Here One Day, Gone the Next TARPON

By Nick Carter

Just a er daybreak, we bobbed in an anchored ski looking out over a wide, shallow bay. Capt. Scott Burgess sat on the poling platform smoking a cigar and drinking co ee. Jesse Trevathan stood on the casting deck. He wasn’t casting. With line stripped out into the decal-littered stripping bucket in front of him, he held his y—a locally tied (FC)2 Renegade—in his le hand and his rod in his right. He just watched. We all watched, eyes focused on a large patch of sand o the bow that stood out from the grassy bottom around it.

We were looking for tarpon cruising the shallows on their annual westward migration along the Gulf Coast. In this sweet spot on Florida’s Forgotten Coast, they show up in May and are gone by August. e action peaks in June and July, and their massive silver bodies would show clearly in contrast to the sandy bottom.

“ ey follow paths, the same paths, year a er year,” said Burgess. “It’s based on the topography of the bottom as they move in with the tide.”

He had positioned the boat with the bow facing a ridge that rose from 7 feet up to 3 feet deep. When tarpon move in, the tops of such ridges are too shallow for them to cross. e big sh are channeled into the shallows in search of pogies, crabs and other delicacies.

With the trap set, there was nothing to do but wait and talk. Trevathan said tarpon spawn on the new and full moons of summer. For days they evacuate the ats and head o shore.

“I’ve been out here right before the full moon, and I literally saw hundreds of tarpon. ey were doing nothing but chasing tail. ey were daisy chaining all over the place,” Trevathan said. “I went back on the moon, and they were gone.” e daisy chaining Trevathan mentioned, in which sh group up and swim in circles nose to tail, is thought by some to be pre-spawn behavior, a sort of courtship dance. But no spawning takes place during these events. For the most part, scientists don’t really know why tarpon do what they do.

Trevathan and Burgess both have their theories about the movements of these giants. What they know for sure is tarpon show up each summer on the ats and in the passes. Clean water is needed to see them. Seeing them is necessary to present the y. e cast must lead them, but not too much, and the retrieve must intercept the sh at the right angle to incite a strike.

If the sh eats, it takes a hard strip set to drive the hook into a tarpon’s bony mouth. How hard? “As hard as you can,” said Burgess. Even if all goes according to plan, Burgess admitted there’s a less than 50 percent chance of steering a large tarpon boat-side. e power and aerial display of a hooked tarpon are legendary. Sadly, we did not witness it that day.

As the tide turned, the murky water became more dingy. Late in the morning, the call was made to move in search of red sh.

A week later, Burgess sent a text message with an attached photo. It showed a big tarpon, which he estimated to be 135 to 140 pounds, tailthrashing the water just o the tip of his 12-weight rod, which was broken in half.

“40 min ght with a broken rod… she pulled me 2 miles from my anchor.” e text read.

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Beach and Fort l auderdale a reaS

The 2023 Palm Beach International Boat Show (PBIBS) Makes a Splash, Signaling Resounding Success for Years to Come

The annual boat show cruised along the iconic Flagler Drive, bringing global yachting debuts, lively music, renowned culinary experiences, and fun to West Palm Beach

The 2023 Palm Beach International Boat Show, owned by the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County (MIAPBC) and produced by Informa Markets, concluded on Sunday, March 26th. The event saw an impressive turnout in the number of boating enthusiasts, industry professionals, and luxury seekers from around the world making their way to West Palm Beach.

Throughout the show guests were treated to the latest in yacht and superyacht designs, sportfishing boats, cruisers, center consoles, inflatables, and a wide range of marine accessories. Among the many highlights were the world premiere of Benetti’s superyacht Calex, as well as product debuts from leading brands in the marine industry. For visitors interested in new electric technology, guests were treated to Ford’s F150 and the Mach-e.

“We are thrilled with the success of this year’s Palm Beach International Boat Show,” said Andrew Doole, President of U.S. Boat Shows with Informa Markets. “The strong attendance and enthusiasm from exhibitors and attendees alike demonstrates the growth and vitality of the marine industry. We look forward to continuing our partnerships with MIAPBC and the City of West Palm Beach, whose collaboration and support has been instrumental to producing this event year after year.”

