barrel Swi vel s
3
1 2
Bal l -beari ng
Swivel s
actual si zes

Kel ux Swivel s
5
i
J
,
SWI VELS permi t a l ure or bai t to rotate wi t hout twi st
i ng the l i ne and do not i nhi bit the acti on of the bai t or
l ure. Barrel swi vel s consist of two l oops of wi re wi th
thei r ends t ucked i nsi de a brass barrel . Very si mi l ar types,
such as the Kel ux, l ack the twi sted l oops of wi re exposed
at the neck and have a cyl i ndri cal barrel . Bal l - beari ng
swi vel s are careful l y machi ned and rotate freel y on
stai nl ess-steel bal l beari ngs.
SNAPS provi de a qui ck and conveni ent way t o change
hooks or l ures. Safety snaps, whi ch operate l i ke a safety
pi n, are made of heavy stai nl ess-steel wi re and have a
brass col l ar. Snap swi vel s consi st of a snap at one end of
a swi vel and are often used when no l eader is necessary.
Safety Snaps
actual si zes
2
6
Snap Swi vel s
actual si zes
! O
Bel t Bai t Box
Mi n now Bucket
BAI T CONTAI NERS of proper desi gn are far superi or
to makeshi ft receptacl es. The i nner secti ons of mi nnow
buckets are perforated so they drai n qui ckl y and make
i t easy to pi ck out t he mi nnows. Worms can be kept al ive
for a l ong ti me in damp moss in i nsul ated boxes wi th
porous wal l s. Speci al worm or i nsect boxes that can be
worn on t he bel t are especi al ly useful when wadi ng.
IACKL OX5 keep l ures, hooks and accessories i n
order. Tackl e boxes may be made of metal , wood or pl as
ti c, and come i n a wi de range of si zes. Some are desi gned
for use from boat, others for fshi ng from bank. Deep
compartments keep dry-fy hackl es from bei ng crushed.
I n wet-fy boxes and i n fy hooks, fi es are carried fat.
Dry-fl y Box
Wet-fl y Box
1 1
0
GAFFS AND LANDI NG NETS are used to hel p l and
pl ayed-out fsh. Nets used by waders have a very short
handl e, often wi th a snap for fasteni ng it to a ri ng or
l oop on the cr eel strap. Boat nets have a l ong handl e of
al umi num or wood. Gafs, whi ch are l arge barbl ess hooks
on handl es, are used for l arge fsh. Bi l l i es ore used to
subdue l arge fsh after l andi ng.
CkL5 AND 5IkI NGk5 keep the catch fresh and
carry i t conveni entl y. Creel s, used mostl y i n trout fshi ng,
are made of spl i t wi l l ow, rattan, or canvas. A stri nger
may be a heavy cord wi th a needl e at one end and a ri ng
at the other. Better i s chai n type wi th i ndi vi dual snaps to
hol d fsh through l i ps. Li ve bags are hung overboard.
li ve Bag
Creel Chai n Stri nger
1 1 1
TOOLS of many ki nds are useful
to the fsherman; onl y t he most i m
portant are shown here. Cl i ppers,
for cutti ng l i nes and l eaders and for
t ri mmi ng knots; pl i ers wi th wi re
cutters, for maki ng l eaders and re
pai ri ng tackl e. A hone, to keep
hooks and knife sharp; a kni fe for
cutti ng bai t and cl eani ng t he catch .
Unhooki ng a fsh is easy w1 t h O di s
gorger. For trol l i ng or sti l l fshi ng, a
rod hol der l eaves both hands free.
Deli ar wei ghs and measures fsh .
FLY-LI NE DRESSI NG hel ps
keep a fl y l i ne smooth and water
proof. Dry Fl y Oi l must be used
to keep fl i es foati ng.
REEL OI L AND GREASE pro
l ong l ife of reel and al so i n
crease its smoot hness of opera
li on for casti ng and pl a
x
i ng fs h.
Reel Oi l
Jacket
CLOTHI NG for the fsherman puts
functi on ahead of styl e. The many
pockets i n a fi sherman' s vest or
j acket hol d l ures, l eaders and acces
sori es. Hats and caps shade hi s eyes
and protect his head from the beat
i ng s un. Wi th boots and waders he
can wade col d water i n comfort.
Wadi ng shoes are worn over stock
i ng foot waders. Pol aroi d gl asses cut
gl are and enabl e fi sherman to
"read" the water and to see fsh
underwater.
Pol aroi d Gl osses
I NSECT REPELLENTS keep
away t he mosqui toes, gnats, sand
fi es, and chi gger s t hat spoi l
many fshi ng t r i ps.
SU NTAN LOTI ONS protect
face from s u n' s bur ni ng rays, i n
tensi fi ed by refl ecti on from wat er .
1 1 3
1 1 4
KNOTS that hol d securel y wi thout sl i ppi ng or seri ousl y
weakeni ng the l i ne are essenti al i n fshi ng. The choi ce of
the ri ght knot i s especi al l y i mportant wi th syntheti c l i ne
and l eader materi al s, both brai ded and monofl ament,
as they tend to sl i p easi l y and to weaken more than si l k
or l i nen when knotted. Al l the knots i l l ustrated here are
sati sfactory for syntheti cs. Cut ol d knots and ti e new ones
from ti me to ti me when fshi ng, si nce al l knots fray and
weaken wi th use. I n tyi ng, al ways pul l knots ti ght sl owl y
and steadi l y; never wi th a j erk. Ends can be tri mmed wi th
cl i ppers or si nged wi th a match to form a bead of fused
materi al s that hel ps to keep the knot from sl i ppi ng.
I MPROVED CLI NCH KNOT LARK' S HEAD KNOT uses Per
i s used to ti e l ure, hook, or swi vel fecti on loop (p. 1 1 5) to attach
to monofl ament l i ne or l eader. swivel s, hooks, or l ures to l i ne.
BLOOD KNOT i s best for j oi n
DOUBLE SURGEON' S KNOT
i ng pi eces of monofl ament of i s used to j oi n l i nes of wi del y
about the same d iameter. di ferent di ameters.
NAI L KNOT is used to j oi n the
butt of monof i l ament l eader se
c urel y O t he l i n e.
bI mI NI TWI5T KNOT is used
to make a secure, non- s l i p l oop
at the end of the l i ne.
JAM KNOT i s us ed t o attach
fy l i ne to a l oop of monofl .
omen! or to a gut l eader .
PERFECTI ON LOOP gives no
"dog- l eg" wi t h monofl ament,
is strong wi th al l l i ne materi al s .
2
pul l
pul l ti ght and
tri m end
t hrough l oop A
4
5
1 1 5
1 1 6
TERMI NAL RI GS present the bai t or l ure to t he fs h.
Some are used t o hol d a bai t wher e fsh can s ee i t or to
keep i t out of the reach of crabs or rough fs h. Others
al l ow a fsh to run wi th the bai t wi thout feel i ng the si n ker.
Some are used to permi t fshi ng more than one bai t or
l ure at a ti me.
BOTTOM RI GS can be used
ei t her i n fresh or i n sal t water.
I l l ustrated are ( 1 ) a gener al - pur
pose two-hook r i g; ( 2) a wi nter
founder ri g, whi ch i s good al so
for ot her speci es; and ( 3) a
sheepshead r i g, wi th l i ne feed
i ng t hr ough egg si nker so wei ght
does not bother wary fsh.
FI SHFI NDER RI GS al l ow fi sh
to take l i ne wi t hout feel i ng t he
resi stance of t he si n ker. They are
especi al l y useful in t he s urf but
ar e al so good i n f resh wat er . I l
l ustrated are a standar d fs h
fi nder r i g ( 4) a nd a fshfnder r i g
wi t h a cor k bal l ( 5) t hat keeps
bai t of t he bottom.
3
A
pyrami d
si nker
l i ne
5UkF k| G5 On sand beac hes
a pyra mi d s i n k er I j hol ds bes t .
I n roc ks , ban k s i n ker 2j or d i psey
/
cork ca
attache
desi red
SPREADER RI GS ( above) use
stai n l ess steel or bronze spread
ers to keep hooks apart at same
LI VE- L I NE RI GS ( above) pre
sent l ive bai ts nat ur al l y. leader
may be connected t o t he l i ne at
-
e
-
-
-
2
l i ne
weak l i ne
`
is ti ed to a weak pi ece of l i ne be
l ow t he hook. When a hang- up
occurs, s i nker br eaks of easi l y.
l evel ( 1 ) or to hol d hooks out
fr om l i ne ( 2) . Corks may be used
to keep bai t s of bottom.
swi vel ( 1 ) . or i n anot her type ( 2)
pl asti c fl oat and cl i ncher si nker
are used on monofl ament l i ne.
1 1 7
! ! 8
swivel
di psey si nker
TkOLL| NG k| G5 ar e used to
hol d l ure at desi red dept h. Keel
Ri g , I ) prevents l i ne twi st by
use af a pl asti c keel between
-
-
snap
swt vel
si n ker and swi vel . Tri angl e Ri g
( 2) uses di psey s i nker on week
l i ne to get dept h and to al l ow
easy breakof i f si nker snags.
mai n l eader
.
.
t rai l i ng l eader

