138 THE TARPON 



disappeared. When tides are erratic owing to storms they may 

 run in or out all day long. But unless the tides are running 

 strong, when the fish are feeding they will bite at almost any 

 stage. Some prefer high or low water slack, or just before or 

 after, but it is my observation that the man who catches the 

 most fish is the one who fishes the most hours. The maxim that 

 one cannot catch many tarpon on the hotel veranda embodies 

 a profound truth. 



The tarpon, like the herring, is a night feeder and as a 

 rule the fishing between sunset and dawn is better than in the 

 daylight. Plankton are on the surface at night and the smaller 

 fry come up to feed on them. This attracts the fish upon which 

 the tarpon feed. I assume this is the main reason why they are 

 more abundant at night. But in the proper season, day fishing 

 is usually good enough to satisfy any reasonable angler. The 

 daylight sport is much better and, incidentally, much safer. 

 One-half the pleasure of this angling is lost if you cannot ob- 

 serve the jumps and maneuvres of the fish. If you wish to 

 follow the most comfortable method, I suggest you fish from 

 a couple of hours before sunset until it is dark and from about 

 four-thirty until eight or nine in the morning. Not only will 

 the beauty of the sunsets and dawns linger in your memory 

 but you will have enough strikes in the proper season to 

 satisfy any reasonable person. If your vacation is a short 

 one, this plan may not be so productive of results. I have 

 followed it for many years with fair success and much 

 pleasure. 



It is believed by most guides and anglers that tarpon fish- 

 ing is better during the full moon periods. I have kept a 

 record of the fishing at Boca Grande for many years. My 

 diaries indicate that it is no better then than at other times. 

 More anglers are present for the full moon fishing and it is 

 natural that more fish would be caught. It is more pleasant to 

 fish at night when there is a full moon. But I am satisfied that 

 the catch per rod is no greater then than at other times during 



