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Keys Tarpon Video

I wanted to catch my first Tarpon on the fly this year, but never imagined that it would pan out the way it did. Boz and I spent a couple days and nights fly fishing around the clock in the Everglades. We fly fished from flats boats, docks and on foot; chasing anything that would eat our flies. We caught Snook, Jacks And Redfish and had a blast taking in the sights, sun and tropical breezes. We caught a bunch of fish in the Everglades but the Tarpon eluded us. We saw them, but they just were not eating. So, we stuck to the plan and headed down to the Florida Keys. Everything was too good to be true. The weather was perfect with bright sun, warm flats and absolutely no wind. We knew it was not going to last because a cold front was scheduled to come through in two days. So, we had 2 full days to get the job done. We pounded miles and miles of flats in search of Bonefish, Permit and Tarpon. I got a solid shot at casting to a happy tailing Bonefish but I blew it. Boz got a shot a casting to a tailing Permit and he blew it. We did dial into some nice Barracuda spots and I love catching Barracuda. They are so aggressive and they really rip across the flat when they are hooked. But, the clock was ticking and we were watching the cold front on the radar get closer and closer. We knew that once the cold front arrived, much of the bait and fish on the flats would head for deeper water. We had one full day left and decided to use one of the 13 foot Boston Whaler’s that came with our motel room to get us out to an offshore flat. This was a great idea, until the motor conked out. So, we sat there drifting in the Gulf Of Mexico for 4 hours waiting for a tow. Then the tow burned up another 2 hours. So, it was now late in the day and the cold front was creeping closer. We were really grasping for straws and bouncing around to all sorts of different flats hoping to find one good fish. The sun was low in the

sky, we had exhausted our options and we were driving to one last “Hail Mary” spot. Boz was driving and I was looking out at the glass calm water from the passenger seat. That is when I saw the 3 sets of Tarpon fins cutting through the glassy water. “Boz, pull over! I just saw some Tarpon!” Boz could tell that I was serious. He cut the wheel put the car on the grass and we were both out of the car in seconds flat with fly rods in hand. There they were! Tarpon, chasing and eating bait right in front of our eyes! I was rigged up with a Bonefish setup but Boz had a Tarpon setup ready to go. So, he threw out a cast. Strip, strip … Bang! Tarpon on! Big Jump! Tarpon off! We were so amped up! I yelled, “Boz, get it out there again!” Boz throws out another long cast. Strip, strip, Wham! Tarpon on! Big Jump! Tarpon Off! My hands were shaking with anticipation as I watched all of this going on, making it hard to tie my knots. But, somehow I got it done and I was in the game. I waded out a bit and threw out a long cast. Strip, strip … “There he is!” My first ever Tarpon soared through the air and I was in heaven. I set the hook hard a few times and kept side pressure on the fish. The jumps and runs were epic and even more than I imagined they would be. I just could not believe I had a Silver King on my line. It was not a giant, but it was mine and it was one of the best moments in my fly fishing career. I managed to land my first Tarpon and I was so happy when Boz snapped the photo. We released him to the sea and Boz was up again. This time, when the Tarpon took, Boz set the hook with authority. The sun was all the way down at this point but we could tell that he had a bigger fish hooked. Boz battled the tarpon under the moonlight and after an epic battle Boz came out on top. I snapped some photos of Boz’s first ever Tarpon and we then released his Silver King back into the sea where he belongs. The trip was made and Boz and I went out to some dive to celebrate over a crab leg dinner. We were on cloud 9 until the clouds and the cold front blew threw and the magical fishing came to an end. As I sit here in Maine, I just can’t believe that my first Tarpon was caught under such cool circumstances. I like fly fishing from Boat as much as anyone. But, there is something pure about fly fishing on foot. And, I always prefer chasing and catching any species of fish on foot rather than boat. I guess it has to do with looking back on my youth when all I ever had was a fishing pole, my decisions and my own two feet. Those were the purest, simplest and most memorable years of my fishing life and I enjoy staying connected to that level of purity and simplicity. So, I truly enjoy anytime I can chase and catch fish without the use of boats or modern technologies. But, don’t get me wrong. If the game needs to be played with a boat and loran and fish finders and all that stuff, I can play and enjoy that game too.