As reprinted from the Boca Beacon: http://bocabeacon.com/news/featured-news/5474-capt-willie-to-the-rescue

BY LIZA STROUT – The chatter started on the marine band radio around sunset last Monday, June 10, just as the tide was falling. There was a report of a kayaker struggling out on the pan in Boca Grande Pass, and he needed some help … quickly … before he headed out into open water.

“It was just about the most bizarre thing I have ever seen,” said Caroline Clark, who was tarpon fishing in the Pass on her boat, Witness. “He didn’t have any lights, and he was definitely struggling. It was getting pretty dark out. The poor guy obviously didn’t have any idea about the dangers of the area.”

The kayaker, who was fighting against outgoing tide in Boca Grande Pass, was lucky that Capt. Willie Mills was coming in from a fishing charter.

Mills was heading in with his customers on the Tracy Lynn, and managed to spot the struggling man.

“We were within 150 yards of him when we spotted him,” said Mills. “There wasn’t much light left, and he was really hard to see. We got him up on the boat and took him and the kayak back to the beach.”

The gentleman, who had been fishing off of the beach, lost his rod and reel (and a nice bonito) to a shark. He jumped in his kayak, hoping to retrieve his rig with a second rod and reel that he had with him.

That’s when things got hairy.

Chief C.W. Blosser, with the Boca Grande Fire Department, cautions against going out into the Pass in an unpowered craft.

“I, personally, would NOT do it,” he said. “It’s rough most of the time. We’ve had to go out there several times to rescue someone who was just exhausted. I’m glad that there was someone out there to save him.”

According to Mills, so was the kayaker.

“He was very happy to get back on the beach,” he said. “I’m just glad we found him. If it had been much darker, there is no way we would have seen him.”

Mills dropped the man off on Gasparilla Island.

“He was a very lucky man,” said Clark. “It was pretty horrifying. It makes you wonder how you can prevent things like this, but there are signs all over the beaches warning people. I’m still pretty amazed. I didn’t see any sign of a life jacket on the kayak with him.”

There is a long history of people underestimating the currents in Boca Grande Pass. All too often, the story ends in death. This time, fortunately, there was a happier ending.

If you ever find yourself caught in a current, whether in a kayak or swimming, you should either move at an angle to the current until you escape it, or float with the current until it dissipates. Fighting against a current, especially one as strong as the tide going through Boca Grande Pass, is a recipe for disaster.

For a change of pace, we took off fishing in Venice Sunday afternoon. With tarpon season in full swing in Boca Grande Pass, we took a break, and headed 15 miles offshore out of Venice Inlet with Captain Chuck Williams. Our goal was Red Grouper and Snapper, but we were just a little excited to experience big open water without a soul in sight!

Aboard Capt. Chuck’s 24’ Robalo, we cut through the Gulf in no time. Leaving the Venice Train Depot docks at 8am, we found the water to be smooth with hardly any swell, and a deep blue color. The 30+ minute trip out, consisted of watching the Venice skyline fade away, and spotting sea turtles and dolphins in the deep water. Around 76’ we started aiming for Capt. Chuck’s prime fishing spots.

The difference in the fishing for grouper up in Venice vs. Boca Grande becomes pretty clear, pretty quickly. Though the beauty of Boca Grande is that you can step foot on the boat, and be in a deep water channel within 10 minutes, the change of venue fishing offshore in Venice makes the longer trip equally worthwhile. What you experience offshore is a much greater since of peace. Much like looking up at the night sky, out in the gulf, when you only see a liquid horizon line for your full 360 degree view, you realize how truly small you are. How insignificant your problems are. How there is a much bigger meaning to life than the day-to-day toil we all go through. When the outboard is turned off and you anchor up, all you hear is the gentle lapping of the waves on the sides of the boat. There is no rustle of leaves, no sounds of other motors, no laughter, no chit chat, just pure, unadulterated silence. There’s a great sense of calm in that.

But, that’s not really what we went out there for was it?! We went to fish, and as intoxicating as it may be way out in the middle of the water, thinking in your head, “How well would I have fared in ‘Life of Pi?’” – you shake it all off, grab a pole, get some cut bait, and get to it!

