After special screenings at the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium and Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium’s Immersion Cinema in Sarasota, we are pleased to announce the public release of, “Rich History…Priceless Future – the Tarpon

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Check out this spectacular magazine that covers the history, the latest science and economic data coupled with breathtaking photographs that explains why Boca Grande is the “Tarpon Capital of the World”

I was in Boca Grande this past week fishing in The World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament sponsored by the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce and world famous artist Guy Harvey.

The World’s Richest was part of the Tarpon Festival Weekend in Boca Grande that also included a children’s tarpon tournament, a lady’s tarpon tournament, art show and concert….

It was my first time to drive out to Boca and we had a blast! I put the boat in the water at 3 on Saturday afternoon. The pass was full of live bait boats so I hung around them for a while trying to get a general idea of what going on. I didn’t have bait with me so I just watched, trying to pick up on any details that may help us later in the week when the rest of my crew showed up. On the way back to the dock I motored out and picked up a few thread fins with the hope that some fish may show off the beach before dark. They sure did. I spotted a few rolling fish just off the sandbar of Little Pass, positioned my boat in the same way that I was showed by capt. Mark Bennett and it paid off. The first thread got bit and I was tight on a nice 70 lb fish. Catching that first fish was a real confidence booster. Driving back in the side scan picked up on a big tarpon under the bridge between Little Pass and Uncle Henry’s marina where I had rented a slip for the week. The first thread I dropped back in the current got bit and I was tight on my second bigger tarpon of the evening. He pulled out some drag and jumped a few times before throwning the hook. That was the first day….

To the Editor:

This message is to “Professional” Tarpon Tournament Series, Ms. Sheli Sanders, Mr. Joe Mercurio, PTTS Sponsors and participating anglers

Sirs:

This is to inform you that neither I nor the Doc Ford Restaurants will participate as sponsors in any fishing tournament that allows snag-fishing (‘jig fishing’ is the common euphemism) for tarpon or other game fish. Snag-fishing has, justifiably, been banned to protect numerous game fish world wide, and I am, frankly, mystified why the tarpon (among Florida’s most valuable natural resources) has not been granted the same protection by governing state bodies.

As a former Sanibel Island fishing guide, I do not hold participating captains in any way accountable for using whatever means allowable to bring a tarpon to the boat. Their job is to catch fish. If tournament rules allow the use of snag-fishing techniques, a working professional is necessarily obligated to give his clients an equal chance. I also understand that snag-fishing is a boon to film makers and TV producers because snag-fishing all but guarantees that tarpon will be landed. As reprehensible as the technique is, it does provide the sort action demanded by producers of the Jerry Springer ilk…..

Capt. Willie Mills aboard the Tracy Lynn won the 30th anniversary World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament Friday in Boca Grande.

Mills, assisted by team leader Bruce Aikens and anglers Scott Adams and Ken Fry, collected $26,400 for first place with five tarpon caught and released.

“The prize money does not mean nearly as much as winning the Jay Joiner belt buckle means to me,” Mills said. “I have been waiting a very long time to receive this very special award. This is all about Jay Joiner and remembering a great fisherman. “

Capt. Willie Mills aboard the Tracy Lynn won the 30th anniversary World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament Friday in Boca Grande.

Mills was assisted by team leader Bruce Aikens and angler Scott Adams.

“Willie was so excited to receive the Jay Joiner belt buckle he has been trying to get for many years,” reported Merry Beth Ryan of the Gasparilla Gazette. “He was truly happy.

“World’s Richest” Tarpon Tournament
“All–Release, No-Weigh, No-Kill” Tournament 30th Anniversary

Tournament Results

1st Place Winners: Team “Tracy Lynn” won with five tarpon caught and released.
Winning purse: $26,400
Capt. Willie Mills
Team Leader Bruce Aikens
Scott Adams and two other team members
2nd Place Winners: Team “Hey Moma”
Winning purse $15,840
Capt. Wayne Joiner
Team Leader – Alex Shouppe
Preston Hearn
Chris Sanders
Trey Starling
3rd Place Winners: Team “CCM Graphic Solutions” Winning purse: $10,560
They released the last fish caught in the tournament.
Capt. Matt Coleman
Team Leader – Don Cayo
Angler Chuck LeClercq
Angler Bobby Cayo

Congratulations to all our winners!

Possibly 40 crews chasing World’s Richest purse

The long-awaited return of the World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament gains the most attention this weekend as the kingpin of the unprecedented grouping with the Gasparilla Island Kids Classic Saturday and the Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament Sunday.