BONITO (Sarda chilensis)THE BONITO, OR SKIPJACK(Sarda chilensis)To the angler who is not looking for the largest of game, the bonito—known as skipjack to the Catalina anglers—is possibly the most interesting of the ocean game fishes. Its beautiful metallic colors, its rapid movements, and pleasing habit of always fighting on the surface, and rarely, if ever sulking, makes it a most attractive game to the discriminating angler.The bonito also belongs to theScrombidæfamily, and ranges from Point Conception to Mexico and south through the tropics.Body, rounded, tapering rapidly to the tail, which is strongly forked, but not so much as the albacore; pectoral fins, short and placed opposite the eye; dorsal fin, double, with saw-like ridges from the second dorsal and the anal fins to the tail, the same as in all of this family. Color, dark blue on the back, with a metallic luster; sides, silvery white, with dark longitudinal lines. Weight, from six to twelve pounds.Tackle and Lure—The light tackle specifications of the Tuna Club, given for albacore cannot be improved upon for these fish.[Pg 159]SPANISH MACKEREL (Scomberomorus concolor)SPANISH MACKEREL(Scomberomorus concolor)This is another of theScrombidæfamily. It ranges north to Monterey Bay, where it makes its appearance in September, remaining until November, when it goes south to the Santa Barbara channel; remaining in these waters and about Catalina Island during most of the winter. This fish is called bonito by many of the Catalina anglers, which is a misnomer, as it is a much slimmer fish than the bonito.The pectoral fins are small and located a little above the center of the body and close to the gill covers; front dorsal starts just above the base of the pectorals and extend along the back for a distance a little more than the length of the head, and nearly meeting the second dorsal, which is about the same width as its heighth; ventral fins, a little in front of the pectorals and rather small; front of the anal fin under the back of the second dorsal. Back, steel blue; sides, silvery. Oblique lines, of the darker color of the back, runningforward and downward to a little below the lateral line.Weight, usually from nine to twelve pounds, though they occasionally attain a weight of eighteen pounds.Tackle and Lure—The same as for the bonito.[Pg 161]CHUB MACKEREL OR GREEN-BACK (Scomber japonicus)THE CHUB MACKEREL(Scomber japonicus)The chub mackerel, the smallest of theScombridæfamily, approaches very closely the true mackerel of the East. It is hard to find a fish of any variety more delicious than a chub mackerel, caught from the yacht and placed on the broiler as soon as it quits flapping. They are occasionally found as far north as Monterey bay, but their real range is from the Santa Barbara channel south. With reasonably light trout tackle they put up a gamy and interesting fight.Back, bluish green, mottled with irregular darker streaks, some of which pass below the lateral line; first dorsal fin quite high, and about the distance of its height in front of the second dorsal; second dorsal and anal about the same size and nearly opposite each other; tail forked, but not so broadly as the bonito. Weight, from one-half to three pounds.Tackle and Lure—Trout tackle and spoon will furnish interesting sport. But they will take any lure.[Pg 163]YELLOW-TAIL (Seriola dorsalis)THE YELLOW-TAIL(Seriola dorsalis)The yellow-tail belongs to the familyCarangidæ, the same to which belong the pompanos, and is one of the gamiest of sea fishes. In fact, it is generally said by experts who have fished for all varieties and in all waters, both salt and fresh, that the yellow-tail of Catalina is the gamiest fish, pound for pound, that swims. Whether this be true or not, it is certainly one of the hardest and most persistent fighters found anywhere and furnishes the angler with rod and reel from an hour to two hours of lively sport before he can bring it to gaff. One well-known writer on angling subjects says: "It never knows when it is dead." While the average catch will run from ten to thirty pounds, specimens have been taken weighing sixty-five pounds. It is occasionally met with in Monterey bay, but its range is from the Santa Barbara channel south, where it is caught the larger portion of the year.Order, ACANTHROPTERI.Family, SCROMBIDAEGenusSpeciesCommon NamesRangeThunnusthynnusLeaping tunaleft braceFrom Coronado Islands to Monterey Bay.Germoleft bracemicropteraYellow-fin albacoreleft braceIrregular visitors to the waters of Catalina Island and adjacent mainland.alalungaAlbacoreFrom Point Conception south.SardachilensisBonitoFrom Santa Barbara south.ScomberomorusconcolorSpanish mackerelFrom Monterey Bay south.ScomberjaponicusChub mackerelFrom Point Conception south.Grayish blue on the back; sides, a dull silver, with a yellowish buff stripe along the lateral line; fins, green,with a strong yellowish tinge; tail, yellowish buff. Scales small, with the head bare, except a small patch on the cheeks. Pectoral fin on a level with the eye and small; ventral under the center of the pectoral; caudal, slim and forked. The dorsal fin is double, the front being very small with spines and the second half more than twice as high; dorsal and anal fins continue in a low membrane to very near the tail. Body, elliptical and very small at the base of the caudal fin.Tackle and Lure—Same as for salmon or albacore.[Pg 165]CALIFORNIA SWORDFISH (Tetrapturus mitsukuri)THE CALIFORNIA SWORDFISH(Tetrapturus mitsukuri)By many anglers for large and exciting game, the California swordfish is pronounced the king of all game fishes. Certainly they put up a very determined and exciting fight. In size they average about 180 pounds, though one has been taken at Catalina by W. C. Boschen that weighed 355 pounds. When a swordfish is hooked its rushes are desperate, even reckless, and at times dangerous to the angler. In its determined efforts to free itself from the impaling hook, it threshes the waters into foam, repeatedly leaping into the air, where the sunlight scintillating upon the purple of its back and silvery sides adds the charm of color to the excitement of the contest. It is safe to say that there is no fish, either in the salt or fresh waters, that is so constantly on the surface and in the air during its struggles for freedom as is the California swordfish. Thirty, forty and even fifty clean leaps into the sunlight by the one fish have been recorded in its desperate struggle to baffle the skill of the angler.The snout of the swordfish is continued into a long, sharp bone, which measured from the back of the mouth is about one-fourth of the length of the fish from the mouth to the base of the tail. The under jaw is also a sharp projecting bone about half the length of the sword. The dorsal fin rises sharply from the top of the head to a height nearly equaling the depth of the body, the latter part curving downward and continuing along the back to nearly the center of the body; tail divided into two long, slim forks; second