Was it a tarpon ?

Well the last day of Vic’s fishing holiday came as always to soon they had not had the best of weather but still had great fishing. With fish to over 300 lbs and maybe, we will never know, a record as well. We had not had a tarpon the fish I suppose is the most famous fish in the Florida Keys. I sell tarpon fishing April, May and June when you will get a tarpon nearly every morning as they make their migration round Florida feeding on their way in the Keys. Last year we had one in March so plans were made to have a go on the last morning. To say tarpon fishing is a steep learning curve is an understatement. Big, over 150 lb fish, lots of jumps, near bridge pilings, screaming runs and all this in the dark. As tarpon feed best at night I like to start a good hour before daylight so at 4 am we were heading down to 7 mile bridge with three very nervous anglers. You try to give good instructions but in the back of your mind you know first timers are in for the shock of their lives. On getting to 7 mile no run slack water as they say no run no fun so we just drifted till the run started. The tarpon use the bridge as an ambush point for bait but over the years we have had some drifting during the slack. From nowhere Steve shouted floats gone then fish on well this one was not for stopping and a screaming run. It was dark and I have to say I did not see what happened but a very loud crack Steve fell to the floor and fish gone. Well was it a tarpon, we were using crabs so only tarpon or permit but I did not see or hear a jump so we will never know if it was a permit it was very very big.

Daylight came and with no more takes on the crabs Vic and Steve switched to pinfish and had fun with the jacks up to 10 lb leaving some good shark bait for the next party. Fun week, fun guys and with a very nice email they are already planing their next trip back to the Florida Keys joining my happy bunch of regulars.