124 BOCA GRANDE'S GREAT TARPON FISHING 



Every fish, he says, was played squarely to the finish, without any 

 aid whatever. Only three tarpon out of the twenty-one were gaffed. 

 He says he found a new way to land them, catching hold of the wire 

 snell and bringing their heads up on the sand, when it is possible to 

 take the hook out and let the fish go back into the water. It was this 

 part of the sport that, when in Florida, I liked the least, viz. having to 

 kill every fish and throw it into the gulf; but how Mr. Mygatt did it is 

 easier to say than do. He also speaks of another way, from the boat : 

 as soon as the tarpon is tired and lying near the boat on its side, you 

 play him hard for two or three minutes, and hold his head at every 

 chance flush till he is played out. The guide can then take the hook 

 out, and let the fish go. This must mean a terrific lot of force, I am 

 sure. The guide, in this case, wears a big thick glove on his left hand. 



One day the anglers killed thirty-seven for the two rods ; the physical 

 endurance must be very great, as the heat is overpowering. Previous to 

 this Mr. Mygatt's best day's fishing, in ten hours, was eight fish. The 

 jump to nineteen and twenty-two proves that the Boca Grande is the 

 best place to go, and my reason for writing you is that it has only just 

 been found out. It may interest English owners of yachts who will go 

 there, to know that vessels drawing up to 20 ft. of water can get into 

 the Pass and find good anchorage inside, where there are several square 

 miles of water. Mr. Mygatt, I can say from my own experience, spends 

 a lot of time in hunting for tarpon long before he attempts to fish, and 

 that is the way to go about tarpon fishing. They show themselves if 

 you will search for them. Mr. Mygatt says that strong and stiff rods, of 

 6 ft. 8 in. to 7 ft, are best for killing your fish there. 



Any one reading this must not forget when these bags were made, 

 viz. 15th May to i8th June, including travelling from New York. Later 

 it is hotter, and earlier in the season the fish are not so numerous. 



