Tell me more about the Mangroves and Cobes.No worries...just the tarpon were lockjawed that day....we had a banner day on our targeted species...limits of big red snapper, mangroves, and grouper. Also had 2 lemonfish boated....lost the third.
Tell me more about the Mangroves and Cobes.No worries...just the tarpon were lockjawed that day....we had a banner day on our targeted species...limits of big red snapper, mangroves, and grouper. Also had 2 lemonfish boated....lost the third.
Cobia is one of the best tasting fish in the ocean. Our limit is 1/person or 3/boat and must be 36" FL in state waters...Also had 2 lemonfish boated....lost the third.
When I was a kid my aunt's condo had a small lake that had small tarpon in it, I landed a few in the 20-30" range. When we were in Islamorada - FL keys several years ago the charter we took out went into shallow waters. Last float of the day and my rod was hit. I swear the tarpon jumped 6' out of the water and still did not get all the way out. I fought it for a while and it eventually took so much line out and broke off. They are a tough fish to sink the hook into and even tougher to land.It is on my bucket list to catch a huge tarpon.....preferably on a fly rod. Been a dream since I was a kid.
Feed it lead weights. That should slow them down.When I was a kid my aunt's condo had a small lake that had small tarpon in it, I landed a few in the 20-30" range. When we were in Islamorada - FL keys several years ago the charter we took out went into shallow waters. Last float of the day and my rod was hit. I swear the tarpon jumped 6' out of the water and still did not get all the way out. I fought it for a while and it eventually took so much line out and broke off. They are a tough fish to sink the hook into and even tougher to land.
where was that? I have been to a couple bars and restaurants there that had them lining up like that.I've caught lots of small tarpon (under 50#) on a fly rod. Biggest fly rod I have is a 12w. I usually use a 9w. Here's a pic I shot a couple weeks ago. 3 kinds of sharks and some tarpon all waiting for someone to throw them dinner. This was in Islamorada during lobster season.View attachment 645217View attachment 645218
Dad had that happen to him, but he got his rod back the next day....We got the rod back AND the fish...
Sexy shorts...lolBiggest Fish I ever caught:
Hawaii, February, 1970.
Length---9' 4 1/2".
Weight---241 pounds.
This was in my younger skinnier days, not too long after sweating a lot
in the Jungles of Southeast Asia.
I went from Vietnam to a year in Hawaii, and we chartered a boat
for the 3 of us & our wives. The other 2 guys did most of the drinking,
and I did most of the reeling. So I did the cranking for the Marlin
& the Mahi Mahi in the picture, and one of the small 15/20 lb Tunas.
We had to quit at noon, and come in, because the boat didn't have
a cooler big enough for that Marlin. We had an Army blanket over it,
and dumped a bucket of Ocean water on it every few minutes, until we got back to the docks.
Bear
View attachment 645222
That was while we were having lunch at Lazy Days in Islamorada. Go look under the docks at Bud and Marys Tarpon know when the charter boats come in and gather in front of the cleaning table.where was that? I have been to a couple bars and restaurants there that had them lining up like that.