0OU 8LE-J | G k| G ( above) is
made by attac hi ng s nap of trai l
i ng l eader through l ower swi vel
eye of mai n l eader .
5 FLA5HEk-JI G kI G5 attract
fi sh by sound. Dowel | I ) or a
poppi ng cork ( 2) may be at
tached between l i ne and l eader.
COMBI NATI ON RI GS ofer
fi sh a choi ce of two l u res. Three
popu l ar combi nat i ons ar e: ( 1 ) a
su rface pl ug t r ai l ed by a s mal l
s poon, excel l ent f or Whi te Bass;
DROPPER FLY RI GS a re pop

ul ar i n trout fs hi ng. Shown are
( 1 ) a d ry-fly d ropper that serves
smal l spoon
`
( 2) feather j i g and pl ug ri g,
good for many fresh- and sal t
water game fsh; (3) pork r i nd
stri p and pl ug combi nat i on, a
favori te for Stri ped Bass in s urf.
d ry fy
wet fy
wet fy
streamer
as an i ndi cator, or "bobber/' for
wet fly or nymph, ( 2) streamer fy
wi th a wet-fy d ropper .
1 1 9
! 2O
WHERE, WHEN, AND HOW TO FI SH
A good fsherman can fs h di ferent types of water wi th
success. He knows how to read water condi ti ons and
understands the habi ts of fsh. Thi s knowl edge i s as i m
portant for catchi ng fsh as an understandi ng of tackl e
and how t o use i t .
WHY FI SH B I TE Fi sh are opportuni sts. I f condi ti ons
sui t t hem, they general l y feed whenever food i s avai l
abl e. A hatch of i nsects on a stream bri ngs t he trout out
of hi di ng. A school of mi nnows sti rs the appeti tes of bass
or mackerel . Someti mes, often i n competi ti on wi th others
of t hei r ki nd, fsh wi l l conti nue to eat unti l they are too
fu l l to swal l ow more. Agai n, they may refuse food for
l ong peri ods, even when i t i s dangl ed in front of t hem.
The temperature of the water has a di rect beari ng on
. a fsh's hunger and acti vi ty. If the water temperature i s
t oo l ow, fsh become i nacti ve. As t he water temperature
cl i mbs, its di ssol ved oxygen content decreases, and agai n
t he fsh become l ess acti ve. Somewhere between these
extremes i s a temperature range that fsh seek, and i t di f
fers wi th each speci es. largemouth Bass are most acti ve
when t he water temperature i s between 65 and 75 de
grees, whi l e Smal l mouth Bass prefer sl i ghtl y cool er water
-60 to 70 degrees. For Brook Trout, t he best temperature
i s from 50 to 65 degrees. lake Trout are most acti ve i n
water i n t he l ow 40's. I n fshi ng deep l akes, some fsher
men l ower thermometers to measure t he temperature of
the water at vari ous l evel s, then put t hei r bai ts or l ures
at the proper depth for the fsh they are after.
Ti des and currents bri ng food to fsh. Game fsh feed
where strong currents keep bai t fsh, shr i mp, and other
food ani mal s sti rred up. Sal t-water fsh l ook for food on
the turn of the ti de, as the reversed fl ow of water uncovers
hi di ng food ani mal s. Most fshermen favor the i ncomi ng
(food) ti de, but t he outgoi ng ( ebb) t i de may be as good
or better, parti cul arl y in its earl y stages when the bai t
i s most di sturbed ( pp. 1 36- 1 37) . li kewi se, i n fresh wa
ter, s mal l streams enteri ng l arger streams or l akes may
carry food and are l i kel y pl aces to fi nd fi s h feedi ng.
Except as it is rel ated to ti des, the moon has no di rect
effect on fi sh acti vi ty.
I n both fresh and salt water, fsh that fnd thei r food by
si ght prefer cl ear water; scent and taste feeders are more
acti ve at ni ght or i n murky water. Al l fsh stop feedi ng, at
l east temporari l y, when fri ghtened. Most fsh seem to
feed spari ngl y duri ng unsettl ed weather condi ti ons. I t
seems general l y true that fsh feed more acti vel y when
the barometer i s ri si ng than when i t i s fal l i ng, but the
avai l abi l i ty of food and the temperature of t he water
are more i mportant. Cal endars cannot make accurate
predi cti ons of good fshi ng days wi th any more rel i abi l i ty
t han they can predi ct the weather.
1 2 1
FI SHI NG METHODS
Most of the methods descri bed

here are useful i n both fresh and sal t water and wi l l work
equal l y wel l wi th di ferent ki nds of tackl e. A few were
devel oped for a pafi cul ar type of water or ki nd of fsh.
For ri gs, see pp. 1 1 6- 1 1 9.
m
1 22 ^'
7 ".
7
/
+
STI LL FI SHI NG, wi th nat ur al
baits and wi th hand l i ne, cane
pol e, or r od and reel , may be
done from shore, br i dge, pi er, or
anchored boat. The bai t may be
fshed an the bottom or hel d of
bottom by a foat. The bai t i s
al l owed to remai n more or l ess
sti l l unti l a fsh bi tes.
DRI FT FI SHI NG i s done by
trai l i ng t he l i ne behi nd a d rift.
ing boat. The l i ne may be un
wei ghted, wei ght ed to r each the
bottom, or hel d at a desi red
l evel i n the water by attachi ng
a f l oat. Nat ur al bai t s are best
f or dri ft f i s hi ng, but j i gged art i
f i c i al s ar e al so good ( p. I 23j .
LI VE LI NI NG, most efective i n
ti deways and fl owi ng streams,
is a method i n whi ch nat ur al
bai t s a re al l owed to d r ift wi t h
the cur rent over and t hr ough
"hol es" where fi sh l i e. Us ual l y,
no si nker i s used, but the bai t
may be hel d at a desi red l evel i n
t he wat er by attachi ng a foat .
CHUMMI NG is a means of at
tracti ng fsh by t hrowi ng quanti
ti es of gr ound- up bai t ( chum)
i nto the wat er fr om shor e or from
a boat, or by st i rri ng nat ural
foods from bottom wi th a rake.
Ch ummi ng puts fsh i n a feedi ng
mood and hel ps t hem to over
come t hei r nat ur al caut i on.
TROLLI NG i s us ual l y dane by
t rai l i ng a n artifi ci al or nat ur al
bai t behi nd a movi ng boat . Trol
l i ng speed and t he dept h of bait
or l u re ar e vari ed wi th t he ki nd
of fi sh bei ng sought . Towi ng a
bai t or l ure whi l e wal ki ng al ong
a br i dge or pi er i s al so trol l i ng
(see Trol l i ng Ri gs, p. 1 1 8) .
MOOCHI NG, a modi fed type
of trol l i ng, i s used i n fi s hi ng for
Pacifi c Sal mon. The bai t i s s unk
deep wi t h a heavy si nker, t hen
br ought upward at an angl e as
the boat i s r un forward a few
yards. The boat i s slopped an d
t he bai t s i nks . Th i s rai si ng a nd
l ower i ng i s repeated often .
JI GGI NG i s done by j erki ng a
l u re strai ght u pward, t hen l et
t i ng i t f al l back agai n. The l u re
is kept in al most conti n uous mo
ti on, and fsh us ual l y stri ke as
j i g i s on ri se. Ji gs ( p. 70) were
devel oped to be used i n thi s
manner . J iggi ng i s used i n fresh
or sal t water, al so i n i ce fs hi n g.
BOTTOM BOUNCI NG i s a
type of j iggi ng in whi ch the l u re
or s i nker i s a l l owed to bump t he
bottom and r ai se a puf of sand
or mud. Thi s method i s ver y ef
fective with bucktai l j i gs and a l so
works wel l i n bottom fs hi ng
wi t h nat ur al baits. The commo
ti on sti rs fi s h to stri ke.
c
_ _
'
;.-
W
1 23
A boul der in mi dstream
spl i ts cur rent, creati ng
a qui et spot wi th a
t ur bul ent area behi nd
i t . Fi sh can rest i n
cal m spot, feed i n
crosscu rrents bel ow.
STREAMS ofer a changi ng vari ety of feedi ng stati ons
for fsh. I n al l streams, there are stretches where fsh are
pl enti f ul and others i n whi ch there are few or no fsh.
Fi ndi ng t he most producti ve spots i s si mpl y a matter of
"readi ng" the stream to di scover where t he fsh wi l l be
f ound when feedi ng and where they rest.
A fast stream usual l y has some deep pool s, rifes, fats,
eddi es, backwaters, rapi ds, and perhaps even waterfal l s.
Trout and sal mon are t he pri nci pal game fsh of fast, col d
streams. When feedi ng, trout may l i e i n t he mai n current,
i n the deep water j ust over drop-ofs or behi nd boul ders
where the current i s sl owed. Smal l mouth Bass, Wal l eyes,
log j ams or rocks
agai nst one bank may
cause an eddy on the
downstream si de. Ed
di es hol d and concen
Irate food and provi de
easy feedi ng for fsh.
fi sh often concentrate
bel ow waterfal l s be
cause they can' t get
past them. Churned
water bel ow fal l s i s
rich i n oxygen, maki ng
fsh active.
and panfsh are common in war mer but sti l l cool streams.
Fi sh are general l y found where they can feed comfortabl y
and safel y. Bass and Wal l e,es usual l y stay i n deep
eddi es or i n l arge pool s but commonl y move i nto the
ri fes at t he head of a pool to feed i n earl y mor ni ng or
at dusk. Thi s i s especi al l y true i n mi dsummer, when t he
fsh tend to stay i n deep or shaded wat er duri ng t he h eat
of the day. I f the water becomes very warm, fsh may
feed onl y at ni ght . Fi sh of fast streams are hi ghl y cauti ous
and keep hi dden when not feedi ng. When O suppl y of
food br i ngs them out of hi di ng, t hey become l ess wary,
but sti l l they demand careful fs hi ng.
Ri fl es a re stretches of
fast, sl i ghtl y t ur bul ent
shal l ow water, cften
l eadi ng i nto pool s.
fi sh feed where ri fl es
t umbl e food i nto sl ow
er water of pool s.
1 26