dorsal and anal near the tail and nearly opposite each other; ventral fin below the terminal of the first dorsal; pectoral fins rather long and located close to the gill-covers; two long, slender feelers projecting from the center of the throat just below the base of the pectorals; eye very large and bright dark blue.Purplish green on the back, with blue perpendicular stripes fading into the silvery sides; fins, dark purple.Tackle and Lure—Same as for tuna.THE BLACK SEA BASS, OR JEW-FISH(Stereolepis gigas)This monster of the ocean, commonly called jew-fish, seems to be in all respects a gigantic black bass, closely resembling the small-mouthed of the fresh waters, and no further description will be necessary for anyone who may be fortunate enough to land one to know to what species it belongs. In fact, he will know just what he has hooked long before the monster shows himself on the top of the water. This huge black sea bass seems to have a very restricted range, for it is only known from the Coronado Islands to the Farallones. They are very plentiful around Catalina Island, where they are usually taken with hand lines. They can not be called a game fish, though they are now being taken with rod and reel at Catalina and furnish a kind of "heavy-weight" sport for those who like it. One weighing over 436 pounds has been taken on a tuna rod and twenty-one thread line. The writer saw one several years ago that was taken on a hand line that weighed 720 pounds and was over seven feet in length. They are fish of great strength and will tow a boat with ease at a considerable speed.Tackle—The same as for tuna, with fish bait.THE BARACUDA(Sphyraena argentea)The baracuda is a common fish from San Francisco south to Mexico. In the Santa Barbara channel and about Catalina and San Diego it is largely taken by trolling with light tackle, when it affords really good sport. It is a long, slim fish, reaching three and even three and a half feet in length, the usual catch being from two to two and a half feet in length.Head long and slender; eye high up on the head and nearly half way between the snout and the back of the gill covers. Pectoral fin just below the lateral line; first dorsal spinous and nearly opposite the ventral; second dorsal about midway between the first and the tail; anal almost directly under the second dorsal.Bluish brown on the back, grading into white on the belly.Tackle and Lure—Same as for bonito.WHITING and CROAKERSThere are three other species of fish which inhabit the surf of the Pacific from Point Conception, south to Mexico, that, while they can not be properly termed game fishes, furnish the angler fine sport because of the gamy fight they make on light tackle. These are the whiting (Menticirrhus undulatus), the spot-fin croaker (Roncador stearnsi) and the yellow-fin croaker (Umbrina roncador). The first of these is known locally by the names of courbina and surf-fish, which are bad misnomers. The name, surf-fish, is given by the ichthyologist to a species of perch, and the courbina belongs to the genusPogoniasand is not found as far north as the California coast. These names should be abandoned by the anglers and the proper English name of whiting used. The word courbina is Italian and means croaker, from the Latin, corvus, crow.[Pg 167]WHITE SEA BASS (Cygonoscion nobilis)THE WHITE SEA BASS(Cygonoscion nobilis)The white sea bass is purely a California species, ranging from the Coronado Islands to about the latitude of San Francisco. They are caught trolling and make a gamy fight on rod and reel. Twenty to forty pound fish are common and they have been caught weighing seventy-five pounds.Light bluish on the back and white on the sides, with many small specks; dark spot at the base of the pectoral fins. Head, long, with pointed snout, and with the scales of the head running nearly to its end. Dorsal fin double, the first half having ten spines and the latter twenty-one or twenty-two soft rays. Anal with two spines and nine rays. Tail but little forked.Tackle—The same as for salmon or yellow-tail.[Pg 169]CALIFORNIA WHITING OR SAND SUCKER (Menticirrhus undulatus)CALIFORNIA WHITING OR SAND-SUCKER(Menticirrhus undulatus)This species is common to the sand beaches of the Pacific, from Point Conception south to Guaymas, Mexico. It feeds during the larger part of the year in the surf, and is caught from the wharfs or by long casts with heavy sinkers from the beach. The whiting appears on the California coast in two varieties, theundulatusproper and a subspecies which I think has never been classified. At any rate, the difference seems sufficient to entitle it to a subspecies classification, for themouth curves strongly downward, and, therefore, does not extend so far back as the undulatus proper. The tail also differs, in having both upper and lower lobes rounded, instead of the upper being square as in theundulatus.Head, about one-fifth of the entire length; snout, rather pointed, and projecting beyond the mouth; mouth reaching to the center of the eye; small barbel on the lower lip. Dorsal fin, double, the first with from seven to nine spines, the second soft and reaching from the first to within about the length of the head from the tail; pectoral fins near the gills and about the width of the eye below the center of the body; ventral fins, a little behind the pectoral; anal fin under the center of the second dorsal; dorsal fins dark; pectoral, ventral and anal fins, light with darker tips; tail of theundulatusproper, upper lobe square and lower lobe rounded. Back, bluish brown, shading to white on the belly; scales, small. Below the lateral line are a number of small spots forming irregular lines running backward and upward. Size, rarely exceeding eight pounds.The illustration is of the variety that I have referred to as a subspecies.Tackle and Lure—The three-six tackle. Rod to be of wood, consisting of a butt and tip, and to be not shorter than six feet over all; weight of entire rod not to exceed six ounces; butt not to be over twelve inches in length. Line not to exceed standard 6-thread. Lure, sandflies, mussels or clams.