Left to right: Sue Erwin, Capt. Chad Bombenger, Lynn Erb, Christine Cunningham and Caroline Clabaugh. The 2018
Boca Beacon Ladies Team for the Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament held in Boca Grande.
We stayed for the awards and received large
wooden plaques and spinning reels.The girls and I
stayed a little while and enjoyed some pizza and
conversation with the other tournament participants
and then each headed home.
Before I could even leave the parking lot, I was
texting my two sons the good news. I had told them
about participating in the tournament earlier and
they knew about me wanting to catch my first
tarpon, so it was no surprise to them when they
heard from me. I even called my dad.
You’d swear I had caught a whale or something.
But this was not just a “fish” to me, this had been
a four-year chase, a testament to patience and
commitment.
I’m glad I didn’t listen to the little voices in my
head the day before telling me the goal was
unreachable. I am so grateful I was given the
chance to catch my tarpon, and even more
grateful that I was able to share that experience
with some great gals I call my “other family.”
It was certainly a memory I will never forget,
and another item to cross off my bucket list.
Thank you, tarpon gods, for blessing me with
my catch! I will be back!
G
M
78GASPARILLA ISLAND May/June 2019