MORE ON ZANE GREY
I enjoyed the great article “Revisiting Angling History” by Deborah Hood in the March issue. However, as a 48-year member of the Avalon Tuna Club, I do have one correction.
Respectfully, I would say, we are proud that Zane Grey is part of the Tuna Club’s history. Even so, he was actually asked to leave the club when he refused to apologize to Keith Spaulding’s wife after announcing that there was no way a woman could have caught the swordfish she landed by Tuna Club rules. I recall that her swordfish weighed 327 pounds and that she was a very accomplished angler.
He was a controversial member who pushed the envelope at the time, fishing with coffeegrinder reels and piano-wire leaders, which commonly mutilated his swordfish since they regularly roll up in the leaders.
Steve Bridges Via email