[Pg 171]YELLOW-FIN CROAKER (Umbrina roncador)YELLOW-FIN CROKER(Umbrina roncador)The yellow-fin croaker is found in the surf or near it along the sandy beaches from some distance north of Point Conception south to Manzanillo, Mexico, where it is known by the name "corvina con aletas amarillas," or "croaker with yellow fins."Head, about one-fifth the whole length; snout, very blunt, with a small barbel on the lower lip. Dorsal fin double, the first half with seven or eight spines, the longest about two-thirds the length of the head; second half rayed and about two-thirds the height of the first, and reaching to about half the length of the head from the tail; pectoral fins short, and placed close to the gills and a little below the center of the body; ventral fins just below the pectoral and a trifle longer; anal fin, below the center of the second dorsal; tail, nearly square. Back, greenish brown, with a metallic luster and giving a pinkish tinge in some lights; sides, shadingto white on the belly. A few irregular spots on the sides forming faint lines.SPOT-FIN CROAKER(Roncador stearnsi)The spot-fin croaker appears in and near the surf of the Pacific Coast from Point Conception south to Mexico.Roncadoris Spanish and signifies snorer. This species resembles the yellow-fin very closely, but is usually lighter in color and more metallic in appearance. It can always be distinguished from the yellow-fin by the distinct black spots at the base of the pectoral fins.Tackle and Lure—Same as for whiting.THE TUNA CLUB OF CATALINA ISLANDI cannot close these articles on fish and fishing without a few words of commendation of the Tuna Club of Catalina Island. From the very inception of this organization it has striven to encourage the use of light tackle by all anglers. To this end, it has adopted three classes of tackle specifications for the taking of the several kinds of fish found in the waters surrounding its island home, and provided a number of cups and buttons to be awarded each year to anglers who land fishes of certain weights, with such tackle as is prescribed therefore by its rules. This campaign, which it has so energetically urged in behalf of scientific angling, has worked wonders in its section of the Coast. The old methods of landing fish, even of the gamiest quality, by the employment of nothing more than brute force at the end of an unbreakable cable, has almost disappeared in its section, and scientific angling with the lightest possible tackle has taken its place. But the good work of the Tuna Club has not been confined to the boundaries of its own section. Anglers from other sections of the country visiting Catalina, and seeing the additional pleasure derived from the use of light tackle, have become enthusiastic advocates of this more scientific means, and returning to their homes have spread the propaganda there.To the stiff pole and chalk-line fishermen of confirmed habits I have nothing to say. But to the younger generation who have not yet grown grey in the practice of bad habits, I wish to urge upon them the use of the lightest tackle possible, as a means of developing greater skill and deriving greater pleasure from their favorite sport. And this is equally true whether it be a tuna or a trout.Order, ACANTHROPTERI.Family, SCIAENIDAEGenusSpeciesCommon NamesRangeMenticirrhusundulatusleft braceCalifornia whitingor sand suckerleft braceFrom Point Conception south to Guaymas, Mexico.RoncadorstearnsiSpot-fin croakerFrom Point Conception south to Manzanillo, Mexico.UmbrinaroncadorYellow-fin croakerFrom Point Conception south to Manzanillo, Mexico.CygonoscionnobilisWhite sea bassFrom San Francisco south to Coronado Islands.ATTRACTIVE FISHING RESORTSIt is possible that the day may come when man will be so engrossed with the pursuit of the dollar that the call of the wild will no longer quicken the pulsations of his heart. But until that time does come, the wild creatures of nature, whose pursuit affords the most healthful and exhilarating pastime, will continue to lure him to their haunts."To sit on rocks and gaze o'er flood and fell;To slowly trace the forest's shady scene,Where things that own not man's dominion dwell,And mortal feet hath ne'er, or rarely, been,"will long continue to present a charm to all who love the sublimity of the mountains, the beauty of the flower-decked fields, or the awe-inspiring grandeur of the ocean.To draw a bead on the antlered buck; to stop the flight of the gamy quail; to land the denizen of the mountain stream, or troll the ocean's depth for the tuna, the salmon or the yellow-tail, furnishes a pastime whose recollection draws one back again and again to sit on nature's lap and listen to her teachings. The recollection of these pleasures are locked in the treasure vaults of the memory, where the wearings of time can never erase them; for when the once firm step that carried him proudly up the mountain's side shall falter and become a palsied wreck of time, and the eye, dimmed by the accumulated mists of years, shall see clearly, only in retrospect, he will sit by his fire-side in slippered feet, and, gazing down the long vistas of the past, live over and over again in his reveries the pleasures furnished by the forest, the field, the stream and the ocean.Nothing would please me better than to describe herein the many places where, during a residence on the Pacific Coast of more than half a century, I have enjoyed these sports in the fullest degree. But even the merest mention of the almost innumerable hunting grounds and trout streams, and the hundreds of mountain and sea-side resorts, from Washington to Mexico, would, of itself, make a volume of no mean size. I am, therefore, restricted to the mention of only a few of the more attractive places where good sea fishing can be found, coupled with such accommodations and surroundings as appeal to the discriminating pleasure seeker.CATALINA ISLAND.Almost due south of Los Angeles, and about twenty miles from the mainland, is the far-famed island of Catalina.It is still a debatable question whether it was the leaping tuna that made Catalina famous, or whether it was its many attractions, its facilities for sea fishing and its splendid accommodations, that gave the sport of tuna fishing a world-wide reputation.This beautiful island, with its diversified amusements; its grand scenery; its wonderful drives; its surf less sea bathing; its marine views; its perfect equipment for sea fighting, and its splendidly appointed hotel, has made it the Mecca to which the enthusiastic anglers of the world make their regular pilgrimages, for it seems to be the favored habitat of all the game fishes of the ocean, except the salmon and the striped bass.Catalina is the home of the Tuna Club, the greatest fishing organization of the world, with its international membership pledged to the promotion of scientific angling. It is here where the world's records are made, and the greatest feats in landing the fighting monsters of the sea have been achieved.In its variety of game fishes I know of no place to equal it. The leaping tuna, the albacore, the Spanish mackerel, the bonito, the chub mackerel, the white sea bass, the yellow-tail, and the California swordfish, the sensational fighter of the ocean, are all here and ready to give the light tackle angler the most exciting contest of his life.When the angler waits for the tides, he wants some other divertisement to occupy his mind. At Catalina he finds a pastime suitable to every hour, to every fancy, to every mood. He can bathe in its crystal waters; he can stroll along its pebbly beaches or climb its hills in search of wild goats; he can ride through its charming valleys, over its lofty peaks and around the dizzy heights that overlook the ocean; he can increase the elasticity of his step on its tennis courts, or exercise his muscle on its golf links. He can view the ancient relics of a departed people, study the strange and curious forms of ocean life in the extensive aquariums, or comfortably seated in a glass-bottomed boat, marvel at the extravagant splendor of the marine gardens, hundreds of feet below the surface, where sirens sing and mermaids are said to dwell. And, when he has gone the rounds, and longs again for more exciting sport, well—then he can go fishing.