Tarpon

My fishing buddy Chappy and I broke out the big guns and he scored! 
 


He went for the kiss, but could not get this beasty any further than this after an epic battle including a few good jumps. I thought I had some good video until I realized that I did not push the button.



This was a good sized giant minnow. It went from the "H" in "Hobie" on his Revo to a tad past the rudder. Needless to say Chappy was happy.

Going back out today. 

That's a beast!!!

Who's turn is it today?   

-Allen

PIG-O-SAUR!! Big congrats to Chappy.  

Z

great job you guys.. looks like some really good eats

WOW

Great job.  I'm always impressed by some of the fish people catch on spinning reels.

Brian

Great job.  I'm always impressed by some of the fish people catch on spinning reels.

Brian

He used a coffee grinder, but not the one in the picture. The pictured spinner is used for snatching bait (think sabiki rig on steroids with no dressing). The rig he used is laying in front of him just out of the shot. They seem to be the weapon of choice out here.

looks like some really good eats

Sorry SG, no eats here. Just a quick pic, some time to revive her, a sore back, and a BIG AZZ grin.

Who's turn is it today?   
-Allen

The rig he used is laying in front of him just out of the shot. They seem to be the weapon of choice out here.

Yep that's the one I was referring to (not the bait rod).  You can tell it's a spinning reel by the reel seat.

Brian

That is one Big Azz fish!

How long was the battle?

That is one Big Azz fish!

How long was the battle?

Ask me tomorrow....


ohhhh, you mean chappy's? About 45 minutes

That is one Big Azz fish!
How long was the battle?

ohhhh, you mean chappy's? About 45 minutes

So how do Tarpon tire out? Do they just go limp and float? Reason I ask is I hear they're another pre-historic fish and their machinery can be a bit different.  And how about landing? Did he just lip it?

Z

That is one Big Azz fish!
How long was the battle?

ohhhh, you mean chappy's? About 45 minutes

So how do Tarpon tire out? Do they just go limp and float? Reason I ask is I hear they're another pre-historic fish and their machinery can be a bit different.  And how about landing? Did he just lip it?

Z

The short answer?

Yep

One of the reasons I'm really kicking myself for not getting the video is Chappy asking me "is he going to bite me?"  That's still good for a big belly laugh. But to be honest, neither of us really knew and I assumed that you lipped them from television shows. Conversations with other anglers and online research said that you "lip" them upside down though, with your thumb on the outside and your fingers in his mouth.

Now that I think about it, I probably would have asked the same thing.

How many were hooked before he landed one? They say it's 1 out of 10 or there abouts.

One of the reasons I'm really kicking myself for not getting the video is Chappy asking me "is he going to bite me?"  That's still good for a big belly laugh. But to be honest, neither of us really knew and I assumed that you lipped them from television shows. Conversations with other anglers and online research said that you "lip" them upside down though, with your thumb on the outside and your fingers in his mouth.

Now that I think about it, I probably would have asked the same thing.

That way when they bite down, they get and assortment of tasty morsels. Then they will look to get hooked again when they're hungry.   

How many were hooked before he landed one? They say it's 1 out of 10 or there abouts.

Hmmm, well I guess we were just dumb and lucky because he is one for one. Maybe they are like Steelhead, the first one can be deceptively easy.

We went after them again today and we could not buy a Tarpon bite.  A bunch of small sharks to 5' and one huge red, but no poons to be found and they were all over the place in that same spot yesterday.
It  was however, an excellent way to spend my HFC* birthday though. I'll get mine soon enuf. I gotta go to sleep.


*Half a Freakin Century!?!?!?!