Captain Chuck has the skill and patience you only find in people that truly love the sport of fishing. Realizing that I know just enough about fishing to do it poorly, Capt. Chuck very patiently, and very clearly explained what we were going after, what bait to use, and how to rig it all up. What I learned with Capt. Chuck can easily be utilized on my self-guided kayak fishing trips in shallower water. And with each piece of information he passed along, the more confident I felt in my ability. He talked about whether or not to set the hook or to let the fish take the bait on its own, how to entice the fish in presenting the bait, how to securely hook a cut piece of squid, and even how to reel up on a smaller snapper so as to not have its airbladder expand. I was well prepared with information and technique when I put my first bait down in the water.

And, BAM! First bait in the water, first line down, I caught my biggest fish of the day! You gotta love that! A beautiful red grouper! It felt like I was fighting a pony! There was a quick nibble nibble, then a big grab that pulled the rod down and kept it down! I pulled and reeled and pulled and reeled for a short fight, but a good one, and soon enough, that signature mouth and rounded fin made an appearance a the surface! A bright red and spotted body, not so thrilled to become dinner, was brought into the boat, quickly de-hooked, and tossed into the ice chest.

The excitement didn’t end there – we had three shark hookups in total – two juvenile bull sharks, and a behemoth nurse shark! The nurse shark was around 8’ and approximately 250lbs – and was brought up by a petite 115lb gal who couldn’t have been more excited! We caught at least a dozen Lane Snapper, a few grunt and a few squirrel fish. The weird things we pulled up included a puffer fish and a lizard fish. All part of the experience!

Though the equipment is the same, the bait similar, and the technique only changed slightly, it feels like a different world offshore. If you’re like me, and have found all that you ever needed in Boca Grande, you might just take the chance to see what you’ve been missing in the surrounding waters offshore! You won’t be disappointed!

Captain Chuck Williams is one of Gulf Coast Charter Broker’s newest team members. He comes with years of experience in Venice & Sarasota waters. His patience, I can’t tout enough. The guide is what makes a fishing trip memorable. The Captain sets the pace and sets the tone of the trip. With Captain Chuck, you’ll find that he can provide an enjoyable experience on the water that you’ll treasure for years! Chuck is available for inshore trips as well around Venice, Nokomis, Osprey, and Sarasota Bay.

More photos here. Follow Gulf Coast Charter Brokers on Facebook!

In having a lively debate with a close friend the other day regarding the PTTS, STT, BGFGA – all the familiar hot-topic initials currently floating around Boca Grande Pass – my live-and-let-jig friend kept demanding the scientific proof that the jig is harming the fishery. Where is the proof that the fish are snagged. Where is the proof that the fish's habits and patterns are changing? Where is the proof that the numbers are lower? And to that, I countered, "Where is the proof that the jigs aren't snagging? Where is the proof that the patterns are the same? Where is the proof that the population is the same?" We came to a stalemate. As I have friends and resources that are long-time area fishermen, so does he. As I have internet articles and commentary against the Boca Grande Jig, he has just as many pro-Jig. Currently, there is no clear cut scientific proof for either side where there is absolute 100% certainty of anything. The problem, it seems to me, is that there is no baseline that has ever been recorded for Boca Grande Pass' Tarpon. All both sides can rely on is hearsay and common sense. And common sense seems to vary in these parts.

In any case, as my friend continued to badger me with "produce the numbers" questions, I finally replied with this: "The issue here is about many factors; the jig, the tarpon, the hostility in the Pass, sportsmanship, ethics, the local economy, outsiders with no vested interest in the island, and many, many other issues too long to list. However, to me, what this whole thing comes down to is watching our Boca Grande history spiraling around the drain."

What I mean by that is that it's our Boca Grande legacy that is under attack. Our fishing heritage, our families' past, our children's futures. We live and work in a pristine environment and community where the one thing that makes it so special is the culture and natural resources we enjoy on Boca Grande. That is what's at stake. We have the Gasparilla Island Conservation District Act of 1980 (Ch 80-473) to protect the island, but nothing in place to protect the waters and the fishery that also make up the natural beauty and allure of Boca Grande. The jig is not the sole issue, but it is the heart of the beast that is trying to destroy our way of life.

