13. Let's Go Fishing

Before a fish can bite he, being just like people in this re­spect, has to have something to bite at or on. That's what this chapter is about—bait for fish to bite at, hooks for fish to bite on, leaders they can't bite through. In short, we'll get down to the meat of what this book is all about.

We'll attempt to pinpoint the vital statistics of practically every fish listed in Chapter 12 without repeating information already contained there. If Chapter 12 says, for example, that a fish is caught in Geographical Area Eight, which takes in all of Northern California, Oregon and Washington, we'll now pinpoint that information by saying, perhaps, "north to Point Arena." That means it would be pretty much a waste of time to try and catch him up around Puget Sound.

We'll also use both the most popular names and the Latin names used in Chapter 12, but we'll add to them the col­loquial names, so you'll recognize Mr. Fin by whatever the name he's known by where you live.

Name: Albacore

Latin Name: Germo Alalunga

Regional Names: Long-finned tuna, abrego, long-finned al­bacore.

Size: Averages 15-20 pounds but up to 60.

Range: Sometimes strays as far north as Massachusetts on the East Coast and Washington on the West.

Where: Three miles and more offshore.

How: Trolling.

Natural Bait: Live mullet, sardine, anchovy, balao, herring, saurie. Strip bait.

Lures: Plugs, squid.

Tackle: 6-foot wire leader; 4/0 to 8/0 Siwash, Sobey hooks.

For your information: They hit hard, then run and dive still harder. Taste: Good.

Name: False Albacore

Latin Name: Euthynnus Alleteratus

Regional Names: Atlantic spotted bonito, little tuna, skipjack.

Size: Average 3-5 pounds but up to 22.

Range: Strays north to Massachusetts in July and August.

Where: Travel in huge schools in deep offshore waters.

How: Trolling.

Tackle:   3-foot  wire leader;  2/0 to  6/0  Sobey,  Siwash,

O'Shaughnessy hooks. Natural Bait: Small live fish; strip bait.

Lures: Spoons, plugs, squid. FYI: They love to fight. Taste: Good if bled properly.

Name: Amber jack

Latin Name: Seriola Lalandi

Regional Names: Atlantic amberjack, coronado, great amber-jack, amberfish, salmon, jack.

Size: Average 10-15 pounds but up to 100.

Range: North to Massachusetts.

Where: Offshore reefs.

How: Trolling, drifting, still fishing, liveline.

Tackle: 6-8 foot wire leader; 5/0 to 8/0 O'Shaughnessy, Sproat or Limerick hook.

Natural Bait: Shrimp, crabs; live mullet, grunt, balao; strip bait.

Lures: Large spoons and plugs, feathered jigs.

FYI: A real fighter. You'll lose him in the reefs if you let him get there.

Taste: Fair.

Name: Great Barracuda Latin Name: Sphyraena Barracuda

Regional Names: Barracuda, sea tiger, becune, piccuda, salt­water pike.

Size: Average 5-10 pounds but up to 100.

Range: North to South Carolina.

Where: Offshore reefs and inland bays.

How: Trolling, still fishing, casting.

Tackle: 4-6 foot wire leader; 4/0 to 9/0 O'Shaughnessy or Siwash hook.

Natural Bait: Mullet, squid, almost any live fish; cut bait. Lures: Spoons, plugs, feathered jigs. FYI: A battler and he can cut you up when you land him. Be careful. Taste: So so.

Name: California Barracuda

Latin Name: Spyraena Argentea

Regional Names: Scooter, snake, scoot, barry, log barracuda,
Pacific barracuda.

Size: Average 3-8 pounds but up to 15. Range: Not common north of Monterey. Best San Diego to

Santa Monica.

Where: Offshore mostly but some piers are productive. How: Trolling, jigging, still fishing, casting. Tackle:  12-18 inch wire leader; 1/0 to 3/0 O'Shaughnessy hook.

Lures: Plugs, feathered jigs, metal squid. FYI: Much gentler than his Florida and Gulf cousin. Taste: Some say fair, some say excellent. Decide for yourself.

Name: Black Drum

Latin Name: Pegonias Cromis

Regional Names: Gray drum, sea drum, channel bass, barbed drum, big drum, striped drum, drumfish. Size: Average 3-6 pounds but up to 50. Range: North to New York. Where: Surf, bays, inlets. How:   Surf casting,  still fishing bridges,  drifting shallow, grassy or sandy bottoms.

Tackle: Heavy nylon leader; 1/0 to 8/0 beak hooks. Natural bait: Cut fish, shrimp, oysters, clams, crabs. Lures: Rarely take them.

FYI: A sluggish sort.

Taste: Roe considered a delicacy.

Name: Black Sea Bass

Latin Name: Stereolepis Gigas

Regional Names: Giant sea bass, California sea bass, jewfish, black rockfish.

Size: Average 50 pounds but up to 600.

Range: Most abundant north to Los Angeles.

Where: Rocky bottom and deep water; inshore jetties.

How: Drifting and still fishing the bottom. Occasionally will rise to chum.

Tackle: 6/0 to 9/0 revolving reel, chain leader, 6/0 to 14/0 Sobey or any big game hook.

Natural Bait: Whole dead barracuda, mackerel, mullet, sar­dines; fillets.

FYI: the poor man's big game fish.

Taste: Good steaks.

Name: Bluefish

Latin Name: Pomatomus Saltatrix

Regional Names: Tailor, skipjack, fatback, snapping mackerel.

The babies are called snappers. Size: Average 2-6 pounds but up to 25. Range: Rare in Texas.

Where: Surf, bay and offshore. Snappers in sheltered waters. How: Surf casting, drifting, trolling; float or live line fishing

for the snappers. Tackle:   12-inch wire leader; 4/0 to 9/0  Siwash,  beak,

O'Shaughnessy hooks. For snappers,  2 to  1/0 Carlisle,

Sproat. Natural Bait: Strip bait of menhaden, mullet, any small live bait fish; live shrimp, crabs. For snappers: spearing. Lures: Plugs, feather and cedar jigs, fast spoons, squid. FYI: Terrific fighters. Watch those teeth. Taste: Excellent.

Name: Bonefish

Latin Name: Albuia Vulpes

Regional Names: Banana fish, ten-pounder, ladyfish, macabi,

big-eye, silver-shuttle, mullet, sanducha. Size: Average 2-5 pounds but up to 15. Range: North to San Pedro. Where: Shallow flats and bars. How: Stalk him by wading or in pole boat; casting, still fishing.

Tackle: 9-inch wire leader; 1/0 to 4/0 O'Shaughnessy hooks.

