Page:The Pacific Monthly volumes 1-3.djvu/146

 are religiously followed, and it offers a gold medal which is fished for every year and held by the angler taking the largest tuna. The line allowed is a 24-strand, which gives the fish every chance, suggestive of the idea which holds among the members of the Tuna Club which is to protect game fishes and give them every advantage.

Tuna fishing is a popular one at Santa Catalina, which is 3! hours from Los Angeles, and in May, June and July the island is the Mecca of sportsmen from almost every state in the Union. The waters of California teem with game fish. In the south the yellow tail is taken with rod and reel from San Diego to Santa Catalina and beyond to the islands off Santa Barbara. The sea bass and black sea bass are others. The latter is taken at Santa Catalina on rod and reel up to 327 pounds, the record being held by F. V. Rider, secretary of the Tuna Club, who took a fish of this size on 24-strand line in 50 minutes.

The ordinary sea bass is taken all along shore to San Francisco, specimens weighing 75 and 100 pounds having been brought to gaff. San Luis Obispo is a famous place for these gamey fish, while at the mouth of the Santa Inez steelheads tipping the scales at 20 pounds delight the wielder of rod and reel. The variety of game fishes which can be taken along the Pacific shores is remarkable. The salmon comes into Monterey in July and affords great sport to San Franciscoans who go to Santa Cruz and various places along shore and catch the gamey fish in great numbers. This sport has made the harbors and bays of the country along the coast to the north famous in the annals of sport.