Boca Grande is not a city built on manufacturing. There are no factories, no biomedical industries, no technology sectors. For most families that have lived generations on Boca, their income was generated through fishing and tourism. And the primary asset in both of those fields is our local fishery. How on earth, can we simply sit back and let our fishery, which pretty much defines our island culture, become exploited? We've let the fishery go too long without regulation and supervision. And that's what we're looking for now. We're not going to let this resource go without a fight.

We want you to fish in Boca Grande Pass. We want you to know the thrill of catching a tarpon on live bait! But we want you to savor the experience that is Boca Grande, and respect what makes it so special. Let's preserve this special place of future generations. That's what we're asking.

So do we have "numbers?" Perhaps not. But don't let the opposition lead you to believe that we don't have good reason to want the jig banned. We have the history, and we have the passion to fight for what's right.

There are many others who feel the same. Here's another take on the issue of destroying Boca Grande culture – comparing the PTTS and the jig culture to the reality show "Jersey Shore," give it a read.

As reprinted from the Boca Beacon – June 07, 2013

http://bocabeacon.com/news/letters-to-editor/5439#.UbIcwKF_Mns.facebook

To the Editor:

Just when things start to quiet down a bit in Boca Grande, the circus known as the Professional Tarpon Tournament Series (PTTS) rolls into town. When I pick up a paper or turn on the television and see this tournament being glorified and promoted, I get very angry. When I see some of the local media touting the ongoing struggle in Boca Grande to rid ourselves of this scourge as nothing more than locals not wanting to share, I become livid.

Imagine being a resident of the  Jersey Shore when THAT reality show started airing and promoting your neighborhood like they did, then harassing you if you spoke out against it. Gasparilla Island is no    different from any other community.

The residents here created this beautiful community and are responsible to maintain it. Visitors here are just that – visitors, and while all are welcome, they are expected to respect the values and traditions that have made this island what it is. Absent of residents who care deeply about their neighborhood, any developer, retail operation or reality show circus would have the ability to come in and destroy this beauty for their own profit.

Ask anyone who lived on Fort Myers Beach a few years back before the resorts and bars moved in.  

The Boca Grande Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Lee County  states: “The State of Florida recognized that the conservation of the natural beauty, plant, marine, animal and bird life of the islands was in the best interest of the residents and property owners of the islands, the citizens of Lee and Charlotte Counties and the State of Florida, and consequently created the Gasparilla Island Conservation District by enacting the Gasparilla Island Conservation District Act of 1980 (Ch 80-473).”

Lee County and the state of Florida authorized us to preserve and maintain Boca Grande and its surrounding resources to reflect the values and appearance of our community. The PTTS and its affiliates have taken it upon themselves to show the world their version of what Boca Grande is all about and their depiction is dead wrong.

On top of that, they are essentially strip mining a resource for profit and will move on when the fishery is irreparably damaged or completely collapses leaving the island economy in shambles and a natural resource destroyed. We are stewards of the natural resources of our community and we are responsible for how our community is portrayed to the world.

“DJ” Gary Ingman and Joe “The Situation” Mercurio created a “tournament” reality show and have lined their pockets with advertising dollars from it. We have proven their “tournament” rules are bogus. Foul-hooked and dead tarpon are counted as catches, against their own “rules.”

Other anglers in the area are forced out so they can film the NASCAR-style circus they call fishing without anyone else in their camera shots. Millions of people then watch  this sham reality show and think that is what fishing looks like in Boca Grande and we, the community, are left to re-educate the world on ethical techniques and behavior, not to mention clean the beaches up when the dead tarpon wash ashore. Ingman and Mercurio saw a way to make a lot of money off a reality TV show and they jumped on it, without regard for the neighborhood or the fish they were making that money off of. Even their website is pttstv.com. That says a lot to me. It’s all about the TV show.

The PTTS is our “Jersey Shore” reality show and like the actual residents of the Jersey Shore, we want them gone and I make no apologies for it. We sincerely hope the Boca Grande jig will be banned at the June 12th FWC meeting but, given the money made off this tournament, my guess is that Ingman and Mercurio are coming up with a plan B snagging device to circumvent any new rules and keep their cash cow mooing. We will be watching.

Mary Anne Hastings
Boca Grande

All teams entered into the tournament were flying the official flag to help judges identify them in the melee of boats on the water.

The small but delightful village of Boca Grande in Lee County, south west Florida recently played host once more to the "World's Richest" Tarpon Tournament. This annual competition brings interest from anglers across the USA and around the world. Two afternoons of competition chasing the giant tarpon of Boca Grande Pass brought lots of action.