Natural Bait: Live and dead shrimp, hermit crab, sand fleas; conch and crayfish chunks; strip bait. Lures: Plugs, feather jigs, freshwater flies.

FYI: Fast, furious, explosive and contender for the title of world's champion game fish. Taste: Fair but very bony. The way they battle, nobody cares how they taste.

Name: Common Bonito Latin Name: Sarda Sarda

Regional Names: Atlantic bonito, skipjack, bonejack, horse mackerel, green bonito. Size: Averages 3-10 pounds but up to 15. Range: Not too many in the Gulf. Where. Offshore surface citizens. How: Trolling.

Tackle: 6-8 foot wire leaders; 4/0 to 9/0 Siwash, beak hooks. Natural Bait: Strip and chunk bait of menhaden, mullet and other small fish. Live squid. Lures: Spoons, feathered jigs, plugs, squid. Taste: You can do better.

Name: Oceanic Bonito Latin Name: Katsuwonus Velands

Regional Names: Skipjack, Arctic bonito, striped tuna, water­melon, oceanic skipjack, striped bonito, skippy.

Size: Averages 3-6 pounds but up to 42. Range: Sometimes straggles far into Areas 2, 3 and 8.

Where: Open offshore waters, sometimes near inshore reefs. How: Trolling.

Tackle:  Wire leaders; 4/0 to 9/0 O'Shaughnessy, Siwash, beak hooks.

Natural Bait: Live anchovy, sardines, smelt, squid, flying fish, menhaden, mullet; strip bait.

Lures: Spoons, squid, feathered plugs.

FYI: Put up a nice fight. Respond to chum, but what fish doesn't? Taste: So-so.

Name: Bream

Latin Name: Lagodon Rhomboides

Regional Names: Pinfish, hogfish, sailor's choice, yellowtail, brim.
Size: 8 ounces to a pound.

Where: Bays, inlets; like mangroves, pilings and such. How: Still fishing.

Tackle: 1/0 hooks and smaller.

Natural Bait: Wee bits of anything native to salt water.

Lures: None.

FYI: Kids love catching them.

Taste: Kids and grownups like it.

Name: Cabezon

Latin Name: Scorpaenichthys Marmoratus

Regional Names: Bullhead, blue cod, marble sculpin, giant sculpin.

Size: Up to 25 pounds. Range: Best south to San Quentin Bay. Where: Rocky bottom and kelp beds. How: Still fishing or jigging the bottom, drifting. Tackle: 9-12 inch wire leader; 2/0 to 4/0 hook. Natural Bait:  Live bait fish, seaworms, mussels, crawfish, clams, ghost shrimp; strip bait. Lures: Feather jigs.

FYI: Roe must be avoided, it's poisonous. Taste: It's flesh is considered the tops.

Name: Channel Bass

Latin Name: Sciaenops Ocellatus

Regional Names: Red drum, redfish, spot-tail, puppy drum.

Size: Averages 5-20 pounds but up to 80.

Range: New Jersey's Barnegat to Texas' Rio Grande.

Where: Surf, bays, rivers, lagoons.

How: Surf casting, trolling.

Tackle: Nylon or wire leader; 4/0 to 8/0 Sproat or O'Shaughnessy hook.

Natural Bait: Mullet, menhaden, crabs, shrimp, squid. Lures: Squid, plugs, spoons, feather jigs. FYI: He's the King of the Southern Surf and he made Cape

Hatteras famous. Taste: Excellent as befits His Highness.

Name: Cobia

Latin Name: Rachycentron Canadus

Regional Names: Sergeant fish, cabie, lemonfish, ling, coal-fish, snook, remora, black salmon, crabeater.

Size: Averages 15-20 pounds but up to 100.

Range: Roves north to Chesapeake Bay.

Where: Top and bottom offshore; inshore they like to get under things like boats, buoys, bridges, piers.

How: Still fishing, casting, trolling, drifting, live line.

Tackle: Wire or heavy nylon leader; 1/0 to 7/0 hooks.

Natural Bait: Live crab is best, shrimp, small bait fish, squid, strip bait.

Lures: Feather jigs, plugs, spoons.

FYI: Lunge like the fancy fencers they are.

Taste: Good.

Name: Cod

Latin Name: Gadus Callarias

Regional Names: Atlantic cod, grouper, black snapper, com­mon cod.

Size: Average 5-25 pounds but up to 200.

Range: They love the cold but they've been caught off North Carolina.

Where: Deep offshore waters.

How: Sinker bouncing the bottom.

Tackle: Nylon leader; 6/0 to 9/0 Sproat or Limerick but there's a hook made just for cod. Natural Bah: Strip or chunk bait, squid, clams. FYI: They helped give birth to America and gave famous Cape Cod its name. Taste: Excellent anyway you cook it and for breakfast, dinner and supper.

Name: Corbina

Latin Name: Menticirrhus Undulatus

Regional Names: California cobina, whiting, bagre, corvina, surf fish.

Size: 3 to 8 pounds. Where: Sand bottom surf and bays. How:  Surf casting, still fishing. Try jigging the deep bay waters.

Tackle: Nylon leader, 1/0 to 3/0 hook. Natural Baits: Worms, softshell crabs, clams, shrimp, mussels. Lures: Feather jigs. FYI: The Southern California surf fisherman's friend, but he's easily frightened. Taste: Good.

Name: Croaker

Latin Name: Micropogon Undulatus

Regional  Names:   Texas  croaker,  chut,  hardhead,  golden croaker, corvina, roncadina, crocus. Size: Averages a pound but up to 5 pounds. Range: Rare north of Virginia. Where: Surf, shallow waters of bays and bayous, like grassy bottom.

How: Surf casting or sinker bouncing. Tackle: Short nylon leader, 1/0 or 2/0 hooks. Natural Baits: Bits of clam, shrimp, crab, squid, sand fleas, minnows. Lures: None.

FYI: Kids have fun with them. Taste: Good.

Name: Spotfin Croaker

Latin Name: Roncador Stearnsi

Regional Names: Pacific croaker, surf fish, golden croaker, spot, black.

Size: Averages about 2 pounds but up to 10.

Where: Sandy, shallow beaches, bays and sloughs. Work the croaker holes.

How: Surf casting, bottom fishing.

Tackle: Nylon leader, 1/0 to 3/0 hooks.

Natural Baits: Worms, cut clams and crab, mussels, shrimp in shells.

Lures: Not common, but let a small feather jig surprise you.

FYI: Real bantamweight fighters; can be taken in the off-months but not plentifully.

Taste: Excellent.

Name: Yellowfin Croaker

Latin Name: Umbrina Roncador

Regional Names: Surf fish, roncador, yellowtail, golden croaker.