,-,,-- @

" P

# *
One shore is often
fairl y deep
,
wi th brush
or trees shadi ng the
water. Opposite shore,
i f i l l defned, shal l ow,
an d weedy, makes good
feedi ng grounds.
Sl ow streams usual l y meander. At bends, t here are
deep hol es and undercut banks. Often t here are l i l y pads,
water weeds, or scr ub thi ckets al ong the banks, and some
ti mes trees shade. t he shore l i ne. I n wi de, deep stretches,
the water may be nearl y sti l l ; where the stream narrows,
there may be a strong current. The pri nci pal fsh of sl ow
fresh-water streams are largemouth Bass, Muskel l unge,
pi ckerel s, catfsh, and panfsh. Snook, Tarpon, Stri ped
Bass, and weakfsh are often found i n sl ow ti dal streams.
Bends are among the best spots to fsh i n sl ow streams.
Here the fsh get both food and cover i n the deep hol es
and undercut banks. School i ng panfsh congregate al ong
*
Bends have deep hol es
and u ndercut banks
al ong thei r outer si des
where fsh congregate.
The inside of a bend
i s usual l y shal l ow,
often with a sand bar.
A drop-of in stream
bottom, where the
deep water is down
stream from the shal -
l ow, i s a nat ural spot
for fsh to l i e i n wai t
for food.
t he outer edge of such bends. Bass, Muskel l unge and
pi ckerel frequentl y feed i n t he weedy stretches of shore
l i ne or at the mouths of smal l er feeder streams, where
bai tfsh are often pl enti fu L I n ti dal creeks, feeder streams
are especi al l y good on t he fal l i ng ti de, when t he fow car
ri es food i nto t he mai n stream.
Streams change qui ckl y; swift streams are al tered i n
character more rapi dl y t han sl ow streams. loads of sand
and si l t are deposi ted by food waters, when currents cut
new channel s and create new bends, pool s, and rapi ds.
Most streams must be studi ed agai n each season to fi nd
t he most producti ve spots to fsh.
Feeder creeks enteri ng
the mai n stream carry
boi tfsh and other food
to hungry game fsh.
Suc h s pots ore excel
l ent i n ti dal est uari es
on outgoi ng t i de.
1 27
Pickerel i n weed bed.
Bass i n shade af l i l y pads.
Crappi e i n brush pi l e.
Feeder stream bri ngs food.
PONDS AND SHALLOW LAKES
are usual ly good fs hi ng waters.
Pl ants grow i n abundance i n ri ch,
shal l ow waters and i n t urn support
a l arge popul ati on of fsh and
s mal l er ani mal s on whi ch t hey feed.
I n warm to moderatel y cool ponds
and l akes, the typical fsh are North
ern Pi ke, largemouth Bass, Smal l
mout h Bass, Wal l eyes, Yel l ow Perch,
Bl uegi l l s, pi ckerel s, crappi es, bul l
heads, and many of t he s mal l er
panfsh. Col d-water l akes and ponds
i n the mountai ns or i n the North may
al so yi el d Brook, Brown, Rai nbow or
other trouts.
Both game fsh and panfsh feed
al ong the shore l i ne and where
t here are weeds or other cover for
the food ani mal s and for t he s mal l er
fs h t o hi de from the l arger fi sh.
Open water at t he edge of weed
beds can be fshed wi th nat ural bai ts
and wi th most arti fci al s. Weedl ess
l ures can be worked ri ght through
the weeds wi thout fou l i ng. Surface
l ures wi l l ri de over the top of sub
merged weeds. Shore l i nes of l akes
are fshed most efecti vel y by cast
ing l ures from a boat toward t he
shore. Smal l ponds can be fshed
from the bank, and someti mes the
l ure or bai t can be worked from
shore to shore.
Weedl ess l ures are especi al ly use
ful in s hal l ow l akes, where fi sh
commonl y feed and rest i n weedy
and snag-fl l ed areas (see p. 66).
Deep, cool pockets are parti cul arl y good fshi ng spots
i n summer, when the water i n the pond i s commonly warm
from top to bottom. Fi sh may al so rest where the water i s
shaded by overhangi ng branches of trees or bushes or
l i l y pads spread over t he surface. Frequentl y t hey wi l l
congregate where feeder streams or spri ngs enter a pond
or l ake. Here the water i s cool er i n summer and warmer
i n wi nter and i s usual l y ri cher wi th food carri ed i n by the
current. Brush pi l es, fal l en trees, ol d docks, or other ob
j ects under the water are favori te l ai rs of game fsh, as
are the stump- and snag- fi l l ed areas common i n man
made l akes. Shoal s extendi ng out from shore and bor
dered by drop-ofs to deeper water are al so choi ce feed
i ng grounds and producti ve fi shi ng spots.
I n fshi ng a shal l ow
I a ke, keep your boat
wel l out from shore.
Fi rst make s hort casts
(1 and 2) to weed
beds or shoal s. Then
make l onger casts to
reach the shore l i nes
and cl ose-i n cover (3
and 4).
1 Z
I 3O
DEEP LAKES provi de fi sh wi th the same sorts of food
and cover si tuati ons as do ponds and s hal l ow l akes (p.
I 28) , but because a l arge, deep l ake covers a great area,
i ts best fshi ng spots may be harder to fnd. I n addi ti on to
t he ki nds of fsh found i n ponds and s hal l ow l akes, such
speci es as landl ocked Sal mon, lake Trout, and Muskel
l unge, whi ch need more space or col der water, may be
found i n these l arger bodi es of water.
.
As i n ponds, shal l ow l akes, and streams, fsh are most
abundant near edges, where two