Tarpon or 'the Silver King', are a gamefish of legendary status and draw anglers from all over the world to the locations where they can be found and fished for. There is perhaps nowhere more famous for its concentration of particularly large tarpon of 100lb and more (the largest go over 200lb) than the Boca Grande Pass in south west Florida which divides the south end of Gasparilla Island from its neighbouring State park barrier island of Cayo Costa, providing the main passage into Charlotte Harbour, itself a State Park and huge recreational fishing area.

Pods of rolling tarpon heightened the excitement amongst the crews in Boca Grande Pass

Tournament of Kings

There is a long history of both tarpon fishing and tarpon tournaments in the Boca Grande area dating back to the early 1900's but the modern version that has become known as the World's Richest Tarpon Tournament was started back in the early 1980's by the Boca Grande Club. It was then handed over to the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce in 1991 who gave it the name that has stuck until today. The Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association ran it for about a decade just after the start of the new millenium before the Chamber of Commerce once again picked up the challenge again in 2012.

This educational short film and documentary preview, "Rich History…Priceless Future – the Tarpon of Boca Grande Pass" is presented by The Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce. It was written, produced and edited by Sean Paxton and Brooks Paxton II and made in the USA by Think Out Loud Productions. For more information about this short film and the upcoming full-length feature documentary, please visit: www.BocaGrandeChamber.com and www.ThinkOutLoudProductions.com.

At it's height, the World's Richest Tarpon Tournament certainly lived up to its name and the total purse reached almost $200,000 which attracted anglers from all over the world to compete. Under the guiding hand of Chamber of Commerce Executive Director and passionate angler Lew Hastings, the tournament is once again on the rise and now also includes Tarpon Festival Weekend in downtown Boca Grande which features a fantastic art festival. This weekend includes the Gasparilla Island Kids Classic Tarpon Tournament, where a new generation of young anglers get to taste the experience and the chance to hook up with perhaps the fish of their lifetime.

A Blast in the Pass

Running over two afternoon sessions on a Thursday and Friday, the 30+ assembled teams with their boats and captains joined the throngs of other recreational anglers as well as other boats carrying judges, press and interested onlookers making the Pass look at times like a watery parking lot. The sheer number of boats packed into this relatively small area require 'rules of the road' and when a boat is hooked up, neighbouring boats must be sure to keep out of the way while the hooked-up boat must make an effort to extracate themselves from the masses if they can. Fouled lines and lost fish are never good at the best of times and especially not when thousands of dollars are literally 'on the line'!

Team Sitarah release another fish on their way to third place overall in the 2013 World's Richest Tarpon Tournament

The strong conservation ethics of the tournament and the experience of the local skippers who of course wish to see the fishery stay strong have led to the World's Richest Tarpon Tournament using live bait on circle hooks only. Once hooked up, a judge boat is hailed who heads over to witness the fish and touching of the leader which qualifies as a catch followed by the release which is a quick break off at the side of the boat (the hook will rust and drop out very quickly in the salt water). Fight times are kept to the absolute minimum by the use of strong tackle and manouevering the boat to keep pace with the tarpon. This is very important as the schools of tarpon are shadowed by much larger predators such as bull sharks and giant hammerheads who will happily pick off any tired or worn out fish they come across who are struggling to recover.

Everyone's a Winner!

The rules of the tournament are simple – most tarpon wins with 1st, 2nd a 3rd places up for grabs accompanied by a handsome reward! This year both days saw good numbers of tarpon breezing through and rolling, even right in the middle of all the assembled boats although actually hooking into a fish was harder than it looked it seemed sometimes. However, over the course of the two afternoon fishing periods, there were a few boats whose names started to become more regularly heard over the radio and the standings along with fish caught and released were updated by the tournament crew at regular intervals so everyone knew who they had to beat and how many more tarpon they needed to catch.

Team Jill Marie was just one of many of the tournament boats which caught and released tarpon during the tournament

With the winners ceremony slated for downtown Boca Grande on Friday evening, a last minute flurry of hookups added some extra spice to the dying minutes of the tournament and then it was all over. Boats and crews headed back to the multitude of marinas and docks scattered all around Gasparilla Island and the Boca Grande area, before everyone converged once again in front of the stage erected in the festival area in the heart of town on Park Avenue.