[Pg 176]HOTEL DEL MONTEDEL MONTEMonterey Bay is pre-eminently the fishing ground for the Pacific salmon. As these gamy fish seek their spawning grounds, after their four-years' sojourn in unknown waters, they enter Monterey Bay at its southern headland and follow around it at varying distances from the shore. During this season the Hotel Del Monte, with its splendid appointments and scenic beauty, is the favored Mecca of the salmon anglers. Here boats with experienced boatmen, and a good supply of tackle and bait are always to be had. The contour of the peninsula, with its high mountain crest, forming the southern shore of the bay, is such that the strong winds of the open ocean is cut off from the Del Monte side, allowing the waters of this side of the bay to retain that smoothness that makes either boating or fishing a delight. This, too, may have something to do with the feeding habits of the salmon, thereby accounting for the usually large catches made by the guests of the hotel.While the Pacific Coast furnishes fine sport for the angler, both in its fresh and salt waters, with an infinite variety of gamy fishes, salmon fishing must be classed as one of the most satisfying. An angler likes to see his adversary and know with what he is contending. The salmon is a surface fighter, leaping high into the air when he finds himself impaled; and this sight of his beautiful sides, scintillating in the sunlight, quickens the pulsations of the heart of the angler and gives zest to the sport.Each section of the coast has its fish and fishing peculiar to itself; but I care not from what section the expert angler may come, he will enjoy the salmon fishing of Monterey Bay. He will do more; for the Hotel Del Monte is one of the delightful show places of the Pacific Coast. Space will not admit of an enumeration of the many interesting sights here to be seen. There are glimpses of California life a hundred years ago by the side of picturesque golf links and tennis courts. A modern hostelry hid away in the center of a primeval park. A seventeen-mile drive through shady mountain dells and along weirdly beautiful ocean coves and rocky crags. The marine gardens as seen at the bottom of the ocean through glass-bottomed boats. These, and many other interesting relics and inspiring scenes are the side attractions for the salmon angler who visits Del Monte.[Pg 178]FISHING PIER, DEL MARDEL MAR.Del Mar is one of the few beach resorts where the pleasure-seeker can divide his time among the whole range of out-door amusements. The long pleasure wharf and the miles of just that character of beach where the whiting, the croaker, the chub mackerel and the young sea bass love to feed, offer the finest of still fishing. If he is ambitious for a contest with the big fighting fishes of the deeper waters, he can take a boat and soon be floating over the haunts of the yellow-tail, the albacore and the bonito. If he prefers the report of the gun to the music of the reel, a short walk back from the hotel brings him into the country of the game little quail.Again, he can, by a short ride to the ponds and lagoons, change from upland to waterfowl shooting.But the gamut is not yet run; for within easy reach are several mountain streams where he can cast his flies on their waters with good returns. And, if he seeks to pit his cunning and his skill against the watchful deer, a pleasant and interesting ride over a good motor road, takes him into the wilds of the Cuyamaca mountains.But the sportsman in his outings will always think of his comforts as well as his sports, and for those Del Mar has planned with a lavish hand.It is not all of the enjoyment of a good meal to have a choice selection of viands, admirably cooked by an experienced chef, and served in the most approved manner. It is not all of a good night's rest, after the fatigue of a day's sport, to have lain on a downy bed in a richly appointed room. Agreeable service; the affability of the management; the pervading air of welcome; the society of congenial companions; the beauty of the situation; the inspiring views; the charm of the many scenes that each day photographs upon the memory, adds a relish to the menu which no chef can compound, and a restfulness to one's slumber that the ingenuity of no upholsterer can supply. For a part of these delightful adjuncts to one's enjoyment, I am willing to give credit to the excellent taste of the founders of Del Mar. But the beauty of its surroundings, the possibility of its charming individuality, must be credited to those exclusive gifts which nature first bestowed upon it.Del Mar is twenty-two miles from San Diego and 111 from Los Angeles, and can be reached from either of these cities by the Santa Fe railroad, or by a good motor road, distinguished for its many interesting views.[Pg 180]AQUARIUM, VENICEVENICEThat there is but one Venice in America is the verdict of all who have visited this charming sea-side resort. Its oriental architecture, and its numerous canals, on whose surface floats in Italian ease, real Venetian gondolas, give it an atmosphere suggestive of the Mediterranean. But it is not of its Venetian aspect, nor its endless chain of amusements, from its surf and plunge bathing to its rollicking scenic railroad and hair-raising dash through its cavernous rapids, or its hundred or more interesting pastimes for the pleasure seeker, that the attention of the reader is herein directed.It is to those forms of sea life that contribute to his pleasure that his attention is called, for the waters of Venice furnish a wonderful variety of these, as will be seen by a visit to the large aquarium maintained on the pier by the University of Southern California. From the wharfs he can angle for smelt, mackerel and perch, as well as for halibut and other bottom fishes. From the beach, by bait-casting into the surf, he is rewarded with croaker, whiting (erroneously called corbina), and young sea bass, locally known as sea trout.By taking a launch and going out into the open water, his ambition to bring to gaff the larger species of the deeper sea can be gratified with strikes from the tuna, the albacore, the bonito, the mackerel and the yellow-tail that will give him a contest worthy of his metal.These launch trips upon the bosom of the open ocean, are among the chiefest pleasures of our beach resorts, for the angler not only finds keen sport in the landing of these larger fishes, but an exhilarating recreation, restful to the mind and healthful to the body.Then, when his day's sport is over, whether his outing is only for a day, or for the several weeks of his vacation, His comforts are to be considered. In these Venice offers