TARPON WARS; In Boca Grande Pass, it's live baiters vs. jiggers.(A SECTION)

Byline: KARA CHALMERS kara.chalmers@heraldtribune.com

BOCA GRANDE -- A battle is raging in Boca Grande Pass, and it's not just between the anglers and the tarpon.

Traditional live bait fishermen have squared off against anglers who use jigs and other artificial lures.

Live baiters, mostly fishing guides, say jiggers, mostly recreational and amateur fishermen, are scaring away the fish and killing them indiscriminately. They also complain that jiggers have bad fishing manners and endanger other boaters.

And not incidentally, jiggers, who generally catch more and bigger fish, are cutting into traditional guides' charter revenues. Jigs can be used over and over, so jiggers don't spend money on live bait.

The live baiters, sounding warnings about damage to the tarpon population, have asked the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission to conduct a study. They hope the results will show that their method of fishing is less harmful to the fish population.

Capt. Jeff Totten, a guide who uses …