Last tarpon 'kill' tournament goes to all-release format
The 74-year-old Suncoast Tarpon Roundup, the last "kill" tournament in the country, has decided to move to an all-release format when fishing begins in May.
"It is time to look to the future," said Jason Gell, the St. Petersburg-based tournament's newly elected president. "We have been losing membership. The only way to assure a future is to change the way we run the tournament."
In recent years, the tournament, which runs from May through July, has endured harsh criticism from conservation and environmental groups because it still allowed a nonfood fish -- tarpon -- to be caught and killed for sport.
The 29-year-old Gell, who competed in his first Roundup when he was 5, said tournament anglers will participate in a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission study to evaluate tarpon migration patterns.
"This is a big step for us," he said. "We hope we can convince new people, especially junior anglers, to come out and help us fish for science."
- Terry Tomalin, Times outdoors editor
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Holy Baloney Sandwich!! The Times actually reports on some good news for once!
Posted by: William | February 08, 2008 at 12:00 PM
i think this is interesting because kids could find fish and play with the fish without killing them.
Posted by: John | February 08, 2008 at 12:04 PM
It's bologna not baloney. Kids playing with tarpon not a good idea.Don't call me a wisebutt, she was way ahead of you before I clicked post.
Posted by: | February 08, 2008 at 12:21 PM
How very sad that a 74 year old tournament had to change it's format. Terry, you worked for many years for this to happen, you must be celebrating. You will no longer need to call sponsors to try and discourage them from supporting this great tournament. Now will you need to write untrue, incomplete articles condeming the tournament. This tournament was for the average angler who could not afford to fish Boca Grande, but who still loved the thrill of the hunt and the excitement of winning. Tarpon are not endangered now nor will they ever be NO ONE EATS THEM!!! I for one will never fish this tournament again. There were enough gray areas when we actually weighed in the fish and could see the results - I could probably post the winners right now. How sad.
Posted by: DaBub | February 08, 2008 at 04:47 PM
This is fabulous news. The leadership team at the STR should be commended for making this important decision which is in the best interest of both the STR and the fishery. BRAVO!!!...Mike
p.s. I, for one, will enter the tournament this year in support of this decision.
Posted by: Mike (TampaTarponator) | February 08, 2008 at 06:09 PM
It's about time. Congratulations to Mr. Gell and the other officers for having the brass to break tradition. I believe if done correctly the STR can come back to the status it used to have.
Posted by: John Jones | February 08, 2008 at 06:30 PM
Bye Bye DaBub yahoo good move. I will sign up
Posted by: steve | February 08, 2008 at 06:46 PM
Anybody that want to be on the mailing list.. drop me an email at MissFishhook@aol.com so I can start updating the address book :)
Posted by: Karen W. (Treasurer of STR 2008) | February 08, 2008 at 07:17 PM
welcome to the 2st century!!!!
Dabub, get a grip.
Posted by: TT | February 08, 2008 at 07:42 PM
My scrotum hurts.
Posted by: MULLET NUTZ | February 08, 2008 at 08:08 PM
i smell some thing fishy here oh its just the ex -wife at the door sorry lmao
Posted by: BOB | February 10, 2008 at 12:48 AM