My First Big Tarpon Hook Up..
On July 7, 2019 by fishingamericatoday
My son and I went out of Port ST John’s Boat ramp on the Indian River Lagoon yesterday morning, Reason ?, I found this sand bar on Map quest. It did not show up on Google or Bing! So I was hoping there might be some bait there . Wrong there was very little bait around. We saw one little school of green backs and got 20 or so in the live well.
After I had enough of the catfish eating all my Gulps. I noticed on the map there was one little spot down that shore line where the mangroves were in the water and actually hanging over the water. Now before joining Salt Strong I never would have payed that any mind, I would have stayed in the deep water getting frustrated with catfish.. and I still have my misgivings about the water only being knee deep.
We anchored up, Bow into the wind 5 to 10 mph, Put the live green backs out free lining. now I have never caught or as far as I know ever hooked up on a Tarpon.
After about 10 min sitting there wondering if I made the right decision there was this big boil about 15 yards off the bank side of the boat, so I turn to grab my jerk bait pole. When there is an explosion by the trees and one of my rods double over and goes to screaming drag. I grabbed my rod set the hook (Circle Hook ;( ) Then this 3 foot Tarpon comes jumping out the water and just dancing all over the top of the water for me. For 30 seconds me and that beast were one. Then as quick as it began it was over, as she came up for one more look she threw my hook back at me and said bye. Hooked up 2 more times on smaller ones and not remembering to not set the hook with circle hooks cost me but I’m learning. There were boats in the( no entry zone) fishing the currents but we didn’t see anyone land anything. What are your thoughts on this area? On a side note, I think a love affair has begun for me and the POON… Till next time, God Bless And Tight Lines
STRIKE SCORE 6.7
