THE CAPTURE OF THE TARPON BY BOD 

 AND REEL* 



My experience has been limited to fishing at Boca Grande, 

 Florida, using small crabs for bait. The method employed is 

 for your motor boat to run up the tide either on the flood or 

 ebb, and to drift with it. 



In May and June the tarpon feed on the blue crabs which 

 come out on the tide from their feeding grounds farther up 

 Cliarlotte Harbor. 



The Tackle 



Some anglers still use "heavy tackle," consisting of a 16 oz. 

 tip and a 24-thread linen line. A greater number now are using 

 lighter tackle, consisting of a tip weighing about 12 oz. or less, 

 and an 18-thread line. A few anglers use the regulation 6-9 

 tackle, but this has not become popular for the angler has 

 very little control of the fish and must allow it to tire itself 

 down in trying to rid itself of the hook. The time required, 

 the extreme skill that is necessary, and the many lines broken, 

 render this method impractical for the angler of ordinary 

 skill or one who wishes to put some force into his work, "We 

 may gain some important lessons from these light tackle ex- 

 perts. I shall not discuss this method for it is simply one of 

 individual choice. I will describe the outfit which I have found 

 suited to my individual needs and taste. I think no rod equals 

 a high-grade split bamboo tip, 5Vo feet long, weighing about 

 12 oz. and made of very flexible cane joined to the regulation 

 length butt composed of any material. A reel with ordinary 

 adjustments for deep sea angling (No. 4/0 in size) and an 18- 

 thread linen line 200 to 300 yards in length should be em- 

 ployed. The reg-ulations of all first-class tarpon clubs allow a 



* The following article was prepared for the third edition by Dr. John A. 

 Gaines, of Tampa. Florida. He has consented to Its reproduction. Dr. Gaines is a 

 tarpon angler of great experience, having caught 855 tarpon. (1986.) His sugges- 

 tions are worthy of careful study. 



