Fishing With Light Tackle

Two of my favourite folks spent the last four days fishing with me.

Leslie and Ray Rogers love fishing with light tackle. They had some big battle with Tarpon. Ray had a Tarpon near Teatable bridge that he fought for an hour before releasing it boat-side. Had to be 125lbs. Leslie released a Tarpon yesterday that when it jumped our jaws dropped. It was a lunker. Who knows just how big it was but I will conservatively put it at well over 150. After 4 jumps it was rolling and swimming close to the boat. Leslie asked me to take the leader and release it. After watching Ray battle the big the first day she said that's enough.

after an hour battle Ray cranked the drag.
The Permit Trek Diablo 550 combo is light but super tough

Ray Rogers battling a big Tarpon

Ray whipped this Tarpon after an hour battle
with the Permit Trek Diablo 550 combo

Leslie fighting a huge Tarpon on the Permit Trek Diablo 550 combo

Leslie Rogers hooked and released this huge Tarpon over at
Cape Sable using the Permit Trek Diablo 550 combo

Ray got a little more fight than he wanted

We also got into some big Snook in one of the river mouths at Cape Sable. Because of sharks and tree roots we again used the Permit Trek rod fitted with Diablo 550 spinning reel. These outfits are light weight but very strong and allowed us to land Snook up to 13lbs. While waiting one morning for the tide to start running we found a school of Mangrove Snappers attracted to our mulllet chum under the boat. We had a blast with light tackle catching a limit of these tasty feisty Snapper.

Ray's biggest Snook

tasty Mangrove Snappers were a challenge to keep away from the pilings

Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combo catching big Mangs bridge fishing

Permit Trek Diablo 550 combo's gave us the extra power to land big Snook

One morning running out to the back-country we came upon schools of Crevalle Jacks chasing mullet onto the flats. I teased them with whole mullet while Les and Ray casting jigs on the light tackle. It was hard to leave that action.

early morning Crevalle Jacks on Rage rod and Diablo 350 spin reel

Jacks were chasing mullet on the flats

poor man's tarpon aka Ladyfish on the Rage Diablo 350 combo

Over at Cape Sable Ray hooked a big Tarpon on Fly. It took out 300 meters of flyline and backing. As we gave chase unfortunately the fly came out. Ray used a Fox 12 weight fly rod fitted with a Fox Cellmax fly reel. Maybe next time.

Fishing is great right now. Folks are catching Tarpon day and night.

Captain Skip Nielsen