Size: Averages about a pound but up to 5.

Where: Sand bottom surf, bays; like to tarry around old bulk­heads, pilings and such.

How: Surf fishing, bottom fishing.

Tackle: Nylon leaders in the open, wire around obstacles; 1/0 or 2/0 hooks.

Natural Bait: Worms, shrimp, mussels, soft crab, pinheads, strip bait.

Lures: None.

FYI: Fun for children.

Taste: Excellent.

Name: Dolphin

Latin Name: Coryphaena Hippurus

Regional Names:  Durade, dorado, mahimahi—but marine biologists are trying to get the world to stick to just plain "dolphin." Size: Averages 5-6 pounds but up to 60.

Range: Wherever there is warm water and flying fish, lately ranging north to Massachusetts to invade No Mans Land area. Unpredictable in the Pacific; some years they're plenti­ful from Mexico to Canada, other years they remain off Baja California. A hot spot is North Carolina's Diamond Shoals.

Where: Surface offshore waters, in the shade of floating debris and sea grasses.

How: Trolling, still fishing.

Tackle: Wire leaders up to 6 feet; 4/0 to 8/0 hooks.

Natural Baits: Flying fish, balao, mullet, strip bait, live crabs, shrimp, sardines.

Lures: Squid, spoons, plugs.

FYI: Fast and furious fighters, they actually leap and catch flying fish on the fly! As beautiful as a desert sunset.

Taste: Gourmets dine on dolphin, need we say more?

Name: Southern Flounder

Latin Name: Paralichthys Lethostigma

Regional Name: Southern fluke, mud flounder.

Size: Averages 2 pounds but up to 22.

Where: Shallow bays, inlets; offshore in winter.

How: Gigging or spearfishing on dark, calm nights; sinker bouncing.      

Tackle: Nylon leader: 2/0 to 4/0 Carlisle or Sproat hook. Natural Bait: Pieces of shrimp, worms, clams. Lures: None. Taste: Excellent.

Name: Starry Flounder

Latin Name: Platichthys Stellatus

Regional Names: Pacific flounder, great flounder, roughjacket,
emery, grindstone.

Size: Averages 2-5 pounds but up to 20. Range: South to Ensenada.

Where: Shallow water, brackish backwaters, bays, inlets. How: Sinker bouncing.

Tackle: Nylon leader, 1/0 to 3/0 O'Shaughnessy hook. Natural Bait: Pieces of clam, shrimp, worms, crab.

Lures: None.

FYI: Abundant in northern bays.

Taste: Excellent.

Name: Winter Flounder

Latin Name: Pseudopleuronectes Americanus

Regional Names: Flounder, flatfish, sand dab.

Size: Averages 1-2 pounds but up to 5.

Where: Bays, inlets, channels, sloughs, any sheltered inshore water. Never too far from shore. How: Sinker bouncing. Tackle: Nylon leader; long shank 7 to 12 Chestertown hook; use your lightest line. Natural Bait: Bits of worm, mussel, clam. Lures: None. FYI: Leave the drag wide open and their fight will delight you and the kids. Probably more people fish for the flatties than any other fish in American waters. Taste: Stores sell fillets as sole and sole is tops in eating.

Name: Fluke

Latin Name: Paralichthys Dentatus

Regional Names: Summer flounder, plaice, northern flounder, doormat.

Size: Averages 2-5 pounds but up to 26. Range: Rare north of Cape Cod, sometimes straggles south to Florida. Where: Flat, sandy bottoms of all inshore waters. The big boys usually are in the surf.

How: Surf casting, sinker bouncing, but drifting the bottom is best. Tackle: Nylon leader, long shank 2/0 to 6/0 Carlisle or

Sproat hook. Natural Bait: Live killies are best but they'll take worms, eels and shellfish. Their big mouths provide room for big bites. Lures: Feather jigs, spoons, squid, but none of them often. FYI: Always land them with a net or you'll lose them. Taste: Like all flatties—fine.

Name: Greenling; Kelp, Rock and Whitespotted

Latin Name: All belong to Hexagrammos family

Regional Names: Kelp—sea trout, rock trout, bluefish, kelp cod; Rock—Pacific red rock trout, fringed greenling; White spotted—tommy cod, atka mackerel.

Size: 2 to 3 pounds.

Range: Kelp plentiful north of Point Arena; White spotted most abundant in Washington waters; Rock is most abun­dant north of Coos Bay.

Where: Shallow water along coast and sheltered areas. Love the rocks.

How: Still fishing the rocks; sometimes by boat; surf casting.

Tackle: Short wire leader; No. 2 to 4 hooks.

Natural Bait: Worms, strip bait, mussel, shrimp, clam, crab.

FYI: You'll lose them if your hook is too big.

Taste: Kelp Greenling is excellent, others are so-so.

Name: Grunion

Latin Name: Leuresthes Tenuis

Regional Names: Smelt, least smelt.

Size: Small as a smelt.

Range:   North to Monterey but most abundant south of Ventura.

Where: On sandy beaches.

When: By the light of a full moon. July and August are best. How: Catch them by hand and fry them on a beach fire. It's great family fun. FYI: Chief Justice Warren and his family may be cooking on the next fire. Taste: Yum.

Name: Grouper

Latin Name: There are many groupers, all taken in the same warm Florida and Gulf waters—on pretty much the same tackle depending on size—and sometimes ranging up to North Carolina and even to Virginia. They include the garrupa, mycteroperca, epinephelus and promicrops families.

Regional Names: Rock Hind—bind, speckled hind: 2 to 8 pounds. Chart Areas 5, 6.

Red Hind—calico, coney, polka dot; 2 to 6 pounds. Areas 4,5.

Red Grouper—spotted grouper, brown snapper, red bellied snapper; up to 40 pounds. Areas 3, 4, 5, 6.

Nassau Grouper—rockfish, white grouper, gray grouper; up to 50 pounds; Areas 5, 6.

Black Grouper—Warsaw, gray grouper, jewfish. Shallow water species average 5 to 10 pounds, deep water fish go up to 50. Area 6.

Gag—Average 2 to 4 pounds but up to 50. Areas 5, 6.

Yellow and Rock Grouper—Princess Rockfish, bonaci, yellowfin. 1 to 10 pounds. Area 5.

Warsaw Grouper—Black grouper, jewfish, common up to 150 pounds, sometimes up to 600. Areas 5, 6 and North to South Carolina.

Tackle: Anything from your lightest to big game gear. Where: Reefs, piers, bridges, causeways, inshore and offshore. How: Mainly still fishing and sinker bouncing, trolling, jigging. Natural Bait: Live whole finsters and shellfish for the big ones; small bits and strips for the smaller. Lures: Feather jigs, spoons, squid. Taste: Some fair, some good.