As darkness decended the winners were announced. In third place was Capt. Mark Futch and team Sitarah who took home a cheque for $10,240. In second place was Capt. Waylon Mills and Team Blaze who collected a cheque for $15,360 but top of the podium was a very popular win by Capt. Steve Ahlers and team Spooked Again who netted the winners cheque for $25,600 by catching and releasing 8 tarpon over the 8 hours total fishing time on the Thursday and Friday. Along with the cash prizes, there were handsome winners plaques, championship style rings specially made for the tournament winners and of course for the top team the winners trophy, which not surprisingly is a stunning statue of a leaping tarpon.

2013 World's Richest Tarpon Tournament winners Team Spooked Again with Capt. Steve Ahlers (far right)

The evening was then rounded off in rousing fashion by Nashville recording star Colton James taking to the stage and belting out some music which kept the crowd dancing into the night.

Even though only one team could take the top spot in the World's Richest Tarpon Tournament, thanks to the beautiful south west Florida location, the stunning weather, ocean and beaches plus the other great opportunities for fishing and watersports in and around Charlotte Harbour and the Boca Grande, Fort Myers and Sanibel area, this meant that everyone was a winner!

How to Enter or Find Out More

If you are interested in fishing in next years tournament, contact the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce at +1 941-964-0568 or email WRTarpon@gmail.com. Alternatively keep a watch out for details of the 2014 World's Richest Tarpon Tournament on their website at http://worldsrichesttarpon.com/ 

Things have finally settled down (for the moment) on Boca Grande. With three days of festivities and two days of action packed tarpon fishing, we all needed some time to rest and relax!

The World's Richest Tarpon Tournament, hosted by the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce was a huge success, this second year of its revival! Executive Director, Lew Hastings, and his incredible group of Chamber members, volunteers, and sponsors did a knock out job of putting this tournament together. This tournament is once again the crown jewel of Boca Grande! Bringing traditional and responsible tarpon fishing back in focus to the island water, the WRTT is an exercise in conservation, education, cultural heritage, and community pride! We at Gulf Coast Charter Brokers would like to time to thank all of those who have made this tournament possible from the anglers and captains to organizers! YOU have made this event what it is, and we are proud of the steps you have taken in preserving our area's history as well as its future!

Now… on to the fishing! Over 60 tarpon were caught and successfully released over May 22 & 23. The action was intense with tarpon rolling all around the Pass. The Captains stayed neck and neck in the competition for the majority of the tournament; with the exception of Captain Steve Ahlers aboard Spooked Again! There was a pack of Captains (Willie Mills, Lamar Joiner, Sr., Babe Darna, Matthew Coleman, Charlie Coleman, and Mark Futch) who kept adding to their releases as a group, Steve Ahlers pulled away from them with a total of 8 releases by the end of the tournament! Waylon Mills came in second place with 5 releases, and Third Place (last fish caught) went to Capt. Mark Futch! Up until the very last minute, and then into overtime, the third place winner was not known as three Captains had fish on when the final bell was sounded.

All Captains in the WRTT utilized the LIVE BAIT method of fishing using Pass Crabs and Squirrel Fish these two days. Additionally, the Captains all fished using "Boca Grande Pass Etiquette" in which the boats travel to the top of the Pass to drift through the pods of tarpon, then when they reach the end of the Pass, they travel out of the center, and up the side of the Pass to start the drift again. This way, all anglers and Captains can fish and operate in a safe and organized fashion. The WRTT works closely with the Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association to determine the times and dates of the tournament, as well as the boundaries and rules.

Congratulations to our winning Captains and Anglers! Great job! And thank you again to the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce for your valiant efforts at promoting while preserving this bountiful and treasured fishery!

Gulf Coast Charter Broker Captains Participating in the World's Richest Tarpon Tournament:

• Capt. Lamar Joiner Sr.
• Capt. Willie Mills
• Capt. Matthew Coleman
• Capt. Babe Darna

Learn more about the World's Richest Tarpon Tournament.

