Letter to the Editor: Angler knows both sides of jig controversy

To the Editor:

I have guided in tarpon tournaments ever since I started taking clients for tarpon in Boca Grande more than two decades ago. We have participated in World’s Richest, Miller’s Tarpon Tide, World Tarpon and PTTS.

My family has roots in Boca Grande that cover a hundred years and date back to the earliest of 1900’s. The Markett’s were a pioneer Arcadia family and my grand and great-grandfathers were with the railroad. I have guided clients for tarpon in Boca Grande Pass and the surrounding sounds, beaches and Charlotte Harbor for a long time. My son and his family live on the island and it is my grandson Dalton’s only home. Capt. Lou Baggett and I started the Boca Grande Pass Cleanup during a Miller’s Tarpon Tide Tournament years ago and I was actively involved in that effort as long as it existed.