BigBendFishing.Net

Made a solo trip to Lanark Wednesday morning. Got the boat in the water about 8 or so and headed to get bait. Once I had the baitwell full of pilchards I headed to the Turkey Point area. Was about 930 when I got the first bait in the water and by 1215 I had my limit of trout from 17-22". The real highlight of the day was my first ever tarpon hook up! I've never really understood the attraction of trying to catch one of those big beasts, but after watching this 100 pound plus tarpon come out of the water and the massive amount water she pushed and the sound of it when she made her first jump, I now understand! I can't believe I remembered to "bow to the tarpon gods" but I did, and just pointed the rod at her. After the second jump and me getting the boat cranked and chasing her, she sounded and just started running. Since I was equipped with a 7'-9" Wright & McGill medium action rod with a Stradic 3000 FJ I was trying to keep the fish close with the big motor, but after about 2 minutes the 15lb braid broke. I was disappointed I didn't get to see the fish again, but I knew I had brought a butter knife to a gun fight and just appreciated the awesome display of power the fish exhibited. After that, I calmed down, and decided to go chase reds around Lanark. Only caught one red that was about 18 1/16" with the tail pinched, so it went back to live some more. Got back to the ramp about 330, still jacked up over the tarpon. It was a great day on the water especially without a ton of other boats around. Weekday fishing is awesome!

Good report. Congrats on the Tarpon hookup!

That happened to me for the firsttime ever last summer off of bald pt. in my kayak.. Truly an unforgetable experience. I was trt. fishing w a gulp shrimp float combo. Congrats!!

Very cool!!! I hope it works out better next time. Tarpon is still on my bucket list.

I'm glad you wrote about the tarpon, because I thought I may have seen one roll at Aucilla yesterday right in the mouth of the river.

Awesome. I'm looking forward to the day I'm lucky enough to experience that.

BACK IN THE LATE 40'S I WAS FISHING FOR TROUT DOWN AROUND BOKEELIA AND HOOKED INTO A TARPON THAT WEIGHED IN AT 180 #, WAS IN MY LITTLE 12 FT. PLYWOOD BOAT THAT I BUILT, SHE PULLED ME AROUND FOR ALMOST 3 HOURS BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GAFF HER. I ENDED UP ABOUT 15 MILES SOUTH OF WHERE I HOOKED HER, I DO NOT REMEMBER HOW MAY TIMES SHE JUMPED BUT IT WAS NUMEROUS TIMES. ONLY HAD A 2 GAL. FUEL CAN AND I RAN OUT OF FUEL ABOUT 100 YRDS. FROM MY LAUNCHING POINT AND HAD TO PADDLE THE REST OF THE WAY IN AND THAT WAS A JOB DRAGGING A 180# THAT WAS STILL FULL OF FIGHT. I JUST WISHED I HAD A CAMERA BACK THEN TO RECORD THAT FEAT. NOW THAT I HAVE THE CAMERA I HARDLY EVER CATCH FISH BIG ENOUGH TO TAKE PICTURES OF. HA HA
PA
SEMPER FI

Sun Daze,
If you don't mind me asking, where did you catch your pilchards down at Lanark?? East end of Dog Island??

Bonecracker wrote:Sun Daze,
If you don't mind me asking, where did you catch your pilchards down at Lanark?? East end of Dog Island??

Let me borrow one from JHultz. Pilchard spots are like your wife, you don't share them with anyone.
If you do decide to share, do it w a pm.

I like your style David

How big or small of a pilchard do you use for trout? I've never really live baited for them. I'd guess about about a 3 finger size?

Size of the baits usually depends on the time of year. In early spring when the first show up, they'll be small, about 1.5" maybe 2" at most. Last trip they were 3.5 - 4". I've used 2 on a hook before when the baits were small. I've used them as large as 4.5 - 5", but those big ones are rare for me. When you're using larger baits for trout or reds, let the fish run with the bait. I will open the bail and give it about 2 seconds per inch. Example, a 3" bait, I will open the bail count 5 maybe 6 seconds, clod the bail and reel down until feel the weight of the fish, then I will set the hook. I don't use a hard hook set with braid, just reel, then a slight stab and usually am hooked up. No matter the bait size, 6 seconds is about the longest I Iet to let the fish run.

Nice report Sun Daze - Going solo is always kind of fun yet risky. Alot more seems to happen when you are alone. My first hook up with a tarpon was about four years ago, I was also alone. It was about 3:00pm in the afternoon on a falling tide and 100 degrees on the water. I was fishing my way back to the St. Marks lighthouse ramp and was about .25 mile from the light house when she took a live baby blue crab under a bobber. I did not notice untill it was too late. I was tired and ready to head in when I noticed my bobber was swimming toward the stern. I jumped up and realized I had 35 yards of slack in my line. I reeled line is as fast as I could but could not keep up with the bobber. This fish now 25' off my stern and does this slow-motion tail-dance. We see each other eye to eye and she says "not today", and with a whip-like action, throws the empty hook and bobber back at me, crashes back into the water and disappears. I will never forget that day. Every time I hear someone mention Tarpon, I remember that day.

Great Report -