Name: California Halibut

Latin Name: Paralichthys Californicus

Regional Names: Chicken halibut, albato, southern halibut.

Size. Averages 5-25 pounds but up to 60.

Range: North to Monterey Bay occasionally.

Where: Shallow and back waters and close-in offshore waters.

How: Bottom fishing, piers, barges, boats. Keep bait moving.

Tackle: Wire leader; 1/0 to 3/0 short shank beak hooks.

Natural Bait:  Anchovy inshore, queenfish oflshore; squid, strip bait.

Lures: Feather jigs. FYI: Try jigging while drifting. Taste: Excellent.

Name: Pacific Halibut

Latin Name: Hippoglossus Stenolepis.

Regional Names: Alabato, northern halibut.

Size: Up to 40 pounds inshore and 500 pounds offshore.

Range: South to Point Arena.

Where: Smaller species in surf and from docks, big boys in up to 500 feet of water. How: Surf casting, bottom fishing, jigging-Tackle: Surf gear inshore, big game gear offshore. Natural Bait: Anchovy, sardine, herring, squid, strip bait. Lures: Feather jigs. FYI: The females are the giants. Taste: Excellent.

Name: Kelp Bass

Latin Name: Paralabrax Clathratus

Regional Names: Cabrilla, rock bass, sand bass, bull bass, calico.

Size. Average 1-5 pounds but up to 20. Range: North to San Francisco, best below Santa Barbara. Where: Around kelp beds, bottom and surface feeders. How: Still fishing from piers and barges. Tackle: Wire or nylon leader; 2 to 1/0 hooks. Natural Bait: Live bait fish is best, particularly queen-fish; shrimp, squid. Lures: Small feather jig. FYI: Protected because of growing scarcity. Stay within the limits laid down by law, throw back any fish smaller than ten inches. Taste: Excellent.

Name: Kingfish

Latin Name: Genyonemus Lineatus

Regional Names:  Tomcod, herring, Glendale trout, shiner, white croaker, king whiting, Tommy Croaker, Pasadena trout.

Size: 1 to 2 pounds. Range: Summer and fall is best around Monterey; winter and spring around Los Angeles; unusual north of San Francisco. Where: Piers are best. Barges. Shallow water, surface feeders. How: Still fishing.

Tackle: Lightest line, any small hook.

Natural Bait: Small cut shrimp, crab, clams, small strip bait.

Lures: A very small plug or spoon.

FYI: The annual sports catch would stretch from Canada to

Mexico and back again. Taste: Fair.

Name: Northern Kingfish

Latin Name: Menticirrhus Saxatilis

Regional Names: Whiting, sea mullet, northern whiting, sea mink.

Size. Averages 1 to 3 pounds but up to 6 pounds. Range: Not too plentiful south of Chesapeake Bay or north of Cape Ann, Mass.

Where: Surf, bays, inlets. How: Surf casting, bottom fishing. Tackle: Nylon leader; 1/0 to 2/0 hooks. Natural Bait: Cut shrimp, sand fleas, cut crab. Lures: None.

FYI: A good surf fish for boys of Andy's age to go after. Taste: The best.

Name: Southern Kingfish

Latin Name: Menticirrhus Americanus

Regional Names:  Whiting,  surf whiting, southern whiting, sand whiting. Catch them and eat them exactly as you do their northern cousins.

Name: Gulf King Whiting Latin Name: Menticirrhus Littoralis Regional Names: Silver whiting, gulf whiting, kingfish. Catch them and eat them exactly as their southern and north­ern kingfish cousins.

Name: Ladyfish Latin Name: Elops Saurus

Regional Names: Tenpounder, bonyfish, tarpon, chiro, skip­jack, bigeye.

Size: Averages 1 to 2 pounds but up to 8.

Range: Sometimes north to Cape Hatteras.

Where: Channel edges, inlets, bays, lagoons, tidal streams.

How: Trolling, still fishing from bridges, piers.

Tackle: Nylon leader; 1/0 hooks.

Natural Bait: Minnows, shrimp, crab, mullet, strip bait

Lures: Feather jigs, plugs, spoons, squid.

FYI: They hit like a junior-size tarpon and then explode.

Taste: Not much.

Name: Ling

Latin Name: Urophycis Chuss

Size: Averages 2-3 pounds but up to 30.

Where: Most abundant off Long Island's South Shore.

How: Bottom fishing in deep offshore waters. Jigging.

Tackle: Nylon leader: 2/0 to 4/0 Sproat, Kirby, O'Shaugh- nessy hook.

Natural Bait: Crab, shrimp, any softshelL Lures: Diamond (mackerel) jig. FYI: Fun for families that go offshore. Taste: Markets sell them as finnan haddie, excellent filleted.

Name: Lingcod

Latin Name: Ophiodon Elongatus

Regional  Names:   Cultus,  bocalao,  skilfish,  leopard cod, greenling.

Size: Averages 5-10 pounds but up to 70. Where: Shallow water north from about Eureka, deep water to the south.

How: Bottom fishing, jigging. Tackle:  Wire leader: 2/0 to 6/0 O'Shaugnnessy, Sproat,

Kirby hook. Natural Bait: Anchovy, herring, sardine, squid, shrimp; strip

bait Taste: Highly regarded.

Name. Mackerel

Latin Name: Scomber Scombrus

Regional Names: Atlantic mackerel, Boston mackerel, com­mon mackerel, spike, tinker.

Size: 1 to 3 pounds.

Range: South to Cape Hatteras; spawn in Cape Cod Bay and Chesapeake Bay.

Where: Not-too-far offshore, bays, inlets. Anywhere from surface to 40 feet down. Some years you'll see them liter­ally by the mile, some years you'll see them hardly at all.

How: Still fishing or drifting to determine depth, sometimes trolling, and when you locate them you'll locate lots of action. A chum line is a must.

Tackle: Long light leader, fingertip line control with drag wide open guarantees a fighting delight: 1/0 Sproat, Chester-town, Kirby hooks.

Natural Bait: Small strip bait of mackerel or menhaden.

Lures: Mackerel jig, small chrome squid.

FYI: The chum whips them into such a feeding frenzy they'll take a bare hook at the start of the action. They get wise after a couple of hours and then you'd better use bait.

Taste: Good.

Name: King Mackerel

Latin Name: Scomberomorus Cavalla

Regional Names: Kingfish, silver coro, black salmon, cavalla.

Size: Averages 8-10 pounds but up to 75.