See GCCB's photos of the event:

• Day 1
  
• Day 2
  

Well, we are in the thick of tarpon season in Boca Grande, FL. And as it has happened for several years now, the Professional Tarpon Tournament Series (PTTS) has kicked off their six week onslaught against the tarpon and the Boca Grande Pass. Hopefully, this will be their last season, but it's too early to know for sure. If there's one thing we do know, Joe Mercurio, the founder of the PTTS is tenacious and will go down gnarling, swinging, and biting. And that's fine. In a way, you have to admire is perseverance… even if it does seem misguided to us. Make no mistake, we are not fans of Joe, nor of his supporters, nor sponsors, but we do know a cunning adversary when we see one.

Rather than get into the nitty gritty of the goings on between the PTTS and SaveTheTarpon.com, we’ll just direct you to the SaveTheTarpon website and blog where you can read to your heart’s content about the fiasco that has become of our local tarpon season due to the tournament series, bad feelings, and unsportsmanlike techniques. Read all about it here: www.SaveTheTarpon.com

What I wanted to discuss in our forum is more about what we see currently in Boca Grande Pass, and what we see coming down the road. Tarpon fishing is still an incredible experience in Boca Grande. We are world renown for our fishery and the seasonal migration of tarpon through Boca Grande Pass. What the PTTS has brought to our area, is not something we are proud of, nor something we encourage. It is simply something that we are dealing with until we can be rid of it. Supporters of SaveTheTarpon, the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce, and the Boca Grande Fishing Guides, along with thousands of supporters, are working towards legislation that will work towards ending these kill tournaments. By changing the designation of Tarpon in Florida to a Sportfish, to banning the jig as a snagging device in Boca Grande Pass, and trying to stop the “hover drifting” that constantly harasses and stresses the fish, the groups are working to stop what the PTTS calls fishing.

It looks like we’ve got Joe and the PTTS on the ropes; through boycotts of PTTS sponsors, letter writing campaigns, youtube and social media publishing, as well as support from environmentalists, scientists, and FWC commissioners, the method of jig fishing appears to be coming to an end. Mercurio has filed a lawsuit against SaveTheTarpon citing a $500,000.00 loss since the group was formed. Sponsors have been dropping the PTTS like a rotting fish. He has changed his method of determining his tournament winners – from dragging the fish across the pass to a weigh sling, to now attempting to measure the length and girth of the fish boatside to determine its weight. He has changed his tune a bit to imply that the PTTS is about conservation, and that the group brings in an economic boost to the local economy. However, few are buying what he’s selling. The tarpon are still drug around through the Pass, the method of fishing still involves jigs and foul hooking fish, and when the PTTS sought membership with the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce (with all they claim to do for the local economy), the Chamber denied them membership. What does that say? When the local Chamber of Commerce denies your business membership, do you suppose that means they feel you are more of a detriment to the community than a resource? Something to ponder.

In any case, the real conservation groups continue to work towards legislation to end this method and manner of fishing, as well as the tournaments that promote this behavior. It may not end tomorrow, but we know that this battle will not stop until jigs and jig fishing are out of the Pass. We look to states like Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, et al (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snagging) to promote our case, and it looks promising.

So don’t let all the ruckus stop you from considering tarpon fishing in Boca Grande Pass. Currently, we work around the jiggers and do our best to accommodate our clients with a memorable trip. Our morning trips are available, but we discourage going out early in the morning on PTTS tournament weekends as it chaotic and terribly disheartening. Once the jiggers have chased the tarpon out of the Pass with their flats boats and outboards, the jiggers disperse as their method of snag fishing doesn’t work unless the fish are concentrated. Once they leave the area, the tarpon come back to feed, and that’s when we look to take our clients out for a productive, yet, ecologically responsible tarpon trip.

Our guides fish in the traditional, live bait manner of fishing. We do not hover over the fish and chase them to and fro up the hill and back harassing them. Our Captains begin their long drift as the top of the Pass, then coast with the tide down the length of Boca Grande Pass. Bait is presented to the tarpon as the boat floats over the pods, the engine running at a constant level not startling the fish. When a fish takes the bait (squirrel fish, Pass crab, or shrimp), the Captain will guide the fish outside of the Pass so as not to interfere with the other Captains’ drifts. If, however, the drift does not result in a hook up, the Captain takes the boat to the outside of the Pass, and then makes his way back up to the top for another drift. It is a very organized, safe, and responsible way to fish.

