136 THE TARPON 



FISHING PERIOD 



1932 May 15- June 1 



1933 June 23-July 12 



1934 May 24- June 10 



1935 May 16-June 6 



1936 May 30-June 15 



156 98 17 



The days of my arrival and departure are included in the 

 above periods. 



In 1936 I had less than seven full days of fishing. The num- 

 ber of fish lost each year was attributable in part to the fact 

 that I fish a great deal on the beaches where it is difficult to 

 hook the fish. I lost four or five leaders. The lines usually 

 failed because they were cut off by boats or the rocks. Several 

 parted at the knot where the double line was tied or because 

 of an injury received while out of the water by reason of care- 

 lessness. I missed many tarpon strikes where the fish did not 

 jump. The above record was taken from the entries in my 

 diaries made each day at the conclusion of the fishing. 



I usually spend about eighteen days at Boca Grande but on 

 one of these years I stayed three full weeks. One should count 

 out about six days during such a period on account of bad 

 weather when the fishing is poor or impossible. I never fish 

 hard and three or four fish a day contents me even on days 

 when more could be caught. 



I print this record so that anglers unfamiliar with the place 

 may know what to expect. A keen and fairly competent angler 

 who fishes hard can count on doing better. 



Since 1924 probably over 25,000 tarpon have been caught at 

 Captiva and Boca Grande Passes. During the four years prior 

 to 1936 carefully kept records show that 10,331 tarpon were 

 taken at these places. In 1935, 2941 were caught and of this 

 total 1225 were captured in May and 1294 in June. I am in- 



