JUNE 2008 BOKEELIA TARPON FISHING TRIP Weekend of June 21st Click Picture to View Larger Image A View of Bokeelia A Pork Bellies Specialty Stacey, Jim and Gene Robert, Kathy and Ed Boca Grande Pass A Very Small Grouper Cabbage Key Restaurant Lunch at Cabbage Key Gene Proulx and Group Dinner out at Capt Cons No Tarpon... no problem! Dessert at Capt Cons No "Casting" Nets? MORE THAN JUST FISHING For the last several years the HPAC has been going to Bokeelia (northern tip of Pine Island) for their annual tarpon outing.  It seems as though the last few years the fishing has not been as good as in years past – so why go?  The answer may lie in the question – why go? Those who went this year had a good time as always.  The catching wasn’t the best; only one was boated and congratulation to Randy (the Tarpon King) he caught a nice one. Ya, the gas was a little expensive and maybe we could have saved a dollar or two by doing something different, so “why do we go?”  I guess the real catch maybe in, reducing stress through a strong social support network.  Having friends with a common interest and surrounding yourself with supportive friends like HPAC can have a very positive effect on your mental well-being.  It doesn’t take a scientific study to demonstrate the benefits of fishing with friends as a means to improved mental health; although there’s plenty of research to confirm it.  A strong social network can be critical to helping you through the stress of tough times, whether you’ve had a bad day at work or a year filled with loss or chronic illness.  It’s never too soon to cultivate these important relationships – and the HPAC outings are one of my sources of “stress relief,” it’s good for me and I hope they are good for you. Therefore, this years Tarpon outing was another success.  Not measured by the size of the catch, but measured in the investment to one’s self.  Let's have some more fun – where we going next? Submitted By:  Robert Lynch Information about our annual Tarpon Fishing trip:  June is our designated month long Tarpon tournament.  Usually the third weekend of the month, a few club members and their wives go to Bokeelia to do a little fishing and have some fun.  Stay for the weekend or just Saturday.  Reservations go fast during Tarpon season, so book your lodging early. HOTELS: Beachouse 239-280-4303 Surf Song 239-283-2823 Tarpon Inn 239-283-8961 Silver Tarpon Lodge 239-283-0212 Collier Cottages 239-283-4443 Malu Lani 239-283-1795 Beach House 800-348-6306 Jug Creek Cottages 239-283-0015 Bocilla Condo's 239-229-7264 Four Winds Condo 800-523-9223 Bokeelia, St. James City Rentals 877-394-9124 FAVORITE RESTAURANTS: Lazy Flamingo (boat access) Capt Con's Fish House - Dinner on Saturday, June 21, 2008 (dutch treat) Pork Bellies BBQ Bubba's Roadhouse For additional information, call Robert Lynch at: Home - (727) 797-0848 Cell - (727) 420-3475