Tarpon Tales

Florida's West Coast has been on the international sportfishing stage for more than a decade. The state's place on the world map was established in the spring of 1885 when an angler from New York named W. H. Wood became the first person in history to catch a tarpon on a rod and reel. Word spread quickly and fishermen from all over the world soon traveled to Southwest Florida in search of the silver king of gamefish.

A lot has changed since that golden age of sportfishing, but anglers can step back in time and share in the experience by visiting Tampa's Plant Museum where a new exhibit called Tarpon Tales opens on April 24.

The show, which chronicles the Gulf Coast sport fishing from the late 1800s to the 1930s, runs through Dec. 27. Visitors can sit in a Hemingway-era fighting chair and then marvel at the vintage photographs, mounted fish, rods, Edward vom Hofe reels, lures, tackle, gear, nets and souvenir tarpon scales.

To kick off the exhibit, the museum will host a sportsman's panel which will include master angler Capt. Bill Miller, host of the TV show “Hooked on Fishing.” Tarpon Tales: A Sportsmen’s Panel is scheduled for Friday, April 24th, from 5:30 – 7:00 pm in the Grand Salon of Plant Hall, adjacent to the Museum. No reservations are necessary, but only the first 175 attendees can be seated. For additional information, call Gianna Russo, Curator of Education at 813-258-7304 or write at grusso@ut.edu.

Gag Grouper Season Opens

The recreational season for gag grouper in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico re-opened April 1. Anglers may keep two fish per person within the five-grouper aggregate bag limit.

A pending amendment to the Reef Fish Fishery Management Plan, when implemented, will reduce the aggregate grouper bag limit from five to four and increase the red grouper bag limit from one fish to two fish.

The new rule is expected to go into effect sometime this summer. The minimum recreational size limit for gag is 22” total length, 20” total length for red grouper.

The Gulf of Mexico is warming up and that means the fish will be moving offshore to deeper water. But with the spring here and more stable weather just around the corner, anglers will be making longer runs in search of fish.

With this in mind, be sure to file a "float plan" detailing where you are going and when you will be back. Better safe than sorry.