as wide a range as it does in its amusements. At the splendidly appointed Hotel St. Marks he can find the most luxurious accommodations; he can dine at one of its deservedly popular cafes; or, if he wants to spend his vacation in restful quietude with his family, he can take a furnished villa on the bank of one of the canals, hidden away in a wealth of flowers and forest trees, with the sea breeze tempered to a balmy zephyr. To this sequestered home he can bring his fish, fresh from the sea, and broiling them to his particular taste, enjoy the last delight of the angler's day of sport.INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONSDOVES—Mourning Dove,40White-winged Dove,40DUCKS—American Golden-eye,84American Scaup,78Barrow's Golden-eye,90Blue-bill,78Butter-ball,86Canvasback,74Gadwall,56Harlequin,86Mallard,54Pin-tail,66Red-head,76Ring-neck,80Ruddy,82Scoter, White-winged,91Shoveler,68Spoon-bill,68Sprig,66Teal, Blue-winged,64Teal, Cinnamon,62Teal, Green-winged,60Widgeon,58Wire-tail,82Wood Duck,70FISHES—Albacore,155Bass, Small-mouthed, Black,149Bass, Striped,151Bass, White Sea,167Bonito,157Croaker, Yellow-fin,171Mackerel, Chub,161Mackerel, Spanish,159Salmon, Chinook,130Sand-sucker,169Skip-jack,157Swordfish,165Trout, Eastern Brook,145Trout, Rainbow,135Tuna, Leaping,153Whiting, California,169Yellow-tail,163GEESE—Black Brant,104Brown Brant,94Cackling Goose,94Canada Goose,94Emperor Goose,102Honker,94Little White Goose,98Ross Goose,98Speckle-breast,100Snow Goose,98White-cheeked Goose,96White-fronted Goose,100GROUSE—Oregon Ruffed,46Sage Hen,48Sharp-tail,50Sooty,42PHEASANT, Mongolian,36PIGEON, Band-tailed,40QUAIL—Arizona,18Bobwhite, Virginia,28California Valley,14Elegant,22Gambel,18Massena,26Montezuma,26Mountain,10Plumed,10Scaled,20SHORE BIRDS—Avocet,124Curlew, Sickle-bill,117Curlew, Hudsonian,117Dowitcher,111Godwit,115Ibis, White-fronted, Glossy,107Marlin,115Plover, Black-bellied,120Plover, Mountain,122Plover, Ring-neck,122Plover, Snowy,122Snipe, Jack or Wilson,111Snipe, Red-Breasted,111Yellow-legs,113TURKEY, Mexican Wild,32
BONITO (Sarda chilensis)
THE BONITO, OR SKIPJACK
(Sarda chilensis)
To the angler who is not looking for the largest of game, the bonito—known as skipjack to the Catalina anglers—is possibly the most interesting of the ocean game fishes. Its beautiful metallic colors, its rapid movements, and pleasing habit of always fighting on the surface, and rarely, if ever sulking, makes it a most attractive game to the discriminating angler.
The bonito also belongs to theScrombidæfamily, and ranges from Point Conception to Mexico and south through the tropics.
Body, rounded, tapering rapidly to the tail, which is strongly forked, but not so much as the albacore; pectoral fins, short and placed opposite the eye; dorsal fin, double, with saw-like ridges from the second dorsal and the anal fins to the tail, the same as in all of this family. Color, dark blue on the back, with a metallic luster; sides, silvery white, with dark longitudinal lines. Weight, from six to twelve pounds.
Tackle and Lure—The light tackle specifications of the Tuna Club, given for albacore cannot be improved upon for these fish.
[Pg 159]
SPANISH MACKEREL (Scomberomorus concolor)
SPANISH MACKEREL
(Scomberomorus concolor)
This is another of theScrombidæfamily. It ranges north to Monterey Bay, where it makes its appearance in September, remaining until November, when it goes south to the Santa Barbara channel; remaining in these waters and about Catalina Island during most of the winter. This fish is called bonito by many of the Catalina anglers, which is a misnomer, as it is a much slimmer fish than the bonito.
The pectoral fins are small and located a little above the center of the body and close to the gill covers; front dorsal starts just above the base of the pectorals and extend along the back for a distance a little more than the length of the head, and nearly meeting the second dorsal, which is about the same width as its heighth; ventral fins, a little in front of the pectorals and rather small; front of the anal fin under the back of the second dorsal. Back, steel blue; sides, silvery. Oblique lines, of the darker color of the back, runningforward and downward to a little below the lateral line.
Weight, usually from nine to twelve pounds, though they occasionally attain a weight of eighteen pounds.
Tackle and Lure—The same as for the bonito.
CHUB MACKEREL OR GREEN-BACK (Scomber japonicus)
THE CHUB MACKEREL
(Scomber japonicus)
The chub mackerel, the smallest of theScombridæfamily, approaches very closely the true mackerel of the East. It is hard to find a fish of any variety more delicious than a chub mackerel, caught from the yacht and placed on the broiler as soon as it quits flapping. They are occasionally found as far north as Monterey bay, but their real range is from the Santa Barbara channel south. With reasonably light trout tackle they put up a gamy and interesting fight.
Back, bluish green, mottled with irregular darker streaks, some of which pass below the lateral line; first dorsal fin quite high, and about the distance of its height in front of the second dorsal; second dorsal and anal about the same size and nearly opposite each other; tail forked, but not so broadly as the bonito. Weight, from one-half to three pounds.
Tackle and Lure—Trout tackle and spoon will furnish interesting sport. But they will take any lure.
YELLOW-TAIL (Seriola dorsalis)
THE YELLOW-TAIL
(Seriola dorsalis)
The yellow-tail belongs to the familyCarangidæ, the same to which belong the pompanos, and is one of the gamiest of sea fishes. In fact, it is generally said by experts who have fished for all varieties and in all waters, both salt and fresh, that the yellow-tail of Catalina is the gamiest fish, pound for pound, that swims. Whether this be true or not, it is certainly one of the hardest and most persistent fighters found anywhere and furnishes the angler with rod and reel from an hour to two hours of lively sport before he can bring it to gaff. One well-known writer on angling subjects says: "It never knows when it is dead." While the average catch will run from ten to thirty pounds, specimens have been taken weighing sixty-five pounds. It is occasionally met with in Monterey bay, but its range is from the Santa Barbara channel south, where it is caught the larger portion of the year.
Order, ACANTHROPTERI.
Family, SCROMBIDAE
Grayish blue on the back; sides, a dull silver, with a yellowish buff stripe along the lateral line; fins, green,with a strong yellowish tinge; tail, yellowish buff. Scales small, with the head bare, except a small patch on the cheeks. Pectoral fin on a level with the eye and small; ventral under the center of the pectoral; caudal, slim and forked. The dorsal fin is double, the front being very small with spines and the second half more than twice as high; dorsal and anal fins continue in a low membrane to very near the tail. Body, elliptical and very small at the base of the caudal fin.
Tackle and Lure—Same as for salmon or albacore.
