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wrpac00
30-05-2005, 21:19
Can anyone recommend where to do this?

florida4sun
30-05-2005, 21:29
Under bridges down at the keys is just the best. I have fly fished for them and hooked fish 100 - 150lbs. Nothing like like it[msnsmile]. If you need a guide do a search and you will find plenty.

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by wrpac00
Can anyone recommend where to do this?
[/quote]

Ruth
30-05-2005, 21:47
I think Boca Grande is the Tarpon fishing capital of the world. In fact they have just had a tournament there and will hold the world's richest one in July:) This is from this weeks Boca Beacon:


"The week of May 27, 2005


Team 'Spook' wins guides tournament

Give Capt. Nat Italiano a choice between luck and skill, and the winner of the inaugural Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association Invitational Tarpon Tournament readily admits that he'll take the luck.

And as angler Jim Sink was fighting the 108-pounder on Tuesday from the stern of "Spook," Italiano had the right guy in the right place.

"Jim is a very lucky angler, he's not really all that skilled, but he's just lucky," Nat laughed. "I'd rather have luck over skill, I'd rather be lucky than good."

Italiano's team of Sink, Bob Franklin, Howard Franklin and Phil Carroll used their luck - and their skill - to take home the first place prize of more than $38,000 in a tournament that broke the island's big money tournament jinx with 13 fished weighed or released during the two-day event in Boca Grande Pass.

Capt. Lamar Joiner Sr. aboard "Sudden Impact" took second place money of $22,800 with a 100-pound tarpon. Third place went to Capt. Tim Smith aboard "Sundown." In addition to winning the Jay Joiner Memorial Trophy, Smith's team took home $15,200.

There were 33 boats entered in the two-day tournament.

Sink fought the fish for about 45 minutes before it was safely to the boat. "He took his time with him," Italiano said of Sink. "We were very careful."

Italiano said the fish was caught in about 80 feet of water - "the deepest part of the pass" - using a squirrelfish.

"He never jumped, which was probably a good thing," the veteran captain said. "He stayed deep. At first I was thinking it was not that big, but then it pulled down again. That's when I knew we had a decent fish - but not a monster. We didn't know how big it really was, however, until we got it to the boat."

Italiano said a release was never a consideration.

"If it's over 100 pounds, you've got to weigh it in this situation."

After the weight ... came the wait.

With an hour and 40 minutes remaining in the tournament, Team Spook watched the pass and listened to the radio. In the waning moments of the tournament, Italiano sensed his chances fading when Capt. Jimmy Robertson called in a tarpon.

"Everybody and their brother was calling me to say that Jimmy's fish had me beat," Italiano said. "I finally turned off the radio and the cell phone. It's pretty hard to wait."

But Italiano knows about waiting. In 1994 when Italiano won the World's Richest with the same team, he had to wait an entire day - and suffer through 51 fish being caught - before clinching the win.

His luck would hold. Robertson's fish, caught aboard the "Julie Jean," didn't budge the scales beyond 100 pounds.

Sink, he said, is an old friend from Tampa. "I've known him all my life. We went to junior high school together and he's been fishing with me since 1993."

Italiano said the success of the guides tournament bodes well for tarpon fishing and Boca Grande.

"If the fishing remains good for us, certainly the anglers will be excited," he said. "It's nice having a big tournament like this when there are fish in the pass. If you are going to have a tournament, have it when the fish are here."

Italiano said he liked the atmosphere of the event.

"It was relaxed, everyone was happy, there was a lot less pressure and there were more fish," he said. "It felt good to fish in a tournament like that."

Can the guides tournament co-exist with the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce-sponsored World's Richest Tarpon Tournament?

"There is room for both, but if they (the chamber) continue to have the World's Richest in July, this one will put them out of business," the former chamber director said. "I hate to say that."

"They need to get together and have one big tournament."

The awards party was held at the Gasparilla Inn Beach Club with music by the Boca Bande. A VIP boat for t

andrewmckay5
31-05-2005, 00:33
Ruth is right about Boca Grande. I had friends staying our villa just down the road in Rotonda for the last 2 weeks and the father and son are keen fishermen. Found a place in Boca Grande and went out 1 evening for 4 hours. He rang me as they caught 5 fish over 100lbs including 2 over 130lbs.
I am away at the moment but when i get home at the weekend I will post the name of the company.
If you fancy the Boca Grande fishing please post any questions and i will see if my friend can answer them.
andrew

wrpac00
01-06-2005, 20:50
How far is Boca Grande from Orlando?

Ruth
01-06-2005, 22:38
It is about 145 miles, map quest say 2.5 hours but with Wayne driving it is less than that;)

<blockquote id="quote" class="ffs">quote:Originally posted by wrpac00
How far is Boca Grande from Orlando?
[/quote]

wrpac00
02-06-2005, 15:56
Many thanks Ruth, it would certainly take a couple of hours.

andrewmckay5
05-06-2005, 20:57
Recommended for fishing from Boca Grand: Fred Scott, can be found on the Jetty by the Pink Flamingo restaurant