or more types of
habi tat meet and t hus fur ni sh food and cover al l i n
one spot. The most conti nuous edge i s the shore l i ne,
some parts of whi ch are more producti ve than others.
Best are sharpl y sl opi ng banks or pl aces provi di ng rocks,
l ogs, brush, or trees as cover for fsh. Al so good are shady
coves, weed beds, rock l edges, or bars that stretch out
from poi nts of l and and create shoal s wher e fsh feed.
Large, deep l akes change i n character wi th t he season.
Before a l ake freezes i n wi nter, t he water t hr oughout t he
l ake cool s t o 39. 2 degrees F. , t he temperature at whi ch
water i s h eavi est. When water becomes col der t han 39. 2
degrees F. , i t becomes l i ghter and no l onger si nks. Fi nal l y
-at 32 degrees F. -i t turns to i ce, whi ch l i teral l y fl oats on
t he top. I n wi nter, most of t he fs h i n t he l ake seek t he
deepest l evel at whi ch they c an fnd sufci ent oxygen for
thei r survi val ; thi s happens al so to be t he warmest water .
Some fsh, such as Chai n Pi ckerel , Wal l eyes, and Yel l ow
Perch, conti nue to feed acti vel y even under t he i ce and
are caught by i ce fi shi ng methods ( p. 1 05) .
When t he i ce mel ts i n spri ng, t he water frst becomes
I n wi nter, a l ake freezes over
alter s u rface t emper at ure of
water d rops bel ow 32
F. Most
fsh become i nacti ve and stay in
deep water wher e i t i s war mer .
Yel l ow Per ch and o f ew ot her
ki nds conti n u e to f eed an d pro
vi de sport for i ce fsher men.
When t he i ce mel ts i n s pr i ng, t he
temperature of wat er becomes
the some t hr oughout t he l ake
for o bri ef peri od . Al l t he fi sh
t hen feed ot t he s urface or i n
t he s hal l ows wher e t he water i s
ri chest i n oxygen an d contai ns
on abu ndance of food .
w~
.
| ockssufci ent
oxygen fot 6sh
1 1
1 32
warmed and heavi er. I t si nks and is repl aced by col der,
l i ghter water from bel ow. The l ake i s sai d to "tur n" as the
water ci rcul ates from top to bottom. For a bri ef ti me i n
earl y spri ng al l the water i n the l ake i s at about t he same
temperature, but because the wave-whi pped water at the
surface i s ri chest i n oxygen and food, al l fsh, i ncl udi ng
t he col d-water speci es such as trout, feed at the s urface.
Summer bri ngs about sti l l another change i n t he l ake.
Warmed by the s un, the wat er at the surface r i ses above
39. 2 degrees F. and becomes l i ghter than the water be
neath. The mi xi ng stops, and soon the l ake i s di vi ded
i nto th ree temperat ure l ayers. I n the top l ayer, t he water
i s warm and has an adequate suppl y of oxygen chur ned
in from t he surface. Al most al l of the fsh i n the l ake can
be found i n thi s l ayer. I n the t hi n mi ddl e l ayer, the tem
perature drops shar pl y. Fi sh cannot l i ve i n the bottom
l ayer, where the water i s very col d-cl ose to 39. 2 degrees
F. t hr oughout-and t here i s l i ttl e or no food or oxygen. By
the end of summer, the top l ayer may have become very
I n s ummer, t he surface
water worms to wel l
above 39. 2
F. and foats
on t he heavi er water be
l ow. Mi xi ng ceases, a nd
l ake strati fes i nto 3 l ay
ers. Fi sh or e found i n
wor m top I oyer, whi ch i s
ri ch i n oxygen, and O few
i n or near t he mi ddl e
l ayer , a zone of r api dl y
descendi ng temperature.
The bottom l ayer i s col d
and l ow i n oxygen.
t hi ck, f r om 35 t o as much as 60 or 70 feet dependi ng on
t he l ocati on and depth of t he l ake.
Whi l e t he l ake's wat er i s strati fed i n t he warm mont hs,
fsh seek t he temperature l evel at whi ch t hey are most
comfortabl e. Largemouth Bass, Northern Pi ke, and other
fs h of war m t o cool water are found cl ose t o t he s urface
and i n the s hal l ows. Trout and other col d-water fsh stay
i n deep water, usual l y cl ose to or i n the mi ddl e l ayer. To
catch these fi sh in s ummer, a fsherman must drop hi s bai ts
or l ures deep. For ei ther trol l i ng or sti l l fs hi ng at depths
of 50 or 60 feet, a wi re l i ne i s needed ( see trol l i ng ri gs, pp.
1 1 8- 1 1 9) . To determi ne the proper depth to fsh, a t her
mometer can be l owered i nto the water to fnd t he zone
where t he temperature drops sudden l y.
I n autumn the l ake "turns" agai n as t he s urface water
cool s and si nks and the warmer water from t he bottom
ri ses. As i n spri ng, the mi xi ng of water resul ts i n a peri od
when the l ake has a uni form temperature from top to
bottom, and col d-water speci es agai n feed at t he s urface.
1 33
1 34
PI ERS provi de fshermen wi th access to deep water and
al so fur ni sh cover f or fsh. A pi er t hat j uts out from a sand
beach may be the onl y shel ter i n mi l es. Pi ers commonl y
shel ter school s of bai t fi sh that attract passi ng school s of
Bl uefsh, Pol l ack, mackerel s, and other game fs h. Mussel s
or bar nacl es encrusted on t he pi l i ng enti ce such fsh as
Sheepsh ead, Tautogs and porgi es. I n fresh water, pi ers
are fne for Yel l ow Perch, crappi es, and other panfsh.
The deep end of a pi er is not al ways best, however, for
fi sh feed near shore at ti mes, especi al l y when breaki ng
waves keep food ani mal s sti rred up. Ni ght fshi ng i s pop
ul ar, for game fsh come to feed on the bai t fsh attracted
to l i ghts. Bottom fshi ng with natural bai ts and casti ng
wi t h arti fci al s are bot h good.
Fi sh too l arge to l i ft on l i ne or
l eader can be l anded by d rop net.
Among the gi ants caught from
piers and bri dges i s the j ewfi sh.
BRI DGES spani ng fresh-water streams ar e especi al l y
good spots for panfi sh and catfsh. Over sal t water, they
are favori te haunts of such shade- l overs as Sheephead,
Tautogs, and many ki nds of snappers and gr unts. Bl ue
fsh, mackerel s, weakfi sh, croakers, and other roamers
pass under bri dges regul arl y as they fol l ow t he ti de fow
to feed. On moonl i t ni ghts such game fi sh as Snook,
Tarpon, and Stri ped Bass gat her on t he upti de si de of
the bri dge to prey on s hri mp, mi nnows, and other bai t
ani mal s that congregate j ust i n front of t he bri dge's
shadow. Thi s i s a producti ve spot to fi sh wi th such arti f
ci al l ures as bucktai l s and metal j i gs. I n bottom fs hi ng
wi th natural bai ts, l et t he current carry t he bai t beneath
the bri dge i f fs hi ng for t he shade l overs. Or l et t he bai t
dri ft out from the bri dge i f you are after ti de-fol l owi ng
game fs h. Causeways t o bri dges are al so consi dered
good fshi ng spots.
Live l i ni ng and bottom fshi ng or e
bes t on t he downti de side.
Ni ght costi ng i s bes t on upti de
si de, where bai t fsh concent rate.
1 36
BAYS AND LAGOONS, connected to the open sea by
i n l ets or passes, are i deal for t he s mal l - boat fsher man .
He c an trol l , dri ft fsh, or drop anchor i n a producti ve spot
and ei ther bottom fsh or cast.
Some ki nds of fsh range i n and out of bays wi th the
ti de; others spend t hei r l i fe i n these rel ati vel y qui et
waters. But most fi sh caught i n bays are seasonal resi
dents. I n wi nter t hey mi grate to deeper, war mer ofshore
waters or move southward. Among t he common fsh
caught i n t he bays and l agoons of t he Atl anti c and Gul f
coasts are Stri ped Bass, Tautogs, Bl uefi sh, Pompano,
Snook, Tarpon, groupers, weakfsh, croakers, and foun
der s. Popul ar bay fi sh of the Paci fi c are Ki ng Sal mon,
kel p basses, rockfi shes, croakers, groupers, and fl atfs h.
I n bays, as i n other waters, fsh concentrate where t hey
fnd food or cover. Bare bottom areas are poor pl aces
to fi s h. On an i ncomi ng ti de, many fsh gat her j ust i nsi de
the i n l ets, especi al l y where a current for ms an eddy that
hol ds the f ood ani mal s. On t he outgoi ng ti de, t he fsh
move through the pass and feed outsi de at the edges of
bars and i n eddi es. Fl ats al ong shore and i n coves are
best near hi gh ti de, when fsh range i nto t he shal l ows to
A. I ncomi ng (food) ti de: food ani mal s sti rred up; fsh feedi ng.
B. Sl ack ti de: no cu rrent; food ani mal s not active.
C. Outgoi ng (ebb) tide: food ani mal s sti rred up; fsh feedi ng.
TROLL by r unni ng the boat
agai nst ti de, towi ng bai t or l u re
behi nd. Speed of boat us ual l y
hooks fi sh when i t hi ts. When fi sh
are l ocated, boat can be anchored
for casti ng or bottom fi shi ng.
DRI FT wi t h the t i de. Boat moves
sl owl y, so gi ve fi sh l i ne a nd al l ow
i t to swal l ow bai t before sett i ng
hook. I f casti ng, cast i nto or
across ti de and l et current carry
bai t or l ure.
feed. Steep shores are most producti ve on hi gh, fal l i ng
ti de. Chan nel s are usual l y best at l ow t i de, when fs h
l eave t he fats. Oyster or mussel beds, i n water from 3 t o
1 2 feet deep, are feedi ng grounds usual l y good on a ny
ti de, as are t he kel p beds al ong t he West Coast. Grass
fats, where t he water i s from 4 to 6 feet deep, al so at
tract many ki nds of bay fsh, as do rocky bottoms . Where
fsh l ack cover and feedi ng grounds, arti fi ci al reefs are
created by s i nki ng wrecked a ut omobi l es, concrete
wei ghted crates or other obj ects. These spots a re usu al l y
marked wi th buoys to make t hem easy to fnd.
1 37
1 38
SURF FI SHI NG is al most al ways best i n earl y mor ni ng,
l at e eveni ng, or after dar k. On sand beaches, fsh are
rarel y acti ve duri ng the bri ght part of t he day because
the beach ofers vi rtual l y no cover.
Stri ped Bass, Channel Bass, Bl uefsh, Corbi na, Pom
pano, surfperches, croakers, whi ti ngs, and weakfi shes are
common s urf catches. Most of these fsh l i ke to l i e j ust
beyond t he bars or in t he i nshore sl oughs where t hey can
cat ch the food sti rred up by breaki ng waves. Bars l o
cated of t he beaches cause swel l s to steepen shar pl y,
t hen break. I nshore sl oughs can be l ocated by a fatten
i ng of t he waves and by the sl i ghtl y darker col or of the
water. A natural cut t hrough a bar l eadi ng i nto a sl ough
i s an outstandi ng spot . Speci al tackl e for surf fshi ng i s
descri bed on pp. 92-95.
I n sandy surfs, fi sh congregate i n sl oughs and
al ong the dropof beyond the outsi de bar.
>
ROCKY SHORES AND JETTI ES may provi de good
fi s hi ng al l day l ong, as t he fsh have enough cover i n
the rocks nearby to feel safe whi l e feedi ng. From a j etty,
a fi sherman can easi l y fi sh bars and hol es unreachabl e
from shor e. Usi ng ei t her natural or artifi ci al bai ts, he
can cast or bottom fi sh wi th any ki nd of tackl e.
