for tarpon fishermen - an amazing scene.

[Ken Gargett]

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cs931rJNc3X/

[Reachcast68]

Amazing.  I fished for tarpon in Key West many years ago.  Fun time and we got into fish, but didn’t love casting the 12 weight.  

[El Hoze]

I have cast into giant schools like that, albeit deeper water. Tarpon can be extremely finicky when it comes to eating…and thinking strategically/tactically about how/where you place the fly around the school is important. Fish at the front and sides generally first. Setting the hook consistently can also be quite humbling. 

My son is four (almost five) and got his first tarpon to the boat unassisted the other day…4-5 pound baby on the Zebco. Gave him a few good jumps too and he dropped his tip like a pro, hilarious. I don’t know who was more excited. He is hooked for life (pun intended). 

@Reachcast68 you might be surprised with rod technology….my new daily tarpon rod is an 11 wt Scott Sector, it is a dream. That rod is lighter and easier to cast than the high-end 8-9 weights I was fishing just 6-7 years ago. I have a bunch of older rods (15+ years) that were high end at the time (and near and dear to my heart) that are basically obsolete today. Newer stuff, even cheaper stuff, is just too good. Pretty amazing! 

[Reachcast68]

That’s great to hear.  My trip to the Keys was more than 20 years ago and casting the 12 weight for four days was miserable.   My occasional saltwater trips these days are to Mexico for permit, snook and baby tarpon, so I really only need to bring 7-10 weight rods.  Might be time to check out that new Sector!

[westg]

Sweet action right there 😎🌴

[cnov]

17 hours ago, El Hoze said:

I have cast into giant schools like that, albeit deeper water. Tarpon can be extremely finicky when it comes to eating…and thinking strategically/tactically about how/where you place the fly around the school is important. Fish at the front and sides generally first. Setting the hook consistently can also be quite humbling. 

My son is four (almost five) and got his first tarpon to the boat unassisted the other day…4-5 pound baby on the Zebco. Gave him a few good jumps too and he dropped his tip like a pro, hilarious. I don’t know who was more excited. He is hooked for life (pun intended). 

@Reachcast68 you might be surprised with rod technology….my new daily tarpon rod is an 11 wt Scott Sector, it is a dream. That rod is lighter and easier to cast than the high-end 8-9 weights I was fishing just 6-7 years ago. I have a bunch of older rods (15+ years) that were high end at the time (and near and dear to my heart) that are basically obsolete today. Newer stuff, even cheaper stuff, is just too good. Pretty amazing! 

Watching the kids do something you love is such a buzz. I remember the first time our daughter caught a wave on her bodyboard, she was laughing and screaming the whole way, if I knew what it was like taking drugs, I might be able to compare the feeling to that!

[El Hoze]

4 hours ago, cnov said:

if I knew what it was like taking drugs, I might be able to compare the feeling to that!

I can help there, my high school and college days pretty much you name it I tried it! 😂 Doesn’t compare to these moments. I had an all-natural smile plastered on my face for two days. Funny you mention bodysurfing, that is very top of the list as I love surfing and the earlier the better in learning it. Unfortunately the area we live in (SE Florida) has alot more sharks than decent breaks. I am taking him up to the beach in NJ next weekend and hoping we get some nice little rollers for him. Better pizza and most sharks are on land! 

Enjoy the weekend! 

[cnov]

9 hours ago, El Hoze said:

I can help there, my high school and college days pretty much you name it I tried it! 😂 Doesn’t compare to these moments. I had an all-natural smile plastered on my face for two days. Funny you mention bodysurfing, that is very top of the list as I love surfing and the earlier the better in learning it. Unfortunately the area we live in (SE Florida) has alot more sharks than decent breaks. I am taking him up to the beach in NJ next weekend and hoping we get some nice little rollers for him. Better pizza and most sharks are on land! 

Enjoy the weekend! 

One of the very few benefits of being in the UK is that the waves are good for the kids to learn on and there are very few sharks that can do harm, worst case would be getting a sucked into a basking shark.