This past Saturday night, June 2nd, under a plump and luminous full moon, I had the pleasure of being a team mate aboard "Tracy Lynn," Captain Willie Mills' boat. Along with his beautiful wife, daughter, and sister, I made the fourth angler for our team in Gasparilla Outfitters' Ladies Howl at the Moon Tournament! Not a seasoned angler like the other ladies, I was more than nervous competing in this annual event. However, Capt. Mills is always so good natured and fun, I was put at ease.
Right from the beginning of the tournament, fish were being hooked. Large, silver tarpon leaped in the air and danced through the waves. The first fish were caught and released within the first 10 minutes! The pressure was on! On maybe our 3rd drift through the fleet, Monica Clay hooked into a beauty! Capt. Mills scratched off from the rest of the boats, and maneuvered us out of the pack so we were better positioned to fight the fish. She gave us one picturesque leap before she came up to the boat. With leader in hand, she jumped once again near the side of the boat for a fantastic photo opportunity! And just like that, Capt. Mills released her.
A few more drifts, and I had a fantastic bite! Pole bent, I yelled "FISH ON!" and Capt. Mills backed down with the boat. However… Oh, how I hate to admit this… I was so excited, I forgot everything I knew about tarpon fishing… Rule #1: DON'T JERK THE ROD! Damn Damn Damn. In the excitement, I pulled up on the rod and began to reel… Ug. Just as quickly as the fish was on the line, she was off…. In a competition tournament, let me tell you, you don't want to be "that" gal… I was blushing red from embarrassment, and could only slouch down in my seat thinking of the razzing I would receive back at the dock!
However, not a drift or two later, Falon Mills, hooked up with another majestic tarpon. She reeled and reeled, pumped and reeled, but this fish was headed to the bottom. Falon fought the fish for some time – until her arms got too tired to continue – so Auntie Monica, stepped in, took over the rod, and managed to bring that silver king in! With two releases we thought we were sitting pretty!
In a Boca Grande Pass tournament, there are some heavy hitters – Captains that have spent generations on these waters, and whose families were some of the founding members of Boca Grande. Willie Mills is one of them, but so is his brother, Waylon Mills! Not only is tarpon fishing about knowing your area, your gear, your anglers, your boat, and how to present the bait… but sometimes it just comes down to fate! This particular night, Willie's brother was on fire! I think cosmically it also helped them out because his sister in law was celebrating her birthday by fishing the tournament as well! But this night was not ours… Capt. Willie's brother pulled a win out of the air! Bringing in 5 fish within the three hours, the team aboard the "Blaze" won this night's tournament. We certainly put up a good fight until the very end, and had a great time doing it! But we went back to the dock with only two releases.
Once the tournament was over, the razzing began! LoL! I have been threatened with duct tape and asked if I had been drinking…All in good fun, and god knows I deserved it for that big faux pas! We had a great time, and I have an excellent story to put in the ol' memory bank, so it was all worth it! And, to top it off, proceeds from the tournament go to the Island School so win-win-win!
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