Now, here's a fish...

Post by **Apalach** » April 10th, 2006, 1:57 pm

A 57.3 lb white sea bass caught off the SoCal coast on Fri., 7 April by Jim Webb from a Hobie Outback. Although it looks bigger than Bakertize's, I think it was just the camera angle...

Post by **Charles** » April 10th, 2006, 4:22 pm

I first learned about those when I was stationed at Camp Pendleton, CA. The first thing that crossed my mind, and I still want to do it some day, is get one about that size mounted, paint black spots on it, and hang it in the livingroom.

Even better if I got 'im spearfishing.

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » April 11th, 2006, 8:58 am

Our Tarpon WILL be bigger.

Post by **Bakertize** » April 13th, 2006, 9:51 am

did some one say TARPON lets GO

we should start working on this one. can we get a meeting up to discus this further.
any ideas or suggestions on when and where.

Post by **MTeal** » April 13th, 2006, 10:38 am

Any day Tarpon are here...some reports from Spring Creek area seeing the poon. Water temp is just about right! 72 is the magic number.

Post by **Apalach** » April 13th, 2006, 10:48 am

Yep--but wouldn't this have to be a mother ship trip of some sort, to either carry the yaks onboard or tow behind, in order to get out to the tarpon flats? Seems like it would be far too long a trip to get out there and back by yak alone, at least for this wimp! I know of a guide in Chokoloskee (Captain Charles Wright) who does this for his tarpon trips into the heart of the Everglades, but don't know of anyone up in this area so equipped. Capt. Wright uses a 24-foot Carolina Skiff to carry up to six anglers, their yaks (in this case, his yaks) and gear to the action. Hereâ€™s a pic and link. If someone had access to a large pontoon boat, that would also work. Any ideas??

http://www.chokoloskeecharters.com/Moth ... 0trips.htm

Post by **MTeal** » April 13th, 2006, 12:18 pm

One easy paddling tarpon trip would be Alligator Bay, inside Alligator Point. There is a sand landing in the middle of the bay on Hwy 98 that you could launch from and the tarpon are right out in the middle to the front of the bay (once the bait gets here). If you want to live bait for them, great area to go. This would be a great place for a group trip.

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » April 13th, 2006, 12:30 pm

MTeal wrote:One easy paddling tarpon trip would be Alligator Bay, inside Alligator Point. There is a sand landing in the middle of the bay on Hwy 98 that you could launch from and the tarpon are right out in the middle to the front of the bay (once the bait gets here). If you want to live bait for them, great area to go. This would be a great place for a group trip.

Hey There MTeal, Welcome to the neighborhood. Sounds like you're not exactly "new" to the territory though. You're spot on with the A-Point plan. "Mud Cove #2" on the Top Spot maps. We will make it happen.
The only mother ship I plan on is to make sure somebody has cell service, which ain't easy around there.

Post by **Apalach** » April 13th, 2006, 3:02 pm

Hmmm--that's pretty interesting that one might be able to catch a large (+50 lbs.??) tarpon in Alligator Harbor. Do you guys know of anyone who has ever caught a good-sized tarpon there (say >25 lbs.)? I couldn't find any records of this, but I'm sure it wouldn't be a secret very long if someone had. Also, what kinds of bait/lures/rigs would one use for large tarpon up here on spinning tackle?

Post by **MTeal** » April 13th, 2006, 3:16 pm

Apalach, the tarpon in the bay are definately >25lbs on up. Live bait is the best tactic in the bay because there is so much bait stacked up in there (when it gets here). Although, where there is bait, there are sharks and sailcats. Also, big "plugs" can work also.

Littoral, I've been lucky enough to fish that area growing up and know several people that know it pretty well too. The negative with Mud Cove is that it is open water and deeper and you get a big tarpon on in your kayak, hold on. The bay is better protected and farther from deep water for the tarpon to run to. Although, somebodys gotta try it!

Sounds like a plan to get a group together.

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » April 13th, 2006, 3:40 pm

Apalach, the last 2 summers I could count on some +100lbs real close to a place you know very well.
First light till ~7 and they'd be there, rolling through the "cut".
I hear the artifical of choice is a DOA Baitbuster or something similar. It's a big rubber fish mimic. Calcutta & others make em. That's what I'd likely do to avoid the cats & sharks.

Post by **Apalach** » April 13th, 2006, 5:16 pm

Thanks MTeal and Litt-good stuff. I may have to break out my Super ChugBug for the occasion. I just came across this a coupla days ago. I made this baby up some years back when Doc and I were targeting big AJ off the K Tower. As luck would have it, our boss at the time was in his boat about 15 yards away. When I pulled this plug out and held it up, he began laughing uproariously. In fact, he commented in no uncertain terms that there was no way I was going to catch anything with that plug! I was fishing with my medium fiberglass boat rod with my Shimano Baitrunner 650 (now the 6500) on it. Anyway, on our first drift by the Tower, while Doc was still getting rigged, I tossed this baby out so it would be over the barge about 60 feet down. I was just getting the Baitrunner lever set when I noticed a swirl just behind the plug and then it disappeared! I had made the plug with plenty of â€œreverse gillsâ€

Littoral · Post by **Littoral** » April 14th, 2006, 7:40 am

Nice story -tenure ain't too bad either

.

Post by **Bakertize** » April 14th, 2006, 10:04 am

hey guys I mite have access to a pontoon boat for some of this action.
Charles and I have been putting some hours into it and it should be ready soon just a few small bugs to work out.
but it's not a huge pontoon and would have limited space.