Where: Small ones inshore shallow waters, piers, jetties; big ones far offshore. From surface down to about 50 feet. How: Trolling, drifting, still fishing the piers and jetties. Tackle: Long wire leader; 4/0 to 7/0 Sproat, Kirby hooks. Natural Baits: Strip bait menhaden, mullet, bonito. Lures: Mackerel and feather jigs, squid, spoons. FYI: Big ones will hit with a 15-foot leap, smaller ones jump according to size. Taste: Excellent.

Name: Pacific Mackerel Latin Name: Pneumatophorus Diego

Regional Names: Greenjack, greenback, zebra, striped mackerel.

Size: Averages 1 to 3 pounds but up to 6.

Range: Sometimes get up to Monterey, but migratory habits are unpredictable. Where:   Shallow offshore waters. Anywhere from surface nearly to bottom. Determine the depth and you'll have a field day.

How: Still fishing, trolling, drifting. Tackle: Long light leader or none at all, finger tip control with drag wide open assures great sport for these schoolies are slashing, dashing speedsters; 1/0 or 2/0 Sproat, Kirby or Chestertown hooks.

Natural Bait: Strip bait of sardine, anchovy, mackerel. Lures: Mackerel jig, small chrome squid. FYI: You'll find them in great schools or not at all. Taste: Good if you bleed them first.

Name: Spanish Mackerel in Atlantic; Sierra in Pacific

Latin Name: Scomberomorus Maculatus

Regional Names: Cero, Sierra, spotted mackerel.

Size: Average about 2 pounds but up to 25.

Range: North to Cape Ann, Mass., and San Quentin Bay,

Calif. Where: Shallow offshore waters, bays, inlets, tidal streams, lagoons, off piers, bridges, causeways, jetties. How: Trolling, drifting, still fishing, surf casting. Tackle: Wire leader; 3/0 to 5/0 Sproat, Kirby hooks. Natural Bait: Shrimp, squid; strip bait: menhaden, mullet,. sardine, anchovy.

Lures: Mackerel jigs, spoons, squid.

FYI: One of the very few fish prevalent on all three coasts. Taste: Excellent

Name: Surf Perch

Latin Name: Amphistichus Argenteus

Regional Names: Barred perch, sand perch, silver perch.

Size: Average 1 pound but up to 4.

Range: North to Cape Flattery, Wash,, but most common below Santa Barbara, Calif. Where: Surf, rocky shores, bays.

How: Surf casting, still fishing the rock holes.

Tackle: Nylon leader; 1/0 hook or smaller.

Natural Bait: Bits of worms, shellfish.

Lures: None.

FYI: Most popular of about 19 species of West Coast perch.

Taste: Good.

Name: White Perch

Latin Name: Morone Americana

Regional Names: Bluenose, gray, black perch.

Size: 1-2 pounds.

Range: Rare north of Cape Cod. Chesapeake Bay area is the cream. Where: Lagoons, rivers, bays, ponds cut off from the sea by sandbars; fresh and brackish waters. How: Float fishing.

Tackle: Light leader; 1/0 hook or smaller. Natural Bait: Live worms, minnows, grass shrimp; crab bits. Lures: Tiny chrome spoons. FYI: Great fun for the youngsters; adults eager to start the year off right line the banks by the thousands when the white perch are running, even though the snow may be flying. Taste: Excellent.

Name: Permit

Latin Name: Trachinotus Goodei

Regional Names: Great Pompano, cobbler, Mexican pompano.

Size: Averages 8-10 pounds but up to 40.

Range: Mostly the Florida Keys.

Where: Offshore reefs, sometimes in surf and shallow water inlets with hard, rocky bottoms. How: Trolling, casting. Tackle: Wire leader; 3/0 to 4/0 hooks. Natural Baits: Live bait fish, crabs, shrimp, crawfish, sand fleas.

Lures: Feather jig, squid, spoons. FYI: Big brother of the fighting pompano, he showed the little fellow how to fight.

Taste: Good.

Name: Pompano

Latin Name: Trachinotus Carolinus

Regional Names: Permit, golden pompano, Carolina permit

Size: Averages 1 to 3 pounds but up to 8.

Range: Abundant in the Gulf, around Florida and to Cape Hatteras.

Where: Cruising the warm-water beaches. Bridges, piers. How: Casting, still fishing, float fishing, sometimes trolling. Tackle: Light leaders, rubber-lined clincher sinker, 2/0 hooks and smaller. Natural Bait: Small live fish, strip bait, shrimp, crabs, sand fleas. Lures: A small diving, darting lure has been developed by pompano men; every pompano area tackle shop has them. FYI: To hook a pompano in the breakers is like hitching a ride on a missile at blastoff time. Hang on and live! Taste: An epicure's delight

Name: Pollack

Latin Name: Pollachius Virens

Regional Names: Pollack, silver cod, harbor pollock, green cod, Boston bluefish, queddy salmon, saithe, sea salmon. Size: Averages 2-3 pounds but up to 25. Range: Sometimes meanders down to Chesapeake Bay. Where: Offshore for the bigger fellows; surf, bays, inlets for the smaller. Any depth from surface to bottom. How: Trolling, sinker bouncing, jigging, surf casting at night. Tackle: Nylon leader; 1/0 to 4/0 hooks inshore, up to 8/0 offshore; Sproat, Limerick, O'Shaughnessy patterns. Natural Bait: Live or strip-cut bait fish, clam, squid. Lures: Plugs, spoons, feather jigs, squid. FYI: Often mistaken for his buddy, the cod. Taste: Good.

Name: Porgy

Latin Name: Stenotomus Chrysops

Regional Names: Fair maid, scup, northern porgy.

Size: 2 to 6 pounds.

Range: From Cape Cod to the Carolinas, where the southern porgy takes over, to the Florida Keys and there you'll find the grass porgy which ranges through Gulf of Mexico waters. Where: Along sandy coastal bottoms, sheltered waters with reefs, pilings, rocks.

How: Casting, still fishing the bottom, trolling. Tackle: Nylon leader; 4 to 2/0 hooks. Natural Baits: Worms, baitfish, shrimp, clams, crabs. Lures: Small spinners. Taste: Excellent.

Name: Rockfish Family

Latin Name: Sebastodes family

Regional Names: Pacific waters teem with 49 species—they comprise about 60 percent of the annual sports catch there —all with a half-dozen or so names. Some of the 49 are: Black rockfish (S. Melanops)—black sea bass, black snapper. Blue rockfish (S. Mystinus)—priestfish, neri, black snapper, blue perch. Vermillion rockfish (S. Miniatus)—red snapper, barracho, rasher.

