Caught my first Tarpon on the fly!

[Joshuachristmas]

Out in the Tampa Bay early in the season earlier this year. Had spent the morning hunting for reds and my guide (Greg) spotted a Tarpon sunning itself so we switched gears. Had a decent handful of shots (and missed) before a group of 3 swam straight past the boat and I reacted quickly enough and got one to turn and take the fly! First Tarpon ever hooked and we got it to the boat! 

[Mr.Q121]

Nice Fish, congrats !

[puromaniac]

Nicely done! A lifetime experience.

[SteveA]

Awesome!

[Ken Gargett]

sensational. and a good fish. 

[westg]

Awesome. That would have been such a thrill!

[Ford2112]

Amazing!!!

[El Hoze]

Awesome! Tarpon are definitely addictive, and on a fly even moreso. I live in Southeast Florida. Not unlike many fish tarpon will behave much differently in a group than when single. If you throw a reasonably well presented offering at a group, competition sets in..they don’t want their buddy to get it…and they will grab it with much less hesitation. I have had solo tarpon eye a fly curiously to the point it will drive you wild. Welcome to the club!!

And nice Chittum! Arguably the best built skiff today. 

[El Hoze]

On 9/6/2025 at 12:42 AM, Ken Gargett said:

sensational. and a good fish. 

I will post this video for Ken in case he hasn’t seen it, as well as everyone obviously. Arguably the best tarpon fisherman in the world today happens to be someone who Ken met at his favorite hotel in New Zealand, and who lives in my town, our kids go to school together…Ken and I spoke about him a ways back. If he’s not the best, Andy Mill the guy interviewing him, is. Great podcast on the dedication it takes to target tarpon on the fly. 

Ironically, this weekend is our town’s annual kids fishing tournament (tarpon are excluded it is snook/redfish/seatrout). I am rigging up my six year old’s rods as I write this while smoking a Sovereign Suns. Stiff competition with guys like this as his son is lights out good.

[Ken Gargett]

6 hours ago, El Hoze said:

I will post this video for Ken in case he hasn’t seen it, as well as everyone obviously. Arguably the best tarpon fisherman in the world today happens to be someone who Ken met at his favorite hotel in New Zealand, and who lives in my town, our kids go to school together…Ken and I spoke about him a ways back. If he’s not the best, Andy Mill the guy interviewing him, is. Great podcast on the dedication it takes to target tarpon on the fly. 

Ironically, this weekend is our town’s annual kids fishing tournament (tarpon are excluded it is snook/redfish/seatrout). I am rigging up my six year old’s rods as I write this while smoking a Sovereign Suns. Stiff competition with guys like this as his son is lights out good.

that was a while back. seems like the old man was a serious fisherman. he was the one who made the dosh and bought the resorts.

[El Hoze]

6 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

that was a while back. seems like the old man was a serious fisherman. he was the one who made the dosh and bought the resorts.

What is interesting is the big man was not really into fishing apparently, though he liked vacationing in the Florida Keys which is where Jr picked it up. I joke with my friends that if my dad was a billionaire I would do the exact same thing he did and just fish every day with the best guides money could buy…not to take anything away from him. At that level you’re talking an unreasonable amount of dedication. 

[Ken Gargett]

6 hours ago, El Hoze said:

What is interesting is the big man was not really into fishing apparently, though he liked vacationing in the Florida Keys which is where Jr picked it up. I joke with my friends that if my dad was a billionaire I would do the exact same thing he did and just fish every day with the best guides money could buy…not to take anything away from him. At that level you’re talking an unreasonable amount of dedication. 

we tend to think of NY hedge fund owners as pompous wankers but the son was a lovely guy.

i met another - great friend of a friend of mine. nicest guy. very quiet and unassuming. largely retired - the best part of a billion allows that. he now just travels around the world staying at his various homes. he was telling me about them. i started laughing - he asked why. i said every one of those homes is in a world class fly fishing spot. yes, that is what he does.