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Tarpon Slide Show

If you want to get into a fight, come to Tarpon Alley! A good friend of mine took me and a few bait chuckers to Boca Grande, Florida for a shot at some Tarpon. Last year in a trip down in Key West I blew two great shots at Tarpon in the mangroves. The first fish jumped and spit the fly, the second fish I pulled an old fashion trout set. Lifting the rod tip up; hence pulling the fly away from the fish. What an idiot! That moment has haunted me for over year now. Seeking redemption, I hoped this trip would ease my pain. Fishing with three bait chuckers, you never know what to expect out of a trip. I knew I would not have a great deal of time with the fly rod, so I needed to make my shots count. The second morning of our trip the guys gave me the stage. Said they were not picking up a rod until I brought one to the boat. Amazing. I can't begin to explain how nice it was to fish with three unselfish hardcore fishermen, whom were has excited as me to see a fish on the fly. Well, it did not take long. Three casts … three jumps. The first Tarpon came up ate, did a short run, jumped and spit the fly. I thought, “Damn; here we go again.” The second Tarpon ate, pulled hard and broke me off at my line/leader connection. I was pissed! I got re-rigged, and put a new fly on. Moments later we found a nice pod of Tarpon daisy chaining. I threw a cast in the middle of them ... BAM! Fish on! Right

away the brute jumps. I bow down, fish still on. I knew I had a pretty good hook set. I ripped him a few time hard; just to be sure. This joker was not getting away. He made some nice runs and some great jumps in front of the boat. About 30 min. into the fight I thought we had him beat. He rolled at the side of the boat and the guide grabbed the leader attempting to grab him when … CRACK! I thought a shotgun went off. No shotgun, it was my fly rod! Now my tip section of a four piece rod was making its way down to the poons head. He makes another big run. Comes up and half-way jumps/head shakes a few more times. The whole time I'm thinking the broken/jagged graphite is going to cut me off. Well, thankfully he did not. We got him to the boat. Got some nice pics then released the fish and the poon swam off to fight another day. Mission accomplished! The guide said the fish was over 100 lbs. We did not measure the fish, but as you can see in the pictures he's as big as me. The fish of a lifetime, until next time anyway! Ended up jumping and landing a smaller fish the next day. Never thought I would down play a 60 lb fish. What fun! Can't wait till next time!