In the depths of the Boca Grande Pass swim the Silver King. Tarpon have populated the waters of Southwest Florida for ages. The large, silvery fish can stretch up to 8 feet long and weigh close to 300 pounds. They are powerful, tough and known for their acrobatic flips out of the water once snagged on a rod and reel. Sport fishermen from around the world have traveled to the Gulf waters to tangle with the Silver King.

In 1885, Forest and Stream magazine (which evolved to become Field and Stream) ran a story about a New Yorker named W.H. Wood, who caught a 93-pound tarpon in the Caloosahatchee River. It sparked an interest in Southwest Florida as a fishing destination.

The Boca Grande Pass, with its 80-foot depths, attracts thousands of tarpon in the spring and summer months. As railroads reached into Southwest Florida, nearby Gasparilla Island and its small village Boca Grande became a luxury vacation destination. Visitors from the north would make the trek, many seeking to fish the nearby waters.

Henry Ford and Thomas Edison, who had winter homes in Fort Myers, often bragged of their big tarpon catches. Collier County’s namesake, Barron Collier, once dubbed Boca Grande the “tarpon fishing capital of the world.” And it still holds true today. Tarpon fishing remains a big attraction to the area, and if you’re up for the challenge, the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce hosts the annual World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament annually, with winners getting tens of thousands for the biggest catch.