The yellow-tail belongs to the family Carangidæ, the same to which belong the pompanos, and is one of the gamiest of sea fishes. In fact, it is generally said by experts who have fished for all varieties and in all waters, both salt and fresh, that the yellow-tail of Catalina is the gamiest fish, pound for pound, that swims. Whether this be true or not, it is certainly one of the hardest and most persistent fighters found anywhere and furnishes the angler with rod and reel from an hour to two hours of lively sport before he can bring it to gaff. One well-known writer on angling subjects says: "It never knows when it is dead." While the average catch will run from ten to thirty pounds, specimens have been taken weighing sixty-five pounds. It is occasionally met with in Monterey bay, but its range is from the Santa Barbara channel south, where it is caught the larger portion of the year.
Order, ACANTHROPTERI.
Family, SCROMBIDAE
| Genus | Species | Common Names | Range | |||
| Thunnus | thynnus | Leaping tuna |  | From Coronado Islands to Monterey Bay. | ||
| Germo | | microptera | Yellow-fin albacore | | Irregular visitors to the waters of Catalina Island and adjacent mainland. | |
| alalunga | Albacore | From Point Conception south. | ||||
| Sarda | chilensis | Bonito | From Santa Barbara south. | |||
| Scomberomorus | concolor | Spanish mackerel | From Monterey Bay south. | |||
| Scomber | japonicus | Chub mackerel | From Point Conception south. | |||
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)