OT: Tarpon report

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"Salt Life" ....

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Yea, obviously I didnt pick that title..

How many breeders did yall float?

I dont know, low O2 in the water in this heat, lighter tackle resulting in longer fights, recipe for genocide.

Edawg, ignore me. Im just fricking with you.

You get the extended warranty on that evinrude?

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Im pickin' up what you're puttin' down. Its good to see people that understand this. I use heavier than normal gear for these. In fact, I use the same rods that I use for tarpon and big shark. We usually get them in pretty quick, snap a photo and then hold them into the current til they start kicking again. I only use circle hooks as well.

I do this for a living and the last thing I, or any other Captain, wants to do is kill these big girls.

ETA: Just saw your other post.

No warranty left on that motor. Damn thing's got almost 3000 hours on it, though.

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Those fish will survive...the pressure that ya'll are putting on 'em is the ticket...circle hooks and getting them to the boat and released in a hurry. Reds are pretty tough...Tarpon, on the other hand, are, in my opinion, almost impossible to release to live....I prefer for 'em to get off pretty quick....it is a sick feeling to see a 100 pound fish fight to near death, be revived at the boat for a long period of time only to roll over and sink to the bottom when finally released....I have put away the long rod because of it...I ain't buying that you can release a 60 pound or more Tarpon caught on a 12 weight rod successfully....

Edawg,

We need to talk about an outing for myself and some friends! I'll get your contact info. Also let me know if there's a DAWGRANT discount!

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I have released 100s of tarpon. As long as the sharks don't get em they are good. "redfish" as the yanks call them, do not like coming up fast in water deeper than 35'. That's why they float around Charleston way. The breeders they catch in the shipping channel don't have a real good chance even in cooler water.

Been a good year for tarpon all the way up to Georgetown from what I am hearing.

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It is possible to release a Tarpon alive but it takes some effort. And don't discount the number of that do fall prey to predators even days after being released. Again heavy tackle and, if using bait, circle hooks make a huge difference. I would bet that at least 75% of all Tarpon who are brought into (not alongside) a boat on a fly rod do not survive for more than 48 hours....I have never seen any stats to support this theory but my experience with catching pretty decent fish of all kinds on some very light tackle over the years and knowing now how hard light tackle fishing is on the fish itself leads me to believe that many, many of these fish simply don't make it.

at any rate careful handling boat side, never using a net, never lifting a fish clear of the water and using appropriate tackle, including terminal tackle, can increase the odds considerably.....