GCCB Guides, as well as all Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association members fish with heavy tackle and live bait. Tarpon are caught when the fish bite the bait and crush the bait in their mouth. The fight is roughly 7-15 minutes. Our goal is to give our client the experience of catching the tarpon, but at the same time, imposing only the least amount of stress necessary so that the fish remains healthy and strong. Once the leader reaches the tip of the fishing rod, the Captain or First Mate will remove the leader from the tarpon. The fish is never gaffed, drug, or pulled out of the water so that it has the best chances of survival after the release. (Light tackle results in long, exhausting fights for the tarpon in which the fish becomes tired and often results in death. Between fatigue and potential shark attack, many jigged/snagged tarpon end up washed up on the beach too weak, or too damaged to survive.) As we strive for conservation, we act responsibly in how we sustain this industry.

We will continue to work towards a Boca Grande that is open to all fishermen who believe in conservation of the resource. We will continue to fight for legislation that bans the exploitation of this great fish. And we will continue to uphold our beliefs, our history, and our obligation to Boca Grande and the mighty Silver King.

We look forward to seeing you on the water and we hope that you’ll have the opportunity to experience this great fish in a way that your children and grandchildren may experience them as well!

Tarpon season is in full swing, and with that, come a fantastic round of tournaments! This year, the World's Richest Tarpon Tournament hosted by the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce will be bigger and better than ever! Last year will be hard one to beat, but with Lew Hastings, his very active group of volunteers, and numerous Chamber members, this will be an amazing time – whether you're fishing or not! Again this year, the Chamber has arranged for a phenomenal downtown event full of music, vendors, food, art, and fun! Add to that the excitement of the best tarpon tournament anywhere around, and you've got an incredible time to come down to Boca Grande!

The Chamber's Ladies Day tournament will be held this weekend, but if you can't make it down in May, the Howl at the Moon Ladies' Tournament will be held on June 1st.

Here's the full schedule of this year's events!

And as always, make sure to use our "homegrown" Captains! Members of the Boca Grande Guides Association are all LIVE BAIT fishermen, and Gulf Coast Charter Brokers also ONLY endorses the use of LIVE BAIT to preserve our fishery and these beautiful tarpon! If you're not sure if the Captain you are using practices ethical and responsible sportsmanship, contact the Boca Grande Guides Association to verify his/her membership.

Those big, beautiful, silver kings are back! And in a big way! Our Captains are reporting some great charters where the tarpon are a plenty! We've been having some action-packed days in Boca Grande Pass (as we always do!), and the weather has been wonderful!

Seems like we went from the strange, cold days in March and early April to an immediate summer-time feel in just a few days! We've got 90 degrees, full sun, and a Pass full of fish!

If tarpon aren't your thing, well, we've still got a mess of mackerel out here, reds, and trout as well! We can ensure that you'll have something good to eat for dinner!

Give us a call, we still have availability! 941-405-3474.

Fish on!

If you can't swim there, you might want to give us a call!

Gulf Coast Charter Brokers not only offers the most incredible fishing trips, but we also provide transportation on these beautfiul waterways! Our Captains can provide you, and up to five additional guests a wonderful, relaxing time on the water!

• Take your family out on a sunset cruise
• Have a "Private Beach Day" with your closest girlfriends on a secluded beach
• Go shelling on pristine beaches
• Have lunch with your guests on Cabbage Key
• Bring your camera and spend the afternoon photographing wildlife and nature
• Explore Don Pedro or Palm Island

Boxed lunches and cheese/fruit trays available at an additional charge.

Pleae feel welcome to bring your own wine and other beverages

2 Hour Minimum

$50 per person

Parties of four to six guests

Give us a call and let us know where we can take you!

For those of you supporting the cause – we have made these Tshirts available!

All designs are available on multiple sizes and styles/colors of Tshirts, as well as hats, mugs, etc.

Take a look:

 
http://www.zazzle.com/save_the_tarpon_boca_grande_fl-235877262158978751

 
http://www.zazzle.com/no_jigs-235203895398723726

http://www.zazzle.com/nobody_likes_a_jigger-235220954646784673

  
http://www.zazzle.com/ban_the_profitable_televised_tarpon_slaughter-235358066845626650

 
http://www.zazzle.com/release_them_alive-235483919891578775

http://www.zazzle.com/no_weigh_no_kill-235235556451585007

More to come!