I n fr esh water, j etti es ar e good spots for Largemouth
Bass, Smal l mouth Bass. Whi te Bass, Yel l ow Perch, catfsh
and many panfsh. I n sal t water, j etti es and r ocky shores
attract al l of the common surf fshes as wel l as Tautog,
Sheepshead, rockfi shes, and others that seek cover reg
ul arl y. J etti es create strong eddi es by di verti ng t he ti de's
fow, for mi ng deep hol es and feedi ng spots for fs h.
Many fs h congregate where j etti es are broken, al l owi ng
t he ti de t o fow t hrough .
Jetties f ur ni sh cover for f s h an d al so
a l ter currents to cause eddi es and t i de ri ps.
1 39
1 40
Fi shi ng from stern i s best, but everybody is busy when fsh hi t.
PARTY BOATS operate on regul ar schedul es taki ng
fsher men t o ofshore fshi ng gr ounds. Because anyone
who wants to fsh can get aboard as l ong as space i s
avai l abl e, t hese boats are cal l ed Open Boats i n some
l ocal i ti es. Or because t here i s charge per person or head,
they may be referred to as Head Boats. Dependi ng on
t he area, the l engt h of the tri p, and the type of fshi ng,
party- boat fees range from $ . 00 t o $2 0. 00, us ually
including bait. Some boat s st ay out all day; others make
two trips . Some specialize in night fishing or in fishi ng
for only one species. I n the upper Gulf region, many
of the party boat s fish only for Red Snappers in ex
tremely deep water.
The typi cal party boat is fai rl y l arge, wi th a broad
beam and a wi de ster n. A rai l runs compl etel y around
t he gunwal es. The best spot i s at the ster n. Her e you are
cl oser to t he water for easi er fshi ng and a smoot her ri de,
and you have l ess chance of tangl i ng l i nes wi th fel l ow fsh
er men. But to get the stern posi ti on, be at t he dock wel l
ahead of sai l i ng ti me.
On a good day nearl y every fsherman on a party boat tri p catches fs h.
West Coast party boats general l y use sardi nes or an
chovi es f or bai t, carryi ng t hem al i ve i n l arge tanks. At
the fshi ng grounds, scoops of these bait fsh are tossed
i nto the water for chum. As soon as fsh begi n to stri ke,
the fshermen drop thei r bai ted hooks overboard, l etti ng
t hei r unwei ghted l i nes r i de t he current wi th t he chum.
Paci fi c Yel l owtai l , Al bacore, Bl uefn Tuna, a nd Paci fi c
Barracuda ar e commonl y caught from these party boats.
I n t he Atl anti c and Gul f of Mexi co, party boats usual l y
fsh t he bottom, ei ther by anchor i ng or by sl ow dri fti ng.
Pr i nci pal bai ts are cl ams, menhaden, c ut mul l et, and
bal l yhoo. Cod, Pol l ack, Sea Bass, Si l ver Hake, Ki ng
Mackerel , Bl ac k Jewfi sh, founders, snappers, porgi es,
groupers, and gr unts are common catches.
On some party boats tackl e i s furni shed or may be
rented, but i t i s best to bri ng your own . Heavy spi nni ng
gear i s a favori te among party- boat fsher men. long,
fl exi bl e boat r ods equi pped wi t h sal t-water reel s ar e
used a l so. A l i ne of at l east 30- pound t est i s needed for
haul i ng t he fsh aboard.
1 41
Charter boats speci al i ze in bi g- game fshi ng in ofshore waters.
CHARTER BOATS are hi red by one or several fi sher
men for a parti cul ar ki nd of fi s hi ng. The s mal l er of two
general types i s the gui de boat, whi ch may be a canoe,
a j oh n boat for dri fti ng a ri ver, or a smal l , fast r unabout.
Sel dom do more than two peopl e fsh from a gui de boat,
and t he fi s hi ng i s usual l y done wi th bai t casti ng, fy cast
i ng, or spi n ni ng tackl e. The operator of a gui de boat
serves al so as a gui de, and i f you are unfami l i ar wi th
the area and have l i mi ted ti me to l earn the water, he i s
The fl at-bottomed j ohnboat i s a good gu i de boat f or ri ver foat fs hi ng.
wel l worth hi s pr i ce. The cost of charteri ng a gui de boat
ranges from a mi ni mum of $30. 00 a day for trout fi s hi ng
i n t he North Country or for bass fi s hi ng i n t he Ozarks to
as much as $ 1 50. 00 a day for Bonefi sh or Tarpon i n
southern Fl ori da or for sal mon fi s hi ng i n t he Northwest.
Gui de boats can al so be hi red for Stri ped Bass, Channel
Bass, Snook, Northern Pi ke, Largemout h Bass, and ot hers .
Larger charter boats for offshore ocean fi shi ng range i n
l ength from 20t o more t han 40 feet. They are equi pped
wi th outri ggers for trol l i ng and wi th fi s hi ng chai rs for
fi ght i ng h eavy game fi s h. Most chart er boats car ry al l
t he tackl e needed for bi g- game fi s hi ng, and i t s use i s i n
cl uded i n t he fee. Charter boat pri ces range from $75 to
$ 1 50 or more a day, dependi ng on l ocati on and season .
Thi s cost can be shared by 4 t o 6 fi sher men. Charter
boats speci al i ze i n Sai l fi sh, Marl i n, Swordfi sh, Bl uefi n
Tuna, Wahoo, Ki ng Mac kerel , Dol phi n, Amberj acks, Tar
pon, and other bi g-game speci es. The usual met hods are
trol l i ng or dri fti ng. A mat e prepares t he bai ts, r i gs t he
l i nes, and gaffs t he catc h; t he s ki pper r uns t he boat.
Outri ggers are used for trol l i ng
bai ts on or near t he su rface be
hi nd t he charter boat. Made of
bamboo, fber gl ass, or al umi num,
and 20 to 40 feet l ong, they ar e
hel d at a 45degree an gl e for
fi shi ng. The fi shi ng l i ne is at
tached to the outri gger by a s nap
cl othespi n, whi ch rel eases on a
stri ke { p. 1 8) .
I n fshi ng
osition p
1 43
1 44
HOOKI NG A FI SH is basi cal l y a matter of j erki ng the
l i ne at the ri ght i nstant to set the poi nt of the hook i n the
fsh' s mout h. I n fshi ng wi th natural bai ts, i t i s general l y
best to wai t unti l the fi sh r uns wi th the bai t before at
tempti ng to set the hook. Wi th soft bai ts, l i ke doughba l l s
( p. 62) or cl ams (p. 65), try to set the hook more qui ckl y,
for these bai ts are easi l y stol en. Proper ti mi ng for setti ng
the hook comes onl y wi t h experi ence. Wi t h arti fi ci al
l ures, the hook shoul d be set the i nstant a stri ke i s fel t.
Fi shermen often try to set the hook too soon wi th arti f
ci al s because they see the fi sh or hear i t spl ash before
i t actual l y takes the l ure.
8EFOkE 5ETTI NG HOOk,
l ower t he r od (1 ) to al l ow mor e
l everage. I f usi n g l arge l i ve
bai ts, frst let fs h take several
feet of l i ne f r om t he reel .
Stri ke fr ml y, t humbi ng reel
spool or hol di ng t he handl e as
t he rod i s s napped to a verti cal
posi ti on ( 2) . You a re now ready
to pl ay the fs h ( p. 1 45) .
PLAYI NG A FI SH provi des
much of t he fun of fi s hi ng; it i s
t he tec hni que of keepi ng a fi s h
hooked and t i r i ng i t out . The rod
does t he mai n j ob; i t absorbs
sudden j ol ts and appl i es rel ent
l ess pressure on the fi sh. The rod
does its j ob best when i t i s kept
at a ri ght an gl e to t he fi sh' s pul l
( 1 ) . I f t he fi s h makes a fast or a
l ong r un, l ower t he rod t i p i m
medi atel y ( 2) to reduce fri cti on
of t he l i ne on gui des. Al l ow a
r unni ng fi sh to stri p l i ne al most
di rectl y from t he reel , wi th l i ttl e
bend i n t he rod.
WHEN FI SH STOPS, pump i t
back wi th t he rod ( not by cr ank
i ng t he reel ) . Thi s prevents break
i ng t he l i ne and possi bl e dam
age to r eel gears i f t he fi s h
makes a s udden strong l unge.
I n pumpi ng, br i ng t he r od up
ward (3) to pu l l fi sh toward you.
Then l ower t he r od r api dl y to
ward the fsh (4) and at the same
t i me reel i n t he sl ack l i ne. Be
ready to slop pumpi ng t he mo
ment t he fi sh starts r unni ng or
j umpi ng agai n. Pumpi ng shoul d
be done onl y to work t he fi sh i n
d uri ng l u l l s i n i t s fght .
FI SH I S I N LANDI NG POSI
TI ON when i t i s wi t hi n a rod' s
l engt h or sl i ght l y more di stant .
( I f fi s h i s brought cl oser, l and
i ng i t i s made awkwar d, and
t her e i s a c hanc e of breaki ng t he
rod. ) l ean forward and hol d t he
r od behi nd you ( 5) as you get
ready to l and catch ( p. 1 46).
1 45
1 46
LANDI NG After a fi sh has been fu l l y pl ayed- out, i t can
be l anded by hand, net, or gaf-or smal l fsh may s i mpl y
be l i fted i n wi th t he l i ne. Fi sh escape whi l e bei ng l anded
usual l y because a fsherman becomes exci ted and tri es
to hurry.
3
NET FI SH head frst ( 1 ) . I n try
i ng to escape, fi sh wi l l dive ri g ht
i nto t he net. Wi th a s har p gaf,
fi sh can be hooked anywhere i n
t he body, but it i s best to gaf it
ei t her in t he gi l l s ( 2) or under
t he l ower j aw. Fi sh gafed i n t he
j aw wi l l l i ve i f rel eased. Pl ayed
out fi sh co n be l anded from
br i dges wi th a drop net ( p. 1 34),
or wi th o "snatch hook, " whi ch
is i n efect a gaf on a heavy
cord ( 3) . F resh- water bass or
other fi sh wi thout I or ge teeth con
be l anded by t hr usti ng t humb
i nt o fi sh' s mout h and gr i ppi ng
t he l ower j aw (4) . Thi s st u n s fsh
and st ops i t s st r uggl es. Pi kes and
ot her fi sh wi t h t eet h con be
stu nned and l i fted from water by
gr i ppi ng wi th t humb and second
fi nger i n eyesockets ( 5) .
CARE L THE CATCH I deal l y, fi sh shoul d be
cl eaned and cooked i mmedi atel y after they are caught .
As t hi s i s rarel y practi cal , they shoul d ei ther be kept
al i ve, whi ch i s most desi rabl e, or be kept cool and
moi st unti l they can be cl eaned .
KEEP FI SH ALI VE in water an If ready to be ki l l ed, a
a sna p-type str i nger, in a l i ve s har p rap on the head with a
bog ( p. 1 1 1 ), or in a boot's l ive bi l l y (p. 1 1 1 ) ki l l s fsh and, in
wel l (p. 1 54) . I f fsh can not be the case of l arge ones, el i mi nates
kept al i ve and several hours wi l l t he danger of havi ng them
pass before they can be cl eaned, th rash about i n t he boat.
remove thei r gi l l s and entrai l s to
prevent s poi l age. A creel ( p.
1 1 1 ) l i ned wi t h damp l eaves,
grass, or cl oth wi l l keep catch
cool and moi st . I ce chests wi l l
keep t he catch when fi shi ng from
a boat or the bank. Wet bur l ap
bags ar e good i n cool weat her.
Surf fshermen somet i mes bu ry
t hei r fsh in damp s and. Ki l l soon
after l andi ng.
TO RELEASE a n u nwanted fi s h
al i ve, handl e i t gent l y and as
l i ttl e as poss i bl e. I f hook i s too
deep to be removed wi t hout
damagi ng fs h, cut i t of between
eye and bend or cut t he l eader .
fi sh wi l l absorb t he hook i n t i me.
To revive a pl ayed- out fs h, hol d
it head for war d i n cur r ent or
move i t t hrough water.
current
Surf fsherman may bury
catch in the sand.
1 47
1 48
LLbN1NM
Fi sh are easi er to scal e or to s ki n i f

