Heading home tomorrow. Got another balmy morning on the flat for a couple hours. Same scenario...Couple of lazy tarpon rolls very sporadic. Let the wind drift me into the few fish. Stuck a real nice 40 lber that I fought for about 2 minutes with about 15 great jumps, before he spit the fly on a twisting backflip. Late morning, the fish disappeared, Crystal called me ready to go to the beach.
" 10 more minutes.". She agreed
On my last pass, bidding farewell to my empty favorite tarpon flat; I began blindcasting to open choppy water, I hooked and battled a 30 lb fish that would not quit fighting. Wore him down boatside in about 15 minutes.
As I got him to the boat....I nervously realized the dilemma of solo tarpon fishing...
You have to take a leap of faith to handline the shock leader and control the fish's lower jaw.....while praying you don't miss and break or lose your flyrod. I really lucked out on this yesterday.
I got a firm jaw grip with my gloved hand...but he thrashed like a musky and I lost my grip. Luckily the fly came loose and I left the water with all my gear, and a slightly bent hook. No photos, but yesterday's fish was the best one anyways.
I'm so blessed to experience Two more great encounters with these fish.
Gonna hit the Jetty tomorrow morning before sunrise, then its back to East TN.