west african tarpon

[Ken Gargett]

not a bad second prize if you are chasing something else. 

now imagine that fish on fly gear and not the industrial strength crane this bloke is using. it would take half a day to get it in. 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/science/an-intense-struggle-to-catch-a-giant-west-af/

[TNT009]

Thats a dinosaur..

[backbone]

@Ken Gargett

It all depends on where you fish them. I get them on fly in 6' of water depth and they can be landed in 30 mins if they jump many times. 

This is my favorite time of the year here in Florida as the migratory fish pour through. 

I landed a 80lb fish Tuesday on fly, took me roughly 30 mins on a 12 wt. 

[Ken Gargett]

1 minute ago, backbone said:

@Ken Gargett

It all depends on where you fish them. I get them on fly in 6' of water depth and they can be landed in 30 mins if they jump many times. 

This is my favorite time of the year here in Florida as the migratory fish pour through. 

I landed a 80lb fish Tuesday on fly, took me roughly 30 mins on a 12 wt. 

understand that but in fairness, the one in the vid did look about twice the size of an 80lber (but wouldn't i kill to land an 80lb though!!). same with tuna. when i got my decent tuna (sadly singular), which was on a 12, the guide reckoned i saved myself 3 hours by not using the 8 weight. it took about 20 minutes. 

the one time i fished for tarpon - the worst week in the history of the lodge as they were flooded and despite seeing probably 150 fish that week, some bigger than the one in the vid, no one got a single bite - i was told not to bother with a 12. the fish would just smash them. borrowed a mate's 15-weight. and casting that hour after hour is a tough slog. 

[Capt. Brett]

As a professional guide as long as the client is happy so am I.

[Ken Gargett]

14 minutes ago, Capt. Brett said:

As a professional guide as long as the client is happy so am I.

i was seriously happy with my tuna. and i knew the guide in costa rica had absolutely done his best for the week so no issues there. fished with a number of guides in nz and cuba and some have been stellar, most at least very good. only recall one absolute shocker in cuba (and of course, the one who was in love with rob in chile - long story). 

[backbone]

This one was around 100, about the same as the one in that video. 

12wt 30-40 mins. Fight time.