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.
[Illustration: FISHING PIER, DEL MAR]