worked on whi l e fresh. A bench or a tabl e, r unni ng
water, and a s har p kni fe hel p make the j ob easi er. The
most i mportant t ool i s the fi l l eti ng kni fe, made of good
steel and wi th a l ong, thi n bl ade. A scal er i s i nexpensi ve,
and a brush can be used to scrub out cl otted bl ood from
al ong backbone i nsi de t he body cavi ty. The method of
cl eani ng vari es wi th t he ki nd of fsh and how i t i s to be
cooked. Consul t a good cook book on how to cook fs h.
5CALE F| 5H, u n l ess i t i s to be
fl l eted and ski n n ed ( p. 1 49) .
Hol d fi sh by the t ai l and t hen
scrape f r om t ai l t o head t o
l oosen and remove scal es. Use
a fi sh scal er or a du l l knife. Cut
of head behi nd pector al fi ns.
kEMOVE F| N5 of panfi s h by
cutti ng i nto fl esh on both si des
of each fn ( 1 . Pul l out fn s,
bones and al l . ( Never _i i p fi ns,
as t hi s l eaves sma l l , s har p
bones . Al s o may cut of tai l ( 2) .
FI LLETI NG is easi est to do wi th
fsh over a foot l ong. Fi rst cut of
head cl ose behi nd pectoral fns
( 1 ) , and t hen s l it t he bel l y t o t he
vent ( 2) . Remove entrai l s and
was h out t he abdomi nal cavity,
usi ng br us h if necessary ( 3) .
Some prefer to fl l et fsh wi t hout
st eps 1 , 2, and 3. Start knife
al ongsi de backbone and hol d it
fat as fl l et i s cut of (4) . Tur n
fsh over an d cut fl l et from other
s i de. Fi ns stay on backbone ( 5) ,
l eavi ng t wo bonel ess fl l ets.
TO SKI N, l ay fl l et skin si de
down on fat s urface ( 6) , and
st art fi l l et knife under ski n at
t ai l end. Hol d s ki n wi t h fngers
as it i s cut from fl l et. To remove
few remai ni ng bones, cut of ri b
cage as shown by dotted l i ne 7) .
1 49
1 50
TO SKI N CATFI SH, di p fsh i n
hot wat er f or a few seconds t o
l oosen t he ski n. Cu t t hr ough t he
ski n al l the way ar ound head
( 1 ) . Pul l ski n back wi th pl i ers ( 2
and 3) . Head can be nai l ed to a
board or hel d wi th another pai r
of pl i ers as the ski n i s pul l ed of.
Cut t hr ough t he backbone be
hi nd the dorsal fn on an angl e
toward the head (4) . Br eak t he
head downwa rd from t he body,
t hus removi ng head and entrai l s
at t he same ti me ( 5) .
as t hick as desi red,
can be cut from l arge fsh s uch
as Ki ng Macker el . Sl i ce between
t he vertebrae.
TROPHY FI SH are extra l arge, unus ual , or otherwi se
noteworthy catches made i nto durabl e, l i fel i ke mounts
by a taxi der mi st. Keep the fsh cool and moi st unt i l i t can
be taken to a taxi dermi st. If the fsh is too l ar ge to ft i nto
an i ce chest, wrap i t i n wet cl oths; do not gut i t. Before
i t i s put away, measure i ts l ength i n a strai ght l i ne from
t he ti p of i ts j aw to t he ti p of i ts tai l . Do not l et t he tape
fol l ow the contour of the fsh. Measure i t s gi rt h i n t he
t hi ckest part of i t s body.
RECORDS I f you t hi n k you may have caught a record
fi s h
,
meas ure i t as shown above and al so have i t wei ghed
on govern ment i ns pect ed scal es -do bot h i n t he pr es
ence of t wo wi t nesses. Photogr aph your fi s h whenever
pos s i bl e. For a fr esh - water fi s h regi strati on for m, wri te to
Fi el d & St ream | 3 8 3 Madi son Avenue, N. Y. , N. Y. I 00 I 7| ,
wher e over- al l records for fres h- water fi s h ar e k ept . F or
sal t-water fi s h
,
wr i te t o I nt ernati onal Game Fi s h Associ a
t i on 3000 E. las Ol as Bl vd.
, Ft. lauder dal e, Fl 333 I |
to get entry for m, tac k l e rul es, and a l i s t of t he cur r ent
records . Your fi s h may be a r ecor d for t he l i ne t est you
used even i f i t i s not an al l - tack l e record . The I nt er
nati onal Spi n F i s hi ng Associ at i on ( P. O. Box 8 I , Downey,
CA 0240| compi l es records for fi s h caught on s pi nni ng
tackl e i n bot h fres h and s al t water . Her e, too, your fi sh
may qual i fy for a record for a parti cul ar l i ne t est .
1 5 1
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1 52
NAVI GATI ON CHARTS are consi dered basi c equi p
ment by sal t-water fshermen. The best are the Coast,
Harbor, and Smal l Craft charts, whi ch show water depths
at mean l ow ti de, average ti de range, contours of al l
shore l i nes, type of bottom, and l ocati ons of chan nel s,
bars, and ti de ri ps. Wi th these charts, a fsher man can
fnd exactl y the type bottom and water depth preferred
by the fsh he i s after. Dependi ng on the type of chart,
its si ze, and the area covered, the cost ranges from 25
cents to $2. 00. Charts can be purchased at book stores
and mar i nas or di rectl y from the U. b. Coast a nd Geo
deti c Survey, Washi ngton 25, D. C. For fresh water, topo
graphi c maps, avai l abl e from the Geol ogi cal Survey,
Washi ngton, D. C. , may be hel pful in fndi ng feeder
streams, spri ngs, and fshabl e shore l i nes of l akes. Local ly
prepared maps di stri buted at fshi ng camps or by cham
ber s of commerce i n most popul ar fshi ng areas are al so
hel pful i n l earni ng new waters.
GOOD FI SHI NG today and for t he future is t he goal
of fsh management programs. Fi shermen shoul d l ear n
what i s bei ng done to make better fs hi ng i n t hei r areas .
The programs, by state and nati onal gover nment agen
ci es, are pai d f or wi t h the money fs her men pay f or fs h
i ng l i censes and al so wi t h t he federal t ax money col l ected
on the sal e of fi shi ng tackl e. Most of the money i s used
to buy publ i c ri ghts-of-way to exi sti ng waters, to bui l d
new l akes, and f or research progr ams t o l ear n mor e
about fs h. Much mor e research needs t o be done, par
t i cul arl y on sal t-water fi shes.
I t i s most i mportant that fsh be provi ded wi th sui tabl e
pl aces t o l i ve. Poor far mi ng practi ces t hat si l t our streams
and l akes; pol l uti on from i ndustri es, ci ti es, and i nsecti
ci des; and the destructi on of natural watersheds-these
are the greatest enemi es of good fshi ng today.
As more i s l earned about fsh through resear ch, t he
fshi ng becomes better. Most states, f or exampl e, now
al l ow year-round fshi ng i n fresh waters, and i n many
states there are no si ze or bag l i mi ts on fs h. Bi ol ogi sts
l earned that i t i s vi rtual l y i mpossi bl e to overfsh heal thy
bodi es of water. After t he surpl us fsh are caught, there
i s so l i ttl e competiti on for natural foods that i t becomes
di fcul t to catch the remai ni ng fsh on bai ts or l ures
though fi s hi ng for them conti n ues to be good sport.
TAGGI NG FI SH hel ps bi ol ogi sts l eorn how r api dl y fsh grow, how
far and how fast they travel , and other facts. Ret ur n tags to address
gi ven and descri be where an d
when catch was made.
1 53
1 54
CANOES a re l i ghtwei ght, port
abl e boots, averagi ng 1 6 to 1 8
ft. l ong. Desi g ned to b e used
wi th a paddl e but may be d ri ven
wi th outboard . Canvas over
wood, fber g l ass, or al umi n um.
PUNT Df JOHNBOAT, wi th
s quare, upswept bow, i s stabl e
and draws l i ttl e wat er . To 24 ft.
l ong, of wood pl anki ng or al um
i n u m. An i deal boat for fl oat fsh
i ng on ri vers.
bLP1b LK bH M are sel ected for use rather t han
l ooks. Though al most any ki nd of boat can be used, a
good fshi ng boat shou l d have pl enty of open space for
casti ng and for pl ayi ng fsh. No si ngl e type of boat i s
best for al l ki nds of fshi ng. Some waters are fshed best
from a boat propel l ed by oars, paddl e, or push- pol e.
larger waters may requi re use of a motor to save travel
i ng t i me or to cover more water, as i n trol l i ng. I n some
states, boat s must be regi stered and l i censed i n the same
manner as automobi l es. Your boat or outboard deal er
can gi ve you speci fc i nformati on. Many fshi ng boats
ski fs, uti l ity boats, and even crui sers-have l i ve wel l s
bui l t i nto t he hul l . Portabl e uni ts are al so avai l abl e. Hol es
i n the bottom of a l i ve wel l al l ow water to ci r cul ate and
keep i t fres h. Used mai nl y t o store l i ve bai t but al so to
keep catch al i ve.
ACCESSORI ES hel p make
boat safer, more comfortabl e.
Coast Guar d reg ul at i ons r equi r e
l i fe preservers or approved
cus hi ons . Fol di ng seats, whi ch
may swi vel 360
, ar e restf ul and
excel l ent f or trol l i ng.
SKI FF has fat bottom, hi gh bow.
A stabl e boat, 1 0 to 1 6 ft. l ong,
desi gned to be rowed but may
be used wi t h s mal l outboard
motor. Of wood pl anki ng, pl y
wood, or al u mi n um.
CRUI SERS, powered by i n
bear d or out board motors, a re
l or qer boats for ofshor e fs hi ng
or for "campi ng out" on t he
wat er . Many have twi n engi nes
for g reater speed an d safety.
Rangi ng i n l engt h from 1 8 to
over 40 feet, they may be I ux-
ANCHORS used by fsher men
ar e: { 1 ) Mus hroom, named for
shape, hol ds wel l in soft mud
bottom. ( 2) Navy, good al l
ar ound anc hor wi t h hi nged
fukes. ( 3) Danforth, wi th l ar ge
hi nged fu kes, hol ds fast but i s
easy to di sl odge.
UTI LI TY BOATS, u p to 1 8 ft.
l ong, a re wi de, with r ounded or
-s ha ped bottom. Pr opel l ed by
outboards, they are best al l
pur pose fi s hi ng boats. Of wood,
fber gl ass, or metal .
u ri ousl y f ur n i shed. Some have
ki tchens, si tt i ng rooms, an d even
ai r condi ti oni ng. The best type
for fi s hi ng has a s mal l cabi n an d
a l arge, open cockpi t for pl enty
of fg ht i ng room. Cr ui sers a re
made of wood, fber g l ass, steel ,
or al u mi n u m.
1 55
1 56
LHc bLUKLcb L l MLKNP LM
BOOKS may assi st i n i dentifyi ng fi shes and gi ve detai l s
about parti cul ar ki nds of fi shi ng. Those l i sted bel ow are
on l y a few from among the best.
Bates, Joseph D. , J r. , F I SHI NG, E. Dutton Ca. , I nc. , New Yor k, 1 973.
A comprehensi ve encycl opedi a of over 700 pages far the seri ous
angl er.
Breder, Charl es M. , J r. , F I E LD BOOK OF MARI NE F I SHES OF THE
ATLANTI C COAST, G. Putnam, New Yor k, 1 948. Excel l ent gui de
to Atl anti c speci es.
Brooks, Joe, TROUT F I SHI NG, Harper Row, New Yor k, 1 972. Covers
every pai nt of trout f i s hi ng. Over 1 24 f ul l -col or photographs
.
Fl i ck, Art, ART FL I CK' S STREAMSI DE GUI DE, Crown, New Yor k, 1 970.
An acknowl edged practi cal cl assi c.
Franci s, Ph i l , SALT-WATER FI SHI NG FROM MAI N TO TEXAS, Mac
mi l l an, 1 963. Expert advi ce on how and where to catch t hem.
McCl ane, A. J. ( ed.), McCLANE' S STANDARD FI SHI NG E NCYCLO
PEDI A, Hal t, Ri nehart, Wi nston, I nc. , New Yor k, 1 965. A com
prehensi ve gui de to f i s hi ng, i nternati onal i n scope
.
Mi gdal s ki , Edward C. , ANGLER' S GUI DE TO SALT WATER GAME
F I SHES ( 1 958) and ANGLER' S GUI DE TO FRESH WATER SPORT
F I SHES ( 1 962), Ronal d Press, New York. Comprehens i ve coverage of
fi sh and f i s hi ng.
Zi m and Shoemaker, F I SHES, Gol den Press, New York, 1 956. An i l l us
trated gui de to fami l i ar fresh and sal t water speci es.
MAGAZI NES wi th regul ar i nformati on on sport fi s hi ng
i ncl ude Outdoor Life, Field and Stream, Sports Afield,
and The Salt Water Sportsman.
CATALOGS of many sporti ng goods compani es descri be
l atest tackl e and equi pment, and many contai n hel pful
hi nts and ti ps. Names and addresses of th e compani es
can be found i n t he ads i n outdoor magazi nes .
CONSERVATI ON DEPARTMENT publ i cati ons gi ve i nfor
mati on about fi s hi ng regul ati ons and about pl aces to
fi s h. Address questi ons to Conservati on Dept. (or Fi sh
and Game Dept . ) at your state capi tol .
l NDX
Asteri sks ( *) denote pages on whi ch i l l ustrati ons appear.
Aberdeen hook, * 1 02
Accessori es, boat, * 1 54
Accessory tackl e, * 1 06-
1 1 3
Afri can Pompano, 22,
*23
Al bacore, 1 6, * 1 7
Amberj acks, 20, *21
Ameri can Shad, 1 2, * 1 3
Anchors, * 1 55
Anchovi es, *63, *71
Arcti c Grayl i ngs, 54,
*55
Arti fi ci al l ures, *66-73
AtL Boni to, * 1 7
AtL Croakers, 32, *33
AtL Mackerel , *7, 1 4,
* 1 5
AtL Sai l fi sh, 1 8, * 1 9
AtL Sol man, 46, *47
Boi t box, * 1 1 0
bucket, 58, * 1 1 0
Bai t casti ng, 74, * 88-90
how to, *90
l eaders, *99
l i nes, 77, *89
reel s, *75, *88
rods, *76, *89
Bal l yhoo, *63
i mi tati on, 71
Bar J acks, 20
Barometer, 1 2 1
Barracudas, 40, *41
Barred Surfperch, 36,
*37
.
Bass, * 1 0, 26, *27, 32,
*33, 34, *35, 50,
*51 , 52, *53
Bay reel , *96
Says, * 1 36- 1 37
Bermuda Chubs , 30, *3 1
Bi g-game tack l e, 74,
*75, *96-97, *99
Si l l y ( cl ub) , * 1 1 1
Bl ack Crappi e, *50
Sl ack Drum, *9, 34, *35
Bl ackfi n Tuna, 1 6, * 1 7
Sl ack Grouper, *7, 24,
*25
Bl ack Jewfi sh, 26, *27
Bl ack Margate, 28, *29
Bl ack nose Dace, *59
Bl ock ti n squi d, *70
Bl ood dropper l oop,
* 1 1 5
Bl ood knot, * 1 1 4
Bl oodworm, *65
Bl ue Catfi sh, 56, *57
Sl uefi n Tuna, 1 6, * 1 7
Bl uefi sh, 22, *23
Bl uegi l l , *7, * 1 0, 50, *51
Bl ue Mar l i n, 18, * 1 9
B l u e Runner, 20, *21
Bl uestri pe Gr unt , 28,
*29
Boat rod, *97
Boats, * 1 54- 1 55
Bobbers, * 1 08, * 1 1 7
Bocacci o, 36, *37
Bonefi sh, 1 2, * 1 3
Bonitos, 1 6, * 1 7
Boots, * 1 1 3
Bottom bounci ng, * 1 23
Bottom fi shi ng, * 1 22-
1 23
l eaders, *99
ri gs, * 1 1 6
si nkers, * 1 06
Bowfi n, * 56
Bows and arrows, * 1 04
Bri dges, * 1 35
Brook Trout, 48, *49
Brown Bul l head, 56, *57
Brown Trout, * 1 0, 48,
*49
Bucktai l , *70
Bul l heads, 56, *57
Caddi sworm, *61
Cal i f. Hal i but
,
38, *39
Cal i f. Sheephead, 36,
*37
Cane pol es, 78, *79
Canoes, * 1 54
Car l i sl e, * 1 03
Carp, *7, 56, *57
Casti ng, *82, *86-87,
*90, *91 ' *94-95
fl oats, *1 08
l i nes, 89
rods, *89
si nkers, * 1 07
Catal pa Worm, *61
Catfi sh, 56, *57, * 1 50
Cero Mackerel , 1 4, * 1 5
Chai n Pi ckerel , 54, *55
Channel Bass, 34, *35
Channel Catfi sh, 56, *57
Charter boats, * 1 42- 1 43
Chubs, * 59
Chum, *62, *63
Chum Sal mon, 46, *47
Chummi ng, * 1 22
Cl ams, *65
Cl amworm, *65
Cl eani ng fish, * 1 48- 1 50
Cl i ppers, * 1 1 2
Cl othi ng, * 1 1 3
Cobi a, 40, *41
Cockroach, *61
Cod, 38, *39
Coho Sal mon, 46, *47
Combi nati on rigs, * 1 1 9
Common Shi ner, *59
Common Sucker, 56, * 57
Compressed gas gun,
1 04
Conch, 65
Conservati on, 1 53
Corbi nas, 34, *35
Crabs, *64
Crappi es, *50
Crayfi sh, *60
Creek Chubs, 54, *55,
*59
Creel , * 1 1 1
Creval l e Jack
,
20, *21
Cr i cket, *61
Croakers, * 1 1 , 32, *33
Cr ui sers, * 1 55
1 57
c
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Cunners, 36, *37

