[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he Conservation Captain for January 2015 is Boca Grande guide, Capt. Jamie Allen. Jamie’s love of fishing began when he was just a boy growing up in Vermont, a passion that would continue his entire life. Leaving New England he ventured out to San Diego and Colorado, before settling in Southwest Florida. He’s been guiding out of Boca Grande, in Charlotte Harbor and Pine Island Sound since 2001, mainly for tarpon, snook and redfish. He is a Pro staffer for Scott Rods, Nautilus Reels, and he is also a FFF certified casting instructor.
For photos and some great videos, check out his website . . .
Capt. Jamie Allen, Boca Grande, Florida. BTT January, 2014 Conservation Guide of the Month.
Where do you guide and how long have you been guiding for?
I have been guiding out of Boca Grande, Florida since 2001.
How did you become a fishing guide?
I have always loved the water. But to be honest it was my wife’s idea. She wanted to move here from Colorado to live on the water.
How many days per year do you guide?
I am on the water over 200 days a year now.
What species do most of your clients want to fish for? Why?
Tarpon always draws the biggest crowd.Both large and small fish. The sight fishing for large silver kings is hard to forget. Popper fishing for smaller ones never gets old. You will never forget your 1st tarpon!!! The eat, the jumps and the size when the fish comes along boat side.
Tell us about how the fishery used to be, compared to today. (numbers of fish caught, seen, number of anglers on the water, etc.)
It must be true almost anywhere. If it’s a fishing destination that is easy to get to. The common quote is ” I remember when….. ”
The fishing has changed quite a bit. The largest factor that has caused fishing to get harder is without a doubt. MORE BOATS and people on the water. Many trying to figure things out on their own. Or just running around not realizing how they are effecting other anglers on the water.
In your opinion, what is the most important conservation issue facing the South Florida fishery right now and what can be done to help fix it?
The most important conservation issue in the Boca Grande area in my opinion would be 2 things. First designating areas of pole or troll in our back country. Allowing many different species places to feel safe and relax without being constantly run over by the many boats that can run in shallow water. Then educating anglers on what they should try to do. What not to do when approaching other active anglers.
2nd We need more people both public and official to help slow down the harvesting of fish out of season or not in the allowed slot limit. This is a hard one. As anglers fish around the clock and fish many areas where it is hard to police. Snook get hit the hardest on this issue. We had a huge fish kill just 4 years ago and some people don’t seem to care.
Despite some of the negative things happening to our fishery, why do you love it so much?
Even with pending issues on or waters that threaten to potentially destroy or local fishery, I still love being on the water. It’s not just the fishing. It’s the peace and beauty that surrounds us while we fish. I’m always telling my anglers to watch the water and the land. To often you get focused and miss whats happening in the water right next to you. I love the trips with children watching their reactions to a fish they have on. I will never forget a quote from a 9 year old boy. I asked about the fight from the fish he was holding in his hands. His eyes followed the fish from right to left and than back to me. He said: “It pulled with the power of Thor.” I actually got that on video. There is a simple quote that Loren Eisley wrote. “If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.”
Why do you support Bonefish and Tarpon Trust?
I became involved with BTT (BTU back then) while I was volunteering with some of Aaron Adams grad students on snook research. Aaron was very involved with all aspects of our fishery. I knew I could learn a lot from him and I wanted to help our fishery stay strong. I love being a guide and getting to share my time with many different people on the water. I feel working with BTT is one way I can help keep our fishery alive to be shared in the future.
In your opinion, what is the most important work that BTT does and why?
I think the most important thing BTT does is trying to protect and clean up the areas where our juvenile fish live and grow. If we lose that habitat … we lose our future adult fish. We all lose!
Why should a fisherman that doesn’t live in Florida or the Caribbean care about BTT?
Even if you don’t live in Florida or the Caribbean. BTT is a great organization to support. Many people live here part time or visit friends and family that stay here. Helping BTT gives everyone a chance to help keep our fisheries alive and healthy for the next generations. Some may choose to live here, some just to visit. If you are lucky enough to see the reaction of any angler, young or old, catch his or her first special fish, then you will know ……. It’s very important to protect what we have.
What could possibly make a professional guide happier than this? A Jamie Allen image of client.
You have the day off. What species are you going to fish for, where are you going to find them, and what are you going to use to catch them.
If I have a day off to fish what would I fish for????? Hmmm, that depends on time of year and conditions. My first choice is always tarpon, but that is not always the best choice. I prefer to sight fish for any species, but fly fishing with poppers always makes me laugh.
Tell us one of your favorite fishing stories.
One of my all time favorite tarpon memories was around 8 or 9 years ago. It was late September and I had just come back from guiding elk hunters in New Mexico. I decided to scout a large tidal creek to see if the red fish had started to move in. The tide had just started to fall and mullet were all over the surface. But in between the mullet I kept seeing something different break the surface. It looked like small tarpon. I had never seen tarpon in this area before. I picked up my 8-weight and made a couple of casts . Next thing I know tarpon in the air. I started to scan the surface a little more. There were tarpon everywhere following the falling tide and feeding. I changed over to a crease fly and started casting. It was insane!!!!! For the next 3 hours I stayed with these fish. I cast several different types of poppers, but it didn’t seem to matter. Some times they hit it when is was just sitting there doing nothing. The fish were from 3- to 15-pounds. I have no idea how many fish ate the popper. It could easily have been 100. When they started to slow down I decided to leave them alone, planning to come back another day. I have been back to that area many times over the years. But never have I seen the tarpon so aggressive. That day rates in my top two for best tarpon days.
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