Tarpon Quest 2! August 17,11

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    Tarpon Quest 2! August 17, 2011

I couldn't resist chasing the tarpons around Wednesday morning! I did not have a partner to fish with which is not the best idea but I took a chance. I glassed a number of bait pods and finally settled on one with some nervous bait after studying them for a bit I was able to see several tarpon roll in them. I grabbed my gear and put in.

There was a pretty good swell and the surface was a little rough which made finding the bait once I got out there a little hard.

The action was real good! I snagged a pogy and casted him back in the pod. Within 10 minutes I got a strike and the line started heading east. I set the hook and a slob of a tarpon in the 140-150# range rocketed skyward. He thru the hook on the first jump which was probable a good thing since I was by myself. I snagged another pogy and immediately had that one stripped from the hook. The next bait got the same result.

The next pogy made it about 5 minutes before the line started to leave. I set the hook and pulled the pogy right out of his mouth without ever sticking him?

Once again I snagged another pogy and heaved him back into the middle of the school. In just a few minutes the rod pulled down and I set the hook, grabbed the camera and was able to just catch her first and only jump.





The tarpon immediately headed east for deep water. I hooked her in 18' and in 12 minutes we were in 45' with 3-4' swells but remarkably the fight was over at that point. I tugged her on board for some pics and turned her loose.





I was a little uncomfortable with the conditions, especially since the fish had almost pulled me over trying to get the pictures. I decided not to push my luck and headed for the beach.

The tarpon action is really great right now but no telling how long it might last.

    Good Luck,
    Larry S.

PS, I have several people inquire about which PFD I am using. It is a pretty decent vest and has held up well. It gets a little hot but that is probably true for the others as well. This one is a Bass Pro Shops vest. It is reasonably priced and here is a link where you can find out more about it.......