This year’s show also had a strong presence of marine conservation and sustainability initiatives. Overseen by experts like Hook the Future’s Captain Don Dingman and the Cox Science Center, partners offered guests of all ages with access to informative exhibits and seminars dedicated to educating the public on responsible boating practices and preservation of the ocean and marine life.

“We are proud to have hosted such an exceptional event, which not only provided a platform for marine businesses to connect with customers but also contributed significantly to the local economy,” said Alyssa Freeman, Executive Director of the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County (MIAPBC). “We would like to thank all of our exhibitors, sponsors, and visitors for their support and look forward to welcoming them back in 2024.”

At this year’s show, guests had an exclusive look at the historical gem the Honey Fitz, a prestigious, 93-foot wooden yacht that has been used by five U.S. presidents: Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, and – most notably – President John F. Kennedy. The 92-year-old ship was originally built by Defoe Boat & Motor Works in Bay City, Michigan, in 1931 for Montgomery Ward tycoon Sewell Avery.

In addition to the impressive display of boats, the Palm Beach International Boat Show also featured a variety of seminars, live music, and food and drink offerings, ensuring that attendees had a wellrounded and enjoyable experience.

Coinciding with the Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary (PBM+C) Art Fair, part of Informa Markets’ Art Miami division, the boat show’s Windward Club VIP ticket holders were provided with access to both events, as well a complimentary open bar, gourmet food, complimentary tote bags provided by Douglas Elliman, sponsorship pop-up activations, and lively night events like the NY Concours at Palm Beach Friday night extravaganza. Both events helped bring a world-class, internationally respected group of art galleries and marine enthusiasts to Palm Beach.

A luxurious oasis, the Windward Club offered handcrafted drinks and exclusive tastings provided by show sponsor Diageo, whose ready-to-drink (RTD) line offered drinks from Tanqueray, Ketel One Botanical, and Crown Royal. All boat show attendees had the chance to enjoy a full range of drinks served by Goslings Rum, including the signature Dark and Stormy cocktail. Thanks to LaVictoire Finance, boat attendees who were interested in purchasing a boat or yacht at the show were able to learn more about available financing options through a special activation. OceanPoint Marine Lending, a division of Bank Newport, was this year’s registration sponsor.

Since 1982, the Palm Beach International Boat Show has anchored itself as a pillar for not only the Palm Beach community but also for South Florida. Last year the Palm Beach International Boat Show brought over $1 billion in economic impact to the state of Florida. As one of the most impactful boat shows, the community and attendees look forward to the much anticipated event year round.

Mark your calendars for March 21-24, 2024, and join us for another unforgettable boating experience in beautiful West Palm Beach. For more information about the Palm Beach International Boat Show, visit; www.PBBoatshow.com.

We have quite a diversity of species in our waters right now and May is feasibly the prime month of the YEAR to fish off The Palm Beaches! There are a multitude of factors as to why this is one of the best fishing months of the year. High winds should diminish, and water temperatures will quickly rise a couple degrees to an average of 80°F giving the offshore angler greater opportunities to fill their fish box! The winds this month will primarily blow out of the E/SE quadrant which will trigger some very large pelagics to move closer to our coast. This time of year, will continue to produce a strong mahi mahi bite all the way through June, diminishing when the pelagics start moving further offshore. It’s a good idea for you to pay attention to the dolphin bite taking place off the coast of the FL Keys and Miami-Dade because it will be a good indicator for what you should expect in our waters within a few days’ time.

For the anglers that like to catch smoker kings, there will be a favorable morning bite in general. Typically, king fish can be found in 90 to 120 feet of water from Boynton to Palm Beach Inlet. Trolling spoons or slow trolling live bait with down riggers are the best methods for targeting king mackerel. The blackfin tuna will be abundant too, the waters between The Breakers Hotel and The Lost Tree Club is a well-known hot spot.