Boccacio (S. Paucispinis)—salmon grouper. Yellowtail rockfish (S. Flavidus)—gialota, green snapper. Orange rockfish (S. Pinniger)—Canary rockfish, codalarga, bosco, filione.

Quillback rockfish (S. Maliger)—speckled rockfish. Chilipepper (S. Goodei)—red rock. Kelp rockfish (S. Atrevirens)—gopher. Tambor rockfish (S. Ruberrimus)—Cowfish, turkey rock, red snapper.

Cow rockfish (S. Levis)—roosterfish, gallo, chofra. Starry rockfish (S. Constellatus)—spotted rock, scacciatale. Bolina (S. Auriculatus)—sand bass. Gopher rockfish (S. Carnatus)—butterball.

And then there are some that are not in the Sebastodes family at all but still are true rockfish. They include:

Cablefish (Anoplopena Fimbria)—skill, coalfish, candlefish, butterfish. Scorpionfish (Scorpaena guttata)—sculpin.

These are just a few of the highly popular rockfish and here's just one more word on names: just about every rockfish is called some kind of a cod. But a cod and a rockfish aren't related. Size: 1 to 6 pounds inshore, up to 40 pounds offshore. Range: Mexico to Canada, big ones in deep offshore waters, smaller ones in shallow inshore waters. Where: Rocks, kelp beds, bottom feeders. How: Casting, bottom fishing, drifting, trolling, jigging-Tackle: Inshore: Nylon or light wire leaders, 1/0 or 2/0 hooks. Offshore: Heavy duty because of great depths at which they feed. Drop lines or boat rods. Nylon or wire leaders, 4/0 to 9/0 hooks. Bait: Strip and chunk bait, fresh or salt fish such as sardine, anchovy, herring, mackerel, squid, shrimp, mussel, clam. Lures: Spoon for trolling; seldom used but try a feather jig, plug or tinclad and be surprised. FYI: Some—such as the black rockfish—will rise to a trolled lure. Taste: 49 species and all good.

Name: Sanddab

Latin Name: Citharichthys family

Regional Names: The three main fish in this family are:

Pacific Sanddab (C. Sordidus)—soft flounder, megrim, mot­tled sanddab.

Longfin Sanddab (C. Xanthostigma)—soft flounder, catalina.

Speckled Sanddab (C. Stigmaeus).

Size: Averages 1-2 pounds.

Where: Sandy deep-water bottom; the speckled sometimes is caught in fairly shallow water.

How: Drifting or still fishing the bottom.

Tackle: Nylon leader, 4 to 1/0 hooks.

Natural Bait: Strip bait, bits of shrimp.

Taste: Good.

Name: Petrale Sole

Latin Name: Eopsetta Jordani

Regional Names: Jordan's flounder, brill, English sole, Cali­fornia sole.

Size: Up to 8 pounds.

Range: Most plentiful north of Monterey.

Where: Shallow inshore waters, bays, inlets in summer; deep offshore water rest of year. Bottom feeders like all flatfish.

How: Casting, sinker bouncing, drifting.

Tackle: Nylon leader. 1 to 2/0 hooks inshore, up to 4/0 offshore.
Natural Baits: Strip bait, shellfish bits.

FYI: Early European settlers called them "sole" because they reminded the pioneer of home because of their looks and fine flavor. West Coast Chinese salt them and call them "hom yee." Mexicans call them "petrales."

Taste: Whatever language you speak, the word to use is "delicious"!

Name: Chinook Salmon

Latin Name: Oncorhynchus Tschawytscha

Regional Names: Tyee, king salmon, rule, quinnat, spring salmon.

Size: Average 10-45 pounds but up to 100.

Range: Sometimes, but rarely, caught south of Point Con­ception.

Where: Open water, bays, inlets, sounds. Usually near bottom during the day, nearer the surface at dawn and dusk.

How: Mooching, which is a Pacific-perfected cross between trolling and jigging; drifting to determine depth; anchoring and casting with the tide and with strip bait rigged to spin with the retrieve.

Tackle: Wire leader; 2/0 to 6/0 Siwash (salmon) hooks.

Natural Baits: Whole, strip-cut or plug-cut herring.

Lures: Spinners, spoons, jigs, plugs.

FYI: One of the country's top inshore fighting saltwater fish; the South has its snook and tarpon, the East has its striped bass and channel bass and when Horace Greeley said "Go West" he meant for salmon.

Taste: Excellent

Name: Cohoe Salmon

Latin Name: O. Kisutch

Regional Names: Silver salmon, silverside, skowitz, hooknose.
Size: Averages 8 to 12 pounds but up to 30.

FYI: Fish the cohoe the same as you would the Chinook but with no bigger than a 4/0 hook usually. Taste: Excellent.

Name: Atlantic Salmon

Latin Name: Salmo Salar Salar

Regional Names: New England or Maine salmon, Kennebec salmon, silver salmon. Size: Averages 8-15 pounds but up to 50. Range: Only in Maine. Where: A fresh and saltwater fish but caught in clear, open streams at lower ends of pools and edges of eddies or behind rocks.

How: The freshwater flyfishing technique is best Taste: Excellent.

Name: Sea Bass

Latin Name: Centropristes Striatus

Regional Names: Common sea bass, rockbass, bluefish, black-will, hannahill, humpback.

Size: Averages 1-2 pounds but up to 8.

Range: Florida to Cape Cod but sometimes north to Maine.

Where: Close offshore, bays, inlets, tidal rivers and all on the bottom.

How: Sinker bouncing, chum pot is highly helpful.

Tackle: Nylon leader, 1/0 to 4/0 Sproat hooks.

Natural Baits: Cut shrimp, clam, crab.

Lures: Feather jigs, small plugs.

FYI: Children will like catching them; sometimes they're so plentiful you'll wish they'd go away. Very sharp fin, best to use a rag or grab it just under the jaw when unhooking.

Taste: Excellent

Name: Shad

Latin Name: Alosa Sapidissima

Regional Names: American shad, white shad.

Range: In the Pacific, most frequently found in scattered areas north of Point Conception—such as mouths of Co­lumbia and Sacramento Rivers where they were trans­planted from the Atlantic in 1871, two years after the Golden Spike was driven. In the Atlantic, it is taken as far south as the St. Johns River in Florida but is most abundant from North Carolina to Connecticut.

Size: Average 2-5 pounds but up to 12.

Where: Mouths of rivers and bays.

How: Casting from shore or boat.

Tackle: Nylon leader, 2/0 to 3/0 hooks.

Natural Baits: Westerners prefer strip bait and worms, rarely use lures.

Lures: Easterners prefer spinners and feathers and rarely use natural bait.