Cutthroat Trout, *7, 48,
*49
Dace, *59
Di sgorger, * 1 1 2
Dogfi sh, 44, *45
Dol l y Varden Trout, 48,
*49
Dol phi n, 40, *41
Doubl e hooks, * 1 02
Doubl e- j i g ri g, * 1 1 8
Doubl e surgeon' s knot,
* 1 1 4
Doughbal l s, *62
; Droi l s, 70
: Drift fi shi ng, * 1 22, * 1 37
0 Dropper fl y ri gs, * 1 1 9
Dry fl i es, *73
box, * 1 1 0
O
oi l , * 1 1 2
G
z
" LoQ | e c| ow hook, z
_ Le
t, " e
P m I oI on,
1L e | b o b , e:
d
Fal l fi sh, 54, *55
Fi l l eti ng fish, * 1 49
- Fi shes, *6- 1 1
fresh and sal t, *46-47

fresh water, *48-59
"
sal t water, * 1 2-45
Fi shfi nder ri g, * 1 1 6
Fi shi ng chai r, 1 43, * 1 54
Fi shi ng Methods, * 1 22
1
Fi shi ng sti ck, * 1 05
Fl atfi shes, 38, *39
Fl athead Catfish, *7,
56, * 57
Fl i es, *66, *72-73, * 1 1 9
Fl oats, * 1 08
Fl ounder, *7, 38, *39
Fl y book, *98, * 1 1 0
F l y fi shi ng, 74, *84-87
casti ng, *86-87
l eaders, *98
line dressi ng, * 1 1 2
l i nes, *84
reel s, *75, *85
rods, *76, *85
French Grunt, 28, *29
1 58
Frog, i mi tati ons, *71 J am knot, * 1 1 5
Frogs and Sal amanders, "Japanese" feathers, 70
*61 J etties, * 1 39
J ewfi sh, 26, *27
Gaffs, * 1 1 1 J i ggi ng, * 1 23
Gafftopsai l Catfi sh, 40, J i gs, *70
*41 Johnboat, * 1 42, * 1 54
Gag Groupers, 24, *25 J ol thead Porgi es, 30, *31
Gar s, 56 J ug fi shi ng, * 1 04
Gi ant Pompano, 22
Gi ant Sea Bass, 26, *27 Keel rig, * 1 1 8
Gi gs, * 1 04 Kel p Bass, 26, *27
Gi mbal , 97 Ki l l i fi sh, 63
Gol den Shi ner, *59 Ki ng Mackerel , 1 4, * 1 5
Gol den Trout, 48, *49 Ki ng Sal mon, 46, *47
Grasshopper, *61 Ki r by hook, * 1 02
Grass Porgi es, 30, *31 Knife, * 1 1 2
Great Barracudas, 40, Knots, * 1 1 4- 1 1 5
*41
Green J acks, 20, *21 ladyfi sh, 1 2, * 1 3
Groupers, 24, *25 lagoons, * 1 36- 1 37
Grubs, 61 lake Trout, 48, *49
Grunts, 28, *29 lakes, * 1 28- 1 33
Gui de boat, * 1 42 Landi ng fi sh, * 1 46
landi ng nets, * 1 1 1
Haddock, 38, *39 landl ocked Sal mon, 46,
Hammerhead Sharks, *47
44, *45 lane Snappers, 28, *29
Hal i but, 38, *39 largemouth Bass, * 1 0,
Hand l i nes, 78, *79 50, *51
Hel l grammi te, *61 lar k' s head knot, * 1 1 4
i mi tati on, *71 Leaders, *98-99
Herri ng, *63 Leeches, *60
Hi ckory Shad, 1 2, * 1 3 level wi nd, *75, *88, 92
Hone, * 1 1 2 Li meri ck hook, * 1 03
Hooki ng fi sh, * 1 44-1 45 li nes, 76-77, 8 1 , *84,
Hooks, * 1 00- 1 03 *89, *93, 97
setti ng, * 1 44 li ngcod, 40, *41
si zes, * 1 01 li t tl e Skate, *45
Horse-eye Jacks, 20 li ttl e Tuna, 1 6, * 1 7
Houndfi sh, 42, *43 li ve bag, * 1 1 1
Humpback Sal mon, 46, Li ve- l i ne ri gs, ' 1 1 7
*47 Live l i ni ng, ' 1 22
Humpshank hook, * 1 03 li ve wel l s, 1 54
Longear Sunfi sh, 50, *51
I ce chi sel , * 1 05 lookdowns, 22, *23
I ce fi shi ng, * 1 05 Lures, *66-73
I mi tati on baits, *71
I mproved cl i nch knot, Mackerel , 1 4, * 1 5
* 1 1 4 Mako Sharks, 44, *45
I nsect repel l ents, * 1 1 3 Mangrove Snappers,
I nsects, *61 28, *29
Margate Grunt, 28, *29 Permi t, 22, *23 Sal mon, 46, *47
Mar l i ns, 1 8, * 1 9 Pi ckerel , 54, *55 Sal mon egg hook, * 1 03
"Matchi ng the hatch, " Pi ers, * 1 34 Sal mon eggs, *61
72
Pi gfi sh, 28, *29, 63 Sal t- water tackl e, 74,
Meal worms, 61 Pi nfi sh, 30, *31 , 63 *75, *96-97
Menhaden, *62
Pl asti c bubbl e, * 1 08 Sand Bass, 26, *27
Metal Squi ds, *70
Pl ayi ng fi sh, * 1 45 Sand Bugs, *64
Mi nnow bucket, 58,
Pl i ers, * 1 1 2 Sand Launces, 63
* 1 1 0
Pl ug ri g, * 1 1 9 Sand Shark, 44, *45
Mi nnows, *58-59
Pl ugs, *66, *69 Sand spi ke, *93
i mi tati on, *71
Pol aroi d gl asses, * 1 1 3 Sauger, 52, *53
Monofi l ament l i ne, 77
Pol l ack, 38, *39 Scal er, * 1 1 2
l eader, 99
Pompano, *7, 22, *23
Scal i ng fi sh, * 1 48
Moochi ng, * 1 23
Ponds, * 1 28- 1 29 School master Snapper,
Mudmi nnows, *59
Popper fl i es, *73 28, *29
Mul l et, *63
Poppi ng cork, * 1 08, School tuna, 1 6
i mi tati on, 71
* 1 1 8 Scorpi onfi shes, 36
Muskel l unges, 54, *55
Porcupi ne Fi sh, 42, *43 Sea Bass, 26, *27
Muttonfi sh, 28, *29
Porgi es, 30, "3 1 Sea Catfi sh, 40, *41
Nassau Groupers, 24,
Porkfi sh, 28 Sea perches, 36, *37
Pork ri nd, *62, * 1 1 9 Setti ng hook, * 1 44
*25
Puffers, 42, *43 Shad, 1 2, * 1 3
Natural bai ts, *58- 65
Pumpki nseeds, 50, *51 Shar ks, 44, *45
Navi gati on charts, * 1 52
Punt, * 1 54 Shee-fi sh, 54, *55
Needl efi sh, 42, *43
Sheepshead, 30, *3 1 , 36
Nets, * 1 1 1
Rai nbow Trout, 48, *49 Sheepshead hook, * 1 03
Netti ng fi sh, * 1 46
Record fi sh, 1 51 Sheepshead ri g, * 1 1 6
Ni ght crawl ers, *60
Redbel l y Dace, *59 Shel l fi sh, *65
Northern Pi ke, 54, *55
Redbreast Sunfi sh, 50, Shi ners, *59
Northern Porgi es, 30,
*51 Shr i mp, *64
* 31
Redear Sunfi sh, 50 Si erra Mackerel , 1 4, * 1 5
Northern Puffers, 42,
Red Groupers, 24, *25 Si l kworm gut, 98
*43
Red Snappers, 28, *29 Si l ver Hakes, 38, *39
Northern Whi ti ngs, 34,
Reel s, *75, *79, *80, Si l ver Perch, 34, *35
*35
* 85, * 88, *92, *96 Si l versi des, *63
Nymphs, *72
grease, * 1 1 2 Si l ver Whi ti ngs, 34
Oceani c Boni tos, 1 6
oi l , * 1 1 2 Si nkers, * 1 06- 1 07
Ol i ve Rockfi sh, 36, *37
Rel easi ng fi sh, * 1 47 Skates, 44, *45
O' shaughnessy hook. ,
Ri gs, * 1 1 6- 1 1 9 Ski ff, * 1 55
* 1 03
Ri ver Chubs, *59 Ski mmer, * 1 05
Outri ggers, * 1 43
Rock Bass, 50, *51 Ski nni ng fi sh, 1 49, * 1 50
Oysters, 65
Rockfi sh, 26, *27, 36, *37 Ski pj ack Tuna, 1 6, * 1 7
Rod bel t, *93 Smal l mouth Bass, 50,
Paci f. Barracudas, 40, hol der, * 1 1 2 *51
*41 Rods, *76, *7B-79, * 81 , Smooth Dogfi sh, 44, *45
Paci f. Mackerel , 1 4, * 1 5 * 85, *89, *92-93, Snappers, 28, *29
Paci f. Sai l fi sh, 1 8, * 1 9 *97 Snaps, * 1 09, * 1 1 6, * 1 1 8
Paci f. Yel l owtai l s, 20, Roughfi sh, *56 Sneck hook, * 1 02
*21 Snook, 30, *3 1
Party Boats, * 1 40- 1 41 Safety snaps, * 1 09 Sockeye Sal mon, 46, *47
Pawl , *75 Sai l fi shes, 1 1 , 1 B, * 1 9 Southern Searobi ns,
Perfection l oop, * 1 1 5 Sal amander, *61 42, *43
1 59
m
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m