CALIFORNIA SWORDFISH (Tetrapturus mitsukuri)
THE CALIFORNIA SWORDFISH
(Tetrapturus mitsukuri)
By many anglers for large and exciting game, the California swordfish is pronounced the king of all game fishes. Certainly they put up a very determined and exciting fight. In size they average about 180 pounds, though one has been taken at Catalina by W. C. Boschen that weighed 355 pounds. When a swordfish is hooked its rushes are desperate, even reckless, and at times dangerous to the angler. In its determined efforts to free itself from the impaling hook, it threshes the waters into foam, repeatedly leaping into the air, where the sunlight scintillating upon the purple of its back and silvery sides adds the charm of color to the excitement of the contest. It is safe to say that there is no fish, either in the salt or fresh waters, that is so constantly on the surface and in the air during its struggles for freedom as is the California swordfish. Thirty, forty and even fifty clean leaps into the sunlight by the one fish have been recorded in its desperate struggle to baffle the skill of the angler.
The snout of the swordfish is continued into a long, sharp bone, which measured from the back of the mouth is about one-fourth of the length of the fish from the mouth to the base of the tail. The under jaw is also a sharp projecting bone about half the length of the sword. The dorsal fin rises sharply from the top of the head to a height nearly equaling the depth of the body, the latter part curving downward and continuing along the back to nearly the center of the body; tail divided into two long, slim forks; second dorsal and anal near the tail and nearly opposite each other; ventral fin below the terminal of the first dorsal; pectoral fins rather long and located close to the gill-covers; two long, slender feelers projecting from the center of the throat just below the base of the pectorals; eye very large and bright dark blue.
Purplish green on the back, with blue perpendicular stripes fading into the silvery sides; fins, dark purple.
Tackle and Lure—Same as for tuna.
THE BLACK SEA BASS, OR JEW-FISH
(Stereolepis gigas)
This monster of the ocean, commonly called jew-fish, seems to be in all respects a gigantic black bass, closely resembling the small-mouthed of the fresh waters, and no further description will be necessary for anyone who may be fortunate enough to land one to know to what species it belongs. In fact, he will know just what he has hooked long before the monster shows himself on the top of the water. This huge black sea bass seems to have a very restricted range, for it is only known from the Coronado Islands to the Farallones. They are very plentiful around Catalina Island, where they are usually taken with hand lines. They can not be called a game fish, though they are now being taken with rod and reel at Catalina and furnish a kind of "heavy-weight" sport for those who like it. One weighing over 436 pounds has been taken on a tuna rod and twenty-one thread line. The writer saw one several years ago that was taken on a hand line that weighed 720 pounds and was over seven feet in length. They are fish of great strength and will tow a boat with ease at a considerable speed.
Tackle—The same as for tuna, with fish bait.
THE BARACUDA
(Sphyraena argentea)
The baracuda is a common fish from San Francisco south to Mexico. In the Santa Barbara channel and about Catalina and San Diego it is largely taken by trolling with light tackle, when it affords really good sport. It is a long, slim fish, reaching three and even three and a half feet in length, the usual catch being from two to two and a half feet in length.
Head long and slender; eye high up on the head and nearly half way between the snout and the back of the gill covers. Pectoral fin just below the lateral line; first dorsal spinous and nearly opposite the ventral; second dorsal about midway between the first and the tail; anal almost directly under the second dorsal.
Bluish brown on the back, grading into white on the belly.
Tackle and Lure—Same as for bonito.
WHITING and CROAKERS
There are three other species of fish which inhabit the surf of the Pacific from Point Conception, south to Mexico, that, while they can not be properly termed game fishes, furnish the angler fine sport because of the gamy fight they make on light tackle. These are the whiting (Menticirrhus undulatus), the spot-fin croaker (Roncador stearnsi) and the yellow-fin croaker (Umbrina roncador). The first of these is known locally by the names of courbina and surf-fish, which are bad misnomers. The name, surf-fish, is given by the ichthyologist to a species of perch, and the courbina belongs to the genusPogoniasand is not found as far north as the California coast. These names should be abandoned by the anglers and the proper English name of whiting used. The word courbina is Italian and means croaker, from the Latin, corvus, crow.
WHITE SEA BASS (Cygonoscion nobilis)
THE WHITE SEA BASS
(Cygonoscion nobilis)
The white sea bass is purely a California species, ranging from the Coronado Islands to about the latitude of San Francisco. They are caught trolling and make a gamy fight on rod and reel. Twenty to forty pound fish are common and they have been caught weighing seventy-five pounds.
Light bluish on the back and white on the sides, with many small specks; dark spot at the base of the pectoral fins. Head, long, with pointed snout, and with the scales of the head running nearly to its end. Dorsal fin double, the first half having ten spines and the latter twenty-one or twenty-two soft rays. Anal with two spines and nine rays. Tail but little forked.
Tackle—The same as for salmon or yellow-tail.
CALIFORNIA WHITING OR SAND SUCKER (Menticirrhus undulatus)
CALIFORNIA WHITING OR SAND-SUCKER
(Menticirrhus undulatus)
This species is common to the sand beaches of the Pacific, from Point Conception south to Guaymas, Mexico. It feeds during the larger part of the year in the surf, and is caught from the wharfs or by long casts with heavy sinkers from the beach. The whiting appears on the California coast in two varieties, theundulatusproper and a subspecies which I think has never been classified. At any rate, the difference seems sufficient to entitle it to a subspecies classification, for themouth curves strongly downward, and, therefore, does not extend so far back as the undulatus proper. The tail also differs, in having both upper and lower lobes rounded, instead of the upper being square as in theundulatus.
Head, about one-fifth of the entire length; snout, rather pointed, and projecting beyond the mouth; mouth reaching to the center of the eye; small barbel on the lower lip. Dorsal fin, double, the first with from seven to nine spines, the second soft and reaching from the first to within about the length of the head from the tail; pectoral fins near the gills and about the width of the eye below the center of the body; ventral fins, a little behind the pectoral; anal fin under the center of the second dorsal; dorsal fins dark; pectoral, ventral and anal fins, light with darker tips; tail of theundulatusproper, upper lobe square and lower lobe rounded. Back, bluish brown, shading to white on the belly; scales, small. Below the lateral line are a number of small spots forming irregular lines running backward and upward. Size, rarely exceeding eight pounds.
The illustration is of the variety that I have referred to as a subspecies.
Tackle and Lure—The three-six tackle. Rod to be of wood, consisting of a butt and tip, and to be not shorter than six feet over all; weight of entire rod not to exceed six ounces; butt not to be over twelve inches in length. Line not to exceed standard 6-thread. Lure, sandflies, mussels or clams.