FYI: Probably one of our most overlooked gamesters but once you've caught one you'll have trouble waiting for spring.

Taste: Its meat is almost as much a delicacy as its roe if you take the trouble to pick around the bones.

Name: Sheepshead

Latin Name: Archosargus Probatocephalus

Regional Names: Sargo, prison fish, convict fish, sea bream.

Size: Averages 1-3 pounds; sometimes up to 6 and rarely up to 20.
Range: Dwindling north of Chesapeake Bay. Where:  Bottom of sheltered waters, around jetties, piers, bridges, piling. How: Sinker bouncing. Tackle: Wire leaders, 1/0 to 4/0 hooks. Natural Baits: Bits of shrimp, clams, crabs, sand fleas. Leave the shell on. Lures: None. Taste: Good.

Name: Sheepshead

Latin Name: Pimelometopon Pulcher

Regional Names:  California Sheepshead, redfish, fathead, humpy.
Size: Average 2-8 pounds but up to 30. Range: North to Monterey. Where: Inshore rocks and kelp beds near bottom. How: Surf casting, still fishing. Tackle: Wire leader, 1/0 to 5/0 O'Shaughnessy, Virginia hooks. Natural Baits: Live anchovy and sardine, shrimp, crabs, clams mussels. Lures: None.

FYI: Watch out for those buck teeth. Taste: Fair.

Name: Smelt

Latin Name: Osmerus Mordax

Regional Names: Winterfish, frostfish. ..

Size: Fraction of a pound.

Range: Primarily a New Englander but can be caught down to the Carolinas. Where: River mouths. How: Still fishing from boat, ice fishing. Tackle: No leader, 10 to 6 hooks. Natural Baits: Bits of worms, clams, shrimp: killies. Lures: None. Taste: Good.

Name: Snapper Family

Latin Name: Lutjanus family

Regional Names: There are dozens of species in Florida and Gulf waters; all respond pretty much to the same baits— or rather vexingly refuse to respond—and are taken on the same tackle; the size of the prey determines the size of the bait and the tackle. Some of the most popular snappers are:

Red Snapper (L. Aya)—Pargo, Pensacola snapper, Caribbean snapper.

Mutton Snapper (L. Analis)—Muttonfish, red snapper, green snapper.

Mangrove Snapper (L. Griseus)—lawyer, pargo, Pensacola, gray snapper.

Schoolmaster (L. Apodus)—Caji, sea lawyer, black snapper, dog snapper.

Lane Snapper (L. Synagris)—redtail, spotted snapper, spot.

Dog Snapper (L. Jocu)—jocu, pargo.

Cubera (L. Cyanopterus)—Cuban snapper.

Size: Inshore snappers run from one to 20 pounds; their off­shore brothers run from five pounds to Cuberas that heft up to 60 pounds and have been taken up to 100.

Where: Big rocks inshore and off, surf and sandy beaches, sloughs, mangrove inlets, jetties, bayous, bays, islands, reefs. All are bottom feeders.

How: Bottom fishing, surf casting, trolling the reefs, drifting the bayous, jigging.

Tackle: Wire leaders, 1/0 to 10/0 hooks.

Natural Baits: Small fish, crabs, worms, crawfish; whole, strip or chunk bait.

Lures: Feather jigs, plugs, spoons, tinclads in the surf.

FYI: Night hours are best. Watch these teeth.

Taste: Excellent

Name: Snook

Latin Name: Centropomus Unidecimalis

Regional Names: Sergeant fish, robale, saltwater pike, brochet

Size: Averages 2-5 pounds but up to 50.

Where: It loves coastal and inland waters, even strays into drainage canals; mangrove banks, bridge and pier pilings, inlets, rocks, flats, jetties. Just about anywhere but your bathtub. Near-surface feeders. How: Still fishing, casting, trolling, drifting, live line. Tackle: Wire leader; 4/0 to 8/0 Siwash hooks. Natural Baits: Small live or strip-cut baitfish; shrimp, crab. Lures: Metal squid, spoons, plugs. FYI: A terrific fighter and protected by Florida law which says only four snook a day and no less than 18 inches long.

Watch out for his sharp edges. Taste: Excellent.

Name: Striped Bass

Latin Name: Roccus Saxatilis

Regional Names: Striper, rockfish, greenhead, squidhound, rock bass.

Size: Averages 2-25 pounds but up to 65-70.

Range: Everywhere except Southern California.

Where: Surf, bays, inlets, tidal rivers as far as 100 miles in­land in Southern waters, channels, marshlands, pilings, jetties. Successfully transplanted from New Jersey to north­ern California waters by rail in 1879.

How: Surf casting, live line fishing, drifting, trolling, jigging.

Tackle: Sturdy nylon leaders, 2/0 to 8/0 O'Shaughnessy or beak hooks.

Natural Baits: Whole worms, live crabs, clams, menhaden, mullet, eels, squid, anchovy, sardine, herring; strip or chunk bait.

Lures: Tinclad squid, spoons, plugs, jigs.

FYI: The most sought after fish in the American surf. Need we say more?

Taste: Excellent.

Name: Tarpon

Latin Name: Tarpon Atlanticus

Regional Names: Sabalo, tarpum, silver flash, silver king, savanilla.

Size: The story books always talk about the 60 to 200 pounders but the most sport for the inshore fisherman comes from the 2 to 10 pounders.

Range: Tarpon have been caught in every state on the At­lantic.

Where: A coastal fish that doesn't mind meandering 100 miles up a fresh water stream just to see the sights. Mangroves, lagoons, bays, inlets, bayous, canals. Play the eddies where two streams merge.

How: Casting, still fishing from bridges, piers, causeways; trolling, drifting, live line and float fishing, jigging.

Tackle: 6- to 9- foot heavy nylon shocker with 1-foot wire leader; 1/0 to 3/0 long shank hooks for the bantam battlers, up to 10/0 for their big brothers.

Natural baits: Tarpon like tidbit-size morsels so cut your chunk or strip bait small; shrimp, crabs, small live bait fish.

Lures: Small jigs, small plugs, small spinners, eelskin trolling rigs.

FYI: Tarpon fishermen, whether they go for the bantams or the bruisers, call them the greatest of all game fishes. No matter what their size they hit like pouncing tigers, they leap like gazelles and they fight like John L. Keep one for mounting if you want a trophy and turn the others back.

Taste: Not good.

Name: Tautog

Latin Name: Tautoga Onitis

Regional Names:  Blackfish, white chin, chub, oyster fish,
black porgy, moll.

