Tarpon Fly FishingThe island of Guadeloupe in the French West Indies is virgin territory. There are no guides and no flats boats except mine. It ain’t easy to gather day by day information on spots, time of the day and the best times to sight fish specific species of fish. Here in Guadeloupe fly fishing is unknown game and the flats and back country are virtually uncharted waters. I had to learn everything on my own, using only general books and the internet for general information on fish behavior. I would say that the first two years living here, I was moving forward in the dark but it has given some unforgettable highlights. A hundred pound tarpon, a super grand slam with Dave Teper, some permit, nice snook and bonefish. Several fly fisherman, who have fished around the world for bonefish, have told me that Guadeloupe bonefish must take steroids because they fight harder than any other bonefish they have encountered.There has been a missing link on Guadeloupe between the baby tarpons of 2/5 lbs and those ranging from 60-150 lbs that cruise here from Jun through October. I said “existed” because I recently caught a piece of this missing link which had been invisible until this wind-less weekend with Patrick Daymand, a customer from France. I was about to take the route to a known spot, then I was reminded of the big tarpon I had once hooked. The weather conditions were about the same as that day and so I silently change my mind and changed direction and headed to the spot.We arrived at the spot and I shut down the motor, Patrick stepped on the casting platform and I started polling over a grass bottom 5 feet deep. After 50 yards the first tarpon rolled on the oily water surface at 100 feet. That tarpon disappeared and do not show up again. Anyway I followed him and 100 yards later I seen a school on my right then more at 200 yards on my left. No way to get on with the pole, before they move too much. So I crank the engine and pass well over their way to intercept them. When I’m back in my platform there’s several schools rolling quite often between 80 to 120 feet by 2 meters deep. Patrick struggled hard at first but soon managed to get a hook up a first Tarpon at 50 feet from the boat. Then, slack line, but fly is still on. I tell him to keep striping as I see some tarpon swimming under the fly. The second tarpon is on and after countless exciting jump jumps, Patrick’s Tarpon is finally boat side. While I was trying to approach my hand to his lower jaw a quick “crack” is heard. Patrick just broke his 10 wt, hopefully the tarpon is a bit tired and after a quick shot at this 15/18 lbs fish, it swam away.During two hours or so, I poled and Patrick casted to the remaining Tarpon. Many fish hooked and lost and then a new tarpon was hooked. This fish was bigger than the last one, and Patrick is using his 8 wt. fly rod. Patience allowed him to bring this 25 lbs fish on boat side and soon all the Tarpon disappear. Next day I told Patrick that we must be on the water earlier to fish the best hours. So this morning at 6 am, the tarpon wer not around. I decided to cross a large area to reach another good tarpon spot that could hold them and be productive. I kill the engine half way before arriving at the spot. Whether it was instinct or whatever, stopping here saved the day because we saw many schools of tarpon chasing small bait we landed 4 tarpon and one small jack this morning. Two day summary. 6 tarpon landed. One 25 lbs, one 15 lbs, one 11 lbs and two 8 and 9 lbs. Many eats, many follow and a couple jumps. All part of the missing link lighted. Tight lines.