Anglers to go after Florida's most prized gamefish from South Seas
The South Seas Tarpon Tournament will be held again this year on May 22 and will be based at the resort, which is at the north tip of Captiva.
Want to test your mettle against some of the best anglers in the world? The South Seas Tarpon Tournament will be held again this year on May 22 and will be based at the South Seas resort, which is at the north tip of Captiva, an upscale coastal barrier island surrounded by world-class fishing. Sponsored by the Lee County Bar Association, the tarpon tournament falls during the middle of the migratory tarpon season.
A legendary gamefish first landed on fishing gear near Sanibel about a century ago, tarpon are big, aggressive, strong, fast swimmers that have a lung-like organ. Tarpon are fish that breathe air, and they use this evolutionary advantage in low oxygen situations. More: Bashed by Ian, South Seas holds official grand reopening just in time for hurricane season They are perhaps the most prized gamefish in Florida and can reach 6-feet and weigh more than 200 pounds.
Known for their ancient athleticism, tarpon often make explosive leaps from the water and are notoriously difficult to land. Tarpon tough to catch, rewarding on the line Their mouths are hard, almost bone-like, and they seem to have a knack for "spitting" out fishing lures. Hook-crushing, line-stripping beasts of the sea, some tarpon live here throughout the year, but your odds of finding and hooking a tarpon increase at this time of year because there are more fish and they are feeding heavier than during colder winter months.
For more information on the South Seas Tarpon Tournament, click here: South Seas Tarpon Tournament . Chad Gillis is an environment reporter and can be reached by email at cgillis@news-press. com.