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Last year I missed the boat by 10
minutes, but this year I made sure I was at the dock
in Whidden 's
Marina by 2 p.m. Saturday. I had taken my motion
sickness medication, but was nonetheless wary of the
ride on the choppy waters of Boca Grande Pass.
What a perfect day it was for the 2005
Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament; clear, sunny, with just
a gentle, cool breeze. Just being on the water was a
treat; to be in the same waters with some 46 fishing
teams, was exhilarating.
Cappy Joiner became a charter boat
captain in 1964. His experience in tarpon fishing
added up to several wins in his boat, the Sally J,
including the Ladies Day tourney in 2002 with team
leader, Penny Baumgarten, who was on grand-maternity
leave this tournament. Instead Toni Meierhoff, Ginger
Bergeron and her daughter, Ashley Sweet, took over
fishing duty.
I did not fish, but was there to take
pictures. Ashley, 19, a psychology major at
Stetson University, was the newbie to tarpon
fishing. Cappy patiently showed her the marks on the
line and how to release it when he 'd
give the word. "Let
it out to red mark now,"
he'd
say.
Toni had caught a tarpon or two in the
past, so was an old pro at listening to Cappy 's
directions. She and husband, Bill are regular clients
of Cappy's.
It was interesting to watch the fleet
of fishing boats maneuver in the narrow Pass. "You
don't
see any crowding because all these captains know how
it's
supposed to be done,"
said Cappy. And
I had to agree. There were times we came close to
other boats, but never was there a brush with any of
them. With Cappy at the helm, you could relax and
enjoy the gorgeous day.
For me, the day represented a triumph
of sorts. In the past couple of years, my fear of
seasickness made me less than enthusiastic about going
on board a boat for any length
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Ginger Bergeron relaxes as we
head out to the
Pass, Saturday afternoon for a day of fishing
in the 2005 Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament.
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The
team on the Sally J with Capt.
Cappy Joiner included:Toni
Meierhoff, of Riverwoods; Ashley
Sweet, with mom, Ginger Bergeron
of Cape Haze. |
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Toni
fishes during a drift while Ginger,
camera in hand, takes in
the beauty of
the Pass.
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of time. Last
year, I tagged along for a
short jaunt on one of Capt.
Marian 's
tour boats during the World's
Richest Tarpon Tournament, and
did just fine. So, when Cappy
offered to take me along, I
was delighted. And though
there was plenty of rockin'
and
rollin'
out
there, my stomach did just
fine too.
Next
year, I wanna fish! |
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Cappy Joiner
patiently shows fishing
newbie,
Ashley where the marks
are
on the line
and how to release it
when
he calls
the signal.
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BOCA
SCRAPBOOK - Ladies Day
Tarpon Tourney Means Party
Before and After
Page
19
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BOCA
SCRAPBOOK -
Ladies
Tarpon
Tournament
2005 - Memories in the Pass
Page
20
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Back to Page |
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