Southern Sti ng Ray, 44,
*45
Spadefi sh, 42, *43
Sp. Mackerel , 1 4, * 1 5
Spear fi shi ng, * 1 04
Spi n casti ng, 74, *88
how to, *91
l i ne, ' 89
reel , *75, *88
rod, *89
Spi nner fl i es, *73
Spi nners, *66, *68
Spi nni ng, 74, 80
how to, *82-83, *94-
95
l eaders, *99
l i nes, 81 , 93
reel s, *75, *80, *92
rods, *76, *81 , *93

Spl asher-j i g ri gs, * 1 1 8
@ Spoons, *66, *67
Sport fish, * 1 0- 1 1
P Sport fi shi ng, *4-5
gSpotfi n Croakers, 32,
*33
o
_ Spots, 34, *35
~ Spotted Bass, 50, *51
_ Spotted J ewfi sh, 26, *27
: Spotted Sunfi sh, 50, *51
Spotted Weakfi sh, 32,
*33
g Spreader rigs, * 1 1 7
Sproat hook, * 1 02
g Spud, * 1 05
Squawfi sh, 54, *55
Squiddi ng l i ne, 77
Squi ds, *65
i mi tati on, *71
metal , *70
Star drag, *75, 88, *92,
*96
Starry Fl ounders, 38,
*39
Steaks, * 1 50
Sti l l fi shi ng, * 1 22
Sti ng Rays, 4 *45
Sti nk bai ts, *62
Streamer fl i es, *72
Streams, * 1 24- 1 27
Stri ngers, * 1 1 1 , * 1 47
Stri ped Bass, * 1 1 , 26,
*27
1
Stri ped Marl i n, 1 8, * 1 9
Trout, 48, *49
Sturgeons, 56
Tunas, 1 6, * 1 7
Suckers, 56, *57
Turl e Knot, * 1 1 5
Summer Fl ounders, 38,
*39
Uti l i ty boats, * 1 55
Sunfi sh, 50, *51
Suntan l oti ons, * 1 1 3
Waders, * 1 1 3
Surface bugs, *73
Wadi ng net, 1 1 1
Surf costi nQ, 74, *92
Wahoo, 1 4, * 1 5
how to, *94-95
Wal l eyes, 1 0, 52, *53
l i nes, *93
Warmouths, 50, *51
reel s, *92
Water temperature,
rods, *93
1 20- 1 21
Surf fi shi ng, * 1 38, * 1 39.
Weakfi sh, 32, *33
Surfperches, 36, *37
Weather, 1 21
Surf ri gs, * 1 1 7
Weedl ess l ures, 1 28,
Surf spi nni ng, *92-95
* 1 29
how to, *94-95
Western Mudmi nnow,
l i nes, 93
*59
reels, *92
Wet fl i es, *72
rods, *93
boxes, * 1 1 0
Swi vel s, * 1 09, * 1 1 6,
Whi te Bass, 52, *53
* 1 1 7, * 1 1 8
Whi te Catfi sh, 56, *57
Swordfi sh, 1 8, * 1 9
Whi te Grunt, 28, *29
Whi te Mar l i n, 1 8, * 1 9
Tackl e, *74- 1 1 9
Whi te Perch, 52, *53
Tackl e boxes, * i 1 0
White Seabass, 32, *33
Tadpol e, *61
Whi te Seaperch, 3_6, *37
Taggi ng fi sh, * 1 53
Whi ti ngs, 34, *35
Tape red l eader, *98
Wi nter Fl ounder, *38
Tarpon, * 1 1 , 1 2, * 1 3
ri g, * 1 1 6
Toutogs, 36, *37
Wire cutters, * 1 1 2
Termi nal ri gs, * 1 1 6- 1 1 9
Wi re l eader, *99
Thermometer, 1 21
Wi re l i ne, 77
Ti des, 1 2 1 , * 1 36- 1 37
Wi re spreader, * 1 1 7
Ti ger Sharks, 44, * 45
Wobbl ers, *67
Ti ppet, *98
Worms, *60, *65, 1 1 0
Ti p-ups, * 1 05
i mi tati on, *71
Toadfi sh, 42, *43
' pl astic l , *70
Tomcods, 38, *39
Tool s, * 1 1 2 Yel l ow Bass, 52, *53
Trebl e hooks, * 1 02 Yel l owfi n Croakers, 32,
Tri angl e ri g, * 1 1 8 *33
Tri ggerfi sh, 42, *43 Yel l owfi n Groupers,
Tri pl etai l s, 30, *31 24, *25
Trol l i ng, * 1 23, * 1 37 Yel l owfi n Tuna, 1 6, * 1 7
ri gs, * 1 1 8 Yel l ow Jacks, 20, *21
r od, 97
Yel l ow Perch, *6, 52, *53
si nkers, * 1 07 Yel l owtai l s, 28, *29
squi ds, *70
Trophy fi sh, 1 51
Trot l i nes, * 1 04
5 T
bH NL
LLLUtN LUlUt
GEORGE S. FI CHTER was ed i tor- i n-chi ef of he /sh-

etmJn magazi ne and an executi ve of the Sport Fi sh
i ng I nst i tute. He has contri buted t o l eadi ng magazi nes
on nat ure subj ects and i s coauthor of t he book LOOd
/shng.
PHIL FRANCI S served as an edi tor On //OrdJ W/d//e
and he /shetmJn and has wri tten for many other
magazi nes, notabl y 5J/l- WJlet 5pOtlsmJn and /e/d
Jnd 5lteJm. He hol ds several I nternat i onal Spi n
Fi s hi ng Associ at i on worl d records.
HERBERT S. ZI M, Ph. D. , Sc. D. , an or i gi nator and
former edi tor of the Gol den Gu i de Seri es, was al so
an aut hor for many years. Aut hor of some n i nety
books and edi t or of about as many, he i s now Adj unct
Professor at the Uni versi ty of Mi ami and Educat i onal
Cons ul tant to t he Ameri can Fr i ends Servi ce Commi t
tee and other organi zat i ons. He works on educa
t i onal , popu l at i on and envi ronment al pr obl ems.
TOM DOLAN, i l l ust rator of wi l dl i fe art i cl es f or l ead
i ng magazi nes and encycl opedi as, has conducted i n
dependent research on t he col or mechani s m of
f i shes. KEN MARTI N has contri buted to noted maga
z i nes on sci ence subjects and now speci al i zes i n book
i l l ust rat i on. HARRY McNAUGHT i s a wel l - known i l
l ustrator of sci ent i fi c j our nal s a nd j uveni l e books,
i ncl udi ng t he LO/den OOk O/5cence.
GOLDEN PRESS NEW YORK
?4OO6-1
LLLtN LL t
FISHI NG
A compl ete handbook for the sport fi sherman
Fresh- and salt-water tackle
Pri nci pal fishes of North Ameri ca
Natural and artifi ci al bai ts
Casti ng; hooking and landi ng a fi sh
Pbasi c gui de and a handy reference
N --Z4-

Fishing - A Golden Guide

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Fishing - A Golden Guide

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LLLtN LLlt

Northern Whi ti ngs

ganic debri s; medi um-si zed gar

ers, poppers, an d i n j u red mi n

SPI N-CASTI NG REELS a re a

hi gh- bri dged

Rol l edi n Poi nt

DROPPER FLY RI GS a re pop

Most of the methods descri bed

Fi sh are easi er to scal e or to s ki n i f

Cunners, 36, *37

fresh and sal t, *46-47

rods, 76, 81 , *93

GEORGE S. FI CHTER was ed i tor- i n-chi ef of he /sh-

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