Tarpon Season is here!

Fishing report for March 14th
The wind is still blowing but the last few days have seen it moderating around 15mph. 

Tarpon have moved into the bridge channels since the last cold front and are chowing down on crabs during the outgoing tides. Some of the guides have reported 6 bites during a 4 hour session. Yesterday I fished the backcountry channels with Dick Alt and Bob Leef. Tarpon were our target and we ended up with a super day.

Bob caught and released an estimated 100lb Tarpon first using live mullet. He caught his fish on a Fox Sailfish Trek Diablo 750 combo. Bob and Dick prefer using the Fox spinning tackle over the conventional reels. Both agreed that the eight foot long Sailfish Trek rod really helps out when the fish circle the boat and how easily they can clear the motor and the bow.

Bob Leef and Dick Alt prefer using spinning
tackle for Tarpon and Shark fishing

Bob Leef catching his Tarpon

lots of jumps out of this Tarpon

when a Tarpon comes up and gulps air it is called Rolling

We had fished all morning only..... catching sharks but on our 4th move after seeing a freejumping Tarpon we were in the right place. Dick hooked a Tarpon at 1:30 and it was 2 hours before this fish finally gave up. Constant pressure was put on by expert angler Dick Alt. 30lb Horizon Braid  was spooled on the reels. This fish we estimated at 150lbs easily maybe larger. When we finally released this fish we were 2 miles from where we dropped our anchor buoy. This was one tough fish. Sometimes I will tell an angler the fish is tough because it has not jumped much. This fish jumped 11 times and was still strong at the boat when released. At one point after a series of 4 grey hound jumps Dick looked at me and said "This is Fun". I might mention that Dick is in his 70's and is in great shape. Congrads on a fish of a lifetime.

Bow to the King

Dick Alt applied maximum pressure using the
Sailfish Trek Diablo 750 combo.
This jump comes after the one hour mark

Dick Alt fought this estimated 150lb fish for 2 hours

we counted eleven jumps

Two hours of constant pressure to
finally tire this beast of a Tarpon

Finally Dick Alt has his fish of a lifetime boat side

Well Tarpon season is on and I am excited to be a part of it. I still am using the same Diablo 750 reels that I have been using for 2 years now and have caught countless sharks and big Tarpon and Goliath Grouper and have not, I repeat not, had to take one apart for any repairs. I just oil be bail arms and the reel handles and that is it. This is the most bullet proof reel I have ever used.

Captain Skip Nielsen