Had a great great trip down to Islamorada in June, never posted this up in here though. I want to go back!!!!
I took over 600 photos in 3 days!
All I can say is....I have huge respect for Tarpon now, more than I did before. Last year I hooked one on a fly rod that quickly broke the line so I never really got to feel the full fury or see what these fish are capable of.
that changed this year. 1st day, I hooked into a 130lber on a 12 wt fly rod w 30 lb leader........what ensued was hell and heaven at the same time. 1 hour of hell on my body that I will never forget.
such a powerful fish.
Our guide Brett
Me scanning the beach for fish, you could see them 200yds away if the sun was right...awesome
making a presentation to a 'poon
Me fighting the tarpon, have to try as much as you can to keep them down, if they can make it up to get air your in for more of a fight....general rule is, every gulp they get is another 20 minutes your going to have to fight them.
tarpon coming up for air, notice the yellow streamer that he took. (this is actually one of the 3 that my brother hooked the next day)
Got him close to the boat, but not ready to give up just yet. This Tarpon was within 10 yards of the boat 30 minutes before our guide was able to get a hand on him, just wouldnt give up.
and we got him!!!! So happy
Landing my 1st Tarpon especially it being on the fly called for a few celebration beers....being in the Keys, that meant these guys
Thats the fly I landed my Tarpon on...wonder if Corona could use these in their ads
Next was my brothers turn....he broke off 2 'poons within 2 minutes of hooking them then finally his 3rd he fought for close to an hour, traveled almost 1 mile down the beach the fish pulling the boat the whole time. What a fight.
The cast
The strip
The strike! Check out my bro's 'O' face as he's giving the fish all he's got
and Tarpon doing what they do best! this one was a jumper
John after battling the fish for 50 minutes in 115 degree (heat index) weather under brutal sun......
and the end result....the hook broke in half right at the boat as the guide tried to grab the fish for the 4th time.....thats considered a landed fish BTW. John in the background trying to cool off, we took a dip right after.
John hooked up w a Permit under a bridge....the guide calls these fish "trolls"
My Dad was down there too, he was bait fishin as his body won't let him dance around the boat like you need to when fly fishing....he had a hell of a good time regardless. Landed the biggest Tarpon of the trip at roughly 150lbs
He said he thought he was going to die before getting that fish in, I was worried about that too!
Here he is with his guide Jeremy.
Just as we pulled up he hooked a small bonnethead shark...like a hammerhead just smaller
Old Man and the Sea
and the catch
and the final spot we fished the last day. Known as "The Pocket" it was Ted Williams favorite spot to fish. The cross is in honor of him
. No one approaches it.
