Clean water conditions played a major role losing one of the largest tarpon we hooked this year. Two days ago, while working a giant pod a quarter mile from the beach, a giant silver king inhaled our threadfin. After taking 300 yards of line off the reel in less than a minute, the 200-pound tarpon settled in the swash channel. The fish seemed content as it slowly swam 20 feet from the rolling surf. Water depth was only 3 feet, so the tarpon's back was protruding out of the water.
After 20 minutes, we figured the job was going to get done and the fish would be boatside soon. That's when it pulled a fast one. As the tarpon swam down the swash, it headed for any obstructions around. The first obstacle was a crab trap. The tarpon raced toward the old, abandoned trap, trying to brush up beside it and break the fishing line. We maneuvered through this dilemma, but the fish won the battle at the next obstacle. After swimming from the trap, it headed for some pilings that once were used to curb beach erosion. The clean water conditions were too much for us. The tarpon edged along the wood pilings, cutting our line. After the line broke we watched the big fish taunt us as it rolled periodically.
The bottom line: Big tarpon have been around the block for a long time and can fool even the pros.
- Dave Mistretta captains the Jaws Too out of Indian Rocks Beach. Call 727 595-3276, or e-mail sales@jawstoo.com
