re: OT: Tarpon report

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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.....