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YELLOW-FIN CROAKER (Umbrina roncador)
YELLOW-FIN CROKER
(Umbrina roncador)
The yellow-fin croaker is found in the surf or near it along the sandy beaches from some distance north of Point Conception south to Manzanillo, Mexico, where it is known by the name "corvina con aletas amarillas," or "croaker with yellow fins."
Head, about one-fifth the whole length; snout, very blunt, with a small barbel on the lower lip. Dorsal fin double, the first half with seven or eight spines, the longest about two-thirds the length of the head; second half rayed and about two-thirds the height of the first, and reaching to about half the length of the head from the tail; pectoral fins short, and placed close to the gills and a little below the center of the body; ventral fins just below the pectoral and a trifle longer; anal fin, below the center of the second dorsal; tail, nearly square. Back, greenish brown, with a metallic luster and giving a pinkish tinge in some lights; sides, shadingto white on the belly. A few irregular spots on the sides forming faint lines.
SPOT-FIN CROAKER
(Roncador stearnsi)
The spot-fin croaker appears in and near the surf of the Pacific Coast from Point Conception south to Mexico.Roncadoris Spanish and signifies snorer. This species resembles the yellow-fin very closely, but is usually lighter in color and more metallic in appearance. It can always be distinguished from the yellow-fin by the distinct black spots at the base of the pectoral fins.
Tackle and Lure—Same as for whiting.
THE TUNA CLUB OF CATALINA ISLAND
I cannot close these articles on fish and fishing without a few words of commendation of the Tuna Club of Catalina Island. From the very inception of this organization it has striven to encourage the use of light tackle by all anglers. To this end, it has adopted three classes of tackle specifications for the taking of the several kinds of fish found in the waters surrounding its island home, and provided a number of cups and buttons to be awarded each year to anglers who land fishes of certain weights, with such tackle as is prescribed therefore by its rules. This campaign, which it has so energetically urged in behalf of scientific angling, has worked wonders in its section of the Coast. The old methods of landing fish, even of the gamiest quality, by the employment of nothing more than brute force at the end of an unbreakable cable, has almost disappeared in its section, and scientific angling with the lightest possible tackle has taken its place. But the good work of the Tuna Club has not been confined to the boundaries of its own section. Anglers from other sections of the country visiting Catalina, and seeing the additional pleasure derived from the use of light tackle, have become enthusiastic advocates of this more scientific means, and returning to their homes have spread the propaganda there.
To the stiff pole and chalk-line fishermen of confirmed habits I have nothing to say. But to the younger generation who have not yet grown grey in the practice of bad habits, I wish to urge upon them the use of the lightest tackle possible, as a means of developing greater skill and deriving greater pleasure from their favorite sport. And this is equally true whether it be a tuna or a trout.
Order, ACANTHROPTERI.
Family, SCIAENIDAE
ATTRACTIVE FISHING RESORTS
It is possible that the day may come when man will be so engrossed with the pursuit of the dollar that the call of the wild will no longer quicken the pulsations of his heart. But until that time does come, the wild creatures of nature, whose pursuit affords the most healthful and exhilarating pastime, will continue to lure him to their haunts.
"To sit on rocks and gaze o'er flood and fell;To slowly trace the forest's shady scene,Where things that own not man's dominion dwell,And mortal feet hath ne'er, or rarely, been,"
To draw a bead on the antlered buck; to stop the flight of the gamy quail; to land the denizen of the mountain stream, or troll the ocean's depth for the tuna, the salmon or the yellow-tail, furnishes a pastime whose recollection draws one back again and again to sit on nature's lap and listen to her teachings. The recollection of these pleasures are locked in the treasure vaults of the memory, where the wearings of time can never erase them; for when the once firm step that carried him proudly up the mountain's side shall falter and become a palsied wreck of time, and the eye, dimmed by the accumulated mists of years, shall see clearly, only in retrospect, he will sit by his fire-side in slippered feet, and, gazing down the long vistas of the past, live over and over again in his reveries the pleasures furnished by the forest, the field, the stream and the ocean.
Nothing would please me better than to describe herein the many places where, during a residence on the Pacific Coast of more than half a century, I have enjoyed these sports in the fullest degree. But even the merest mention of the almost innumerable hunting grounds and trout streams, and the hundreds of mountain and sea-side resorts, from Washington to Mexico, would, of itself, make a volume of no mean size. I am, therefore, restricted to the mention of only a few of the more attractive places where good sea fishing can be found, coupled with such accommodations and surroundings as appeal to the discriminating pleasure seeker.
CATALINA ISLAND.
Almost due south of Los Angeles, and about twenty miles from the mainland, is the far-famed island of Catalina.
It is still a debatable question whether it was the leaping tuna that made Catalina famous, or whether it was its many attractions, its facilities for sea fishing and its splendid accommodations, that gave the sport of tuna fishing a world-wide reputation.
This beautiful island, with its diversified amusements; its grand scenery; its wonderful drives; its surf less sea bathing; its marine views; its perfect equipment for sea fighting, and its splendidly appointed hotel, has made it the Mecca to which the enthusiastic anglers of the world make their regular pilgrimages, for it seems to be the favored habitat of all the game fishes of the ocean, except the salmon and the striped bass.
Catalina is the home of the Tuna Club, the greatest fishing organization of the world, with its international membership pledged to the promotion of scientific angling. It is here where the world's records are made, and the greatest feats in landing the fighting monsters of the sea have been achieved.
In its variety of game fishes I know of no place to equal it. The leaping tuna, the albacore, the Spanish mackerel, the bonito, the chub mackerel, the white sea bass, the yellow-tail, and the California swordfish, the sensational fighter of the ocean, are all here and ready to give the light tackle angler the most exciting contest of his life.
When the angler waits for the tides, he wants some other divertisement to occupy his mind. At Catalina he finds a pastime suitable to every hour, to every fancy, to every mood. He can bathe in its crystal waters; he can stroll along its pebbly beaches or climb its hills in search of wild goats; he can ride through its charming valleys, over its lofty peaks and around the dizzy heights that overlook the ocean; he can increase the elasticity of his step on its tennis courts, or exercise his muscle on its golf links. He can view the ancient relics of a departed people, study the strange and curious forms of ocean life in the extensive aquariums, or comfortably seated in a glass-bottomed boat, marvel at the extravagant splendor of the marine gardens, hundreds of feet below the surface, where sirens sing and mermaids are said to dwell. And, when he has gone the rounds, and longs again for more exciting sport, well—then he can go fishing.