Size: Average 2 pounds but up to 20. Range: South to South Carolina. Where: Rocky inshore bottom, jetties, piling, wrecks. Bays, coves, inlets. Deep water bottom in winter. How: Surf casting, bottom fishing. Tackle: Short wire or tarred rope leader; 4 to 6/0 Virginia hook; the larger ones for fishing the surf. Natural Bait:  Sandworms, bloodworms, pieces of shrimp, clams, lobster, crab, mussels, spearing. Lures: None.

FYI: They'll run for the rocks or the wrecks; don't let them. Taste: Excellent.

Name: Tripletail

Latin Name: Lobotes Surinamensis

Regional Names: Chobie, flasher, lumpfish, buoyfish, sea perch,

snag drifter, black grouper. Size: Averages 3-6 pounds but up to 25. Range: West to Louisiana, north to South Carolina and roves sometimes to Texas and Massachusetts.

Where: Surf to 25-fathom waters, shallow river mouths, rocks, wrecks, buoys and such. How: Casting, still fishing the bottom. Tackle: Long wire leader, 2/0 to 6/0 Virginia hooks. Natural Baits:  Strip bait, shrimp, crab, clams, sand fleas, mussels.

Lures: Jigs and plugs but not often. FYI: Chobie isn't plentiful but he's a scrapper. Taste: Some say good, some say excellent.

Name: Pacific Tomcod

Latin Name: Microgadus Proximus

Regional Names: Piciata, tomcod.

Size: 1-2 pounds.

Range: Most plentiful north of Point Arena, California.

Where: Bays, inlets, backwaters on the bottom.

How: Casting, drifting, sinker bouncing.

Tackle: Nylon leader, 1/0 hooks.

Natural Baits: strip bait, worms, clams, shrimp.

Lures: None.

FYI: Fun for youngsters.

Taste: So-so but keep him damp and cool.

Name: Steelhead Trout Latin Name: Salmo Gairneri

Regional Names: Rainbow trout, hardhead, silversides, red-sides, summer salmon, salmon trout. Size: Averages 5-10 pounds but up to 35. Range: Most plentiful north of Point Arena. Where: Surf, river mouths, brackish water. How: Surf casting, drifting, live line fishing. Tackle: Nylon leader, 2/0 to 6/0 hooks. Natural Baits: Strip bait, worms, shrimp. Lures: Light feather jigs. FYI: The lighter the tackle the greater the fun. Taste: Excellent.

Name: Weakfish

Latin Name: Cynoscion family

Regional Names: Atlantic and Gulf fishermen know four weakfish, all with a variety of handles.

Weakfish (C. Regalis)—Shad trout, sea trout, common weak-fish, gray weakfish, tiderunner, gator trout, squeteague, squit, summer trout, sun trout.

Spotted Weakfish (C. Nebulosus)—Southern weakfish, spotted trout, spotted squeteague.

Sand Weakfish (C. Arenarius)—Sea trout, sand trout

Silver Weakfish (C. Nothus)—Silver sea trout.

Size: Weakfish—average 1-5 pounds, up to 17. Spotted—average 3 pounds, up to 15. Sand—average 1 pound, up to 4, Silver—average 1 pound, up to 3.

Where: Surf, bays, inlets, channels, sloughs, river mouths.

How: Surf casting, drifting, live line, jigging, still fishing, trolling, drifting. Chumming is pretty much a must.

Tackle: Nylon leader, 1/0 to 5/0 Aberdeen, beak, Carlisle, O'Shaughnessy, Sproat hooks.

Natural Baits: Small, live minnows, mullet; worms, strip bait, shrimp, clams, soft-shelled crabs, squid, eels.

Lures: Feather jigs, plugs, squid, spoons, spinners.

FYI: When you include their California cousins, the white sea bass, the weakfish is probably the most popular of all saltwater fighting fish. Their range is wide, they like all kinds of water, they fight with the best of them, they're delectable and the only thing weak about them is the name and the delicate mouth.

Taste: Excellent.

Name: White Sea Bass

Latin Name: Cynoscion Nobilis

Regional Names: Sea trout, weakfish, king croaker, white croaker.

Size: Averages 5-25 pounds but up to 80.

Range: Most abundant south of Santa Barbara, least plentiful north of San Francisco.

Where: Surf, shallow banks, inshore kelp beds. Surface feed­ers by night, bottom feeders by day.

How: Surf casting, trolling, drifting, still fishing. Use chum.

Tackle: Wire leader, 3/0 to 9/0 weakfish hooks.

Natural Baits: Live anchovies, sardines, smelt, small mackerel;

strip bait, shrimp. Lures: Feather jigs, squid, spoons.

FYI: The biggest of all the weakfish and they fight that way. Taste: Excellent.

Name: Wahoo

Latin Name: Acanthocybium Solandri

Regional Names: Queenfish, Pete, ocean barracuda, guarapucu.

Size: Averages 15-20 pounds but up to 110. Range: Florida Keys, roams sometimes up to Carolinas. Where: Gulf Stream, outer reefs. Strictly a blue water fish. How: Trolling, outriggers are best. Tackle: 8-10 foot wire leader, 6/0 to 9/0 hooks. Natural Baits: Squid, flying fish, balao, mullet; strip bait Lures: Feathers, spoons, rarely a plug. FYI: A terrific fighter, speedster and jumper, the wahoo will overtake a charter boat and leap over it—from end to end!

Trouble is they aren't plentiful. Taste: Excellent.

Name: Yellowtail

Latin Name: Seriola Dorsalis

Regional Names: Pacific yellowtail, California yellowtail, am-berjack, white salmon.

Size: Averages 7-15 pounds but up to 60.

Where: Offshore and deep channels of bays and coves, surf. Likes rocks and kelp beds.

How: Slow trolling, drifting, live line, still fishing, surf cast­ing. Try chumming.

Tackle: Wire leaders, 4/0 to 8/0 hooks.

Natural Baits: Butterfish, anchovies, sardines, smelt; strip bait, crabs, live shrimp.

Lures: Feathers, spoons, plugs.

FYI: They run and fight with the best of them. Keep your first dangling in the water and others will follow him to the hook. The yellowtail is the California cousin of the southem states' amberjack of the family Seriola. Taste: Swell.

Name: Yellowtail

Latin Name: Ocyurus Chrysurus

Regional Names: Rabirabia, snapper.

Size: 1 to 5 pounds.

Range: He likes the Keys.

Where: Surf, inshore reefs, lagoons, sloughs, shoals.

How: Surf casting, trolling, drifting, still fishing the bottom.

Tackle: Nylon leaders, 1/0,2/0 hooks.

Natural Baits: Cut and strip bait, crabs, shrimp, clams.

Lures: None.

FYI: For his size, he's a fighter.

Taste: Good.

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