[Pg 176]
HOTEL DEL MONTE
DEL MONTE
Monterey Bay is pre-eminently the fishing ground for the Pacific salmon. As these gamy fish seek their spawning grounds, after their four-years' sojourn in unknown waters, they enter Monterey Bay at its southern headland and follow around it at varying distances from the shore. During this season the Hotel Del Monte, with its splendid appointments and scenic beauty, is the favored Mecca of the salmon anglers. Here boats with experienced boatmen, and a good supply of tackle and bait are always to be had. The contour of the peninsula, with its high mountain crest, forming the southern shore of the bay, is such that the strong winds of the open ocean is cut off from the Del Monte side, allowing the waters of this side of the bay to retain that smoothness that makes either boating or fishing a delight. This, too, may have something to do with the feeding habits of the salmon, thereby accounting for the usually large catches made by the guests of the hotel.
While the Pacific Coast furnishes fine sport for the angler, both in its fresh and salt waters, with an infinite variety of gamy fishes, salmon fishing must be classed as one of the most satisfying. An angler likes to see his adversary and know with what he is contending. The salmon is a surface fighter, leaping high into the air when he finds himself impaled; and this sight of his beautiful sides, scintillating in the sunlight, quickens the pulsations of the heart of the angler and gives zest to the sport.
Each section of the coast has its fish and fishing peculiar to itself; but I care not from what section the expert angler may come, he will enjoy the salmon fishing of Monterey Bay. He will do more; for the Hotel Del Monte is one of the delightful show places of the Pacific Coast. Space will not admit of an enumeration of the many interesting sights here to be seen. There are glimpses of California life a hundred years ago by the side of picturesque golf links and tennis courts. A modern hostelry hid away in the center of a primeval park. A seventeen-mile drive through shady mountain dells and along weirdly beautiful ocean coves and rocky crags. The marine gardens as seen at the bottom of the ocean through glass-bottomed boats. These, and many other interesting relics and inspiring scenes are the side attractions for the salmon angler who visits Del Monte.
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FISHING PIER, DEL MAR
DEL MAR.
Del Mar is one of the few beach resorts where the pleasure-seeker can divide his time among the whole range of out-door amusements. The long pleasure wharf and the miles of just that character of beach where the whiting, the croaker, the chub mackerel and the young sea bass love to feed, offer the finest of still fishing. If he is ambitious for a contest with the big fighting fishes of the deeper waters, he can take a boat and soon be floating over the haunts of the yellow-tail, the albacore and the bonito. If he prefers the report of the gun to the music of the reel, a short walk back from the hotel brings him into the country of the game little quail.
Again, he can, by a short ride to the ponds and lagoons, change from upland to waterfowl shooting.
But the gamut is not yet run; for within easy reach are several mountain streams where he can cast his flies on their waters with good returns. And, if he seeks to pit his cunning and his skill against the watchful deer, a pleasant and interesting ride over a good motor road, takes him into the wilds of the Cuyamaca mountains.
But the sportsman in his outings will always think of his comforts as well as his sports, and for those Del Mar has planned with a lavish hand.
It is not all of the enjoyment of a good meal to have a choice selection of viands, admirably cooked by an experienced chef, and served in the most approved manner. It is not all of a good night's rest, after the fatigue of a day's sport, to have lain on a downy bed in a richly appointed room. Agreeable service; the affability of the management; the pervading air of welcome; the society of congenial companions; the beauty of the situation; the inspiring views; the charm of the many scenes that each day photographs upon the memory, adds a relish to the menu which no chef can compound, and a restfulness to one's slumber that the ingenuity of no upholsterer can supply. For a part of these delightful adjuncts to one's enjoyment, I am willing to give credit to the excellent taste of the founders of Del Mar. But the beauty of its surroundings, the possibility of its charming individuality, must be credited to those exclusive gifts which nature first bestowed upon it.
Del Mar is twenty-two miles from San Diego and 111 from Los Angeles, and can be reached from either of these cities by the Santa Fe railroad, or by a good motor road, distinguished for its many interesting views.
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AQUARIUM, VENICE
VENICE
That there is but one Venice in America is the verdict of all who have visited this charming sea-side resort. Its oriental architecture, and its numerous canals, on whose surface floats in Italian ease, real Venetian gondolas, give it an atmosphere suggestive of the Mediterranean. But it is not of its Venetian aspect, nor its endless chain of amusements, from its surf and plunge bathing to its rollicking scenic railroad and hair-raising dash through its cavernous rapids, or its hundred or more interesting pastimes for the pleasure seeker, that the attention of the reader is herein directed.
It is to those forms of sea life that contribute to his pleasure that his attention is called, for the waters of Venice furnish a wonderful variety of these, as will be seen by a visit to the large aquarium maintained on the pier by the University of Southern California. From the wharfs he can angle for smelt, mackerel and perch, as well as for halibut and other bottom fishes. From the beach, by bait-casting into the surf, he is rewarded with croaker, whiting (erroneously called corbina), and young sea bass, locally known as sea trout.
By taking a launch and going out into the open water, his ambition to bring to gaff the larger species of the deeper sea can be gratified with strikes from the tuna, the albacore, the bonito, the mackerel and the yellow-tail that will give him a contest worthy of his metal.
These launch trips upon the bosom of the open ocean, are among the chiefest pleasures of our beach resorts, for the angler not only finds keen sport in the landing of these larger fishes, but an exhilarating recreation, restful to the mind and healthful to the body.
Then, when his day's sport is over, whether his outing is only for a day, or for the several weeks of his vacation, His comforts are to be considered. In these Venice offers as wide a range as it does in its amusements. At the splendidly appointed Hotel St. Marks he can find the most luxurious accommodations; he can dine at one of its deservedly popular cafes; or, if he wants to spend his vacation in restful quietude with his family, he can take a furnished villa on the bank of one of the canals, hidden away in a wealth of flowers and forest trees, with the sea breeze tempered to a balmy zephyr. To this sequestered home he can bring his fish, fresh from the sea, and broiling them to his particular taste, enjoy the last delight of the angler's day of sport.
INDEX TO ILLUSTRATIONS