Haha, I love it when this thread gets bumped! Do we count these little guys on the big board? I can make a small scratch

The headless angler

Poquito Sabalo

What wt rod? I bet those would be a blast on a 4 or 5wt. Nice fish.

Thanks, Salt. I was using a 9wt. Way too hefty for that little tot, but there are some bigger tarpon, snook and nurse sharks in the area.

I posted a different tarpon on a previous page (and on page 2 of the saltwater fly fishing thread). Those 2 are a little bigger. Still waiting on something to really strain the 9wt. Or I could get a new rig...

Too many fly rods? No such thing.

Good job Ayto. You are keeping us in the game; in fact, pretty soon you'll be the only one of us still in the game. Keep it up. I think those juvi fish are cool as hell. They seem like they just SCREAM silver and have those huge dark eyes.

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I bet those would be a blast on a 4 or 5wt.

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Wouldn't it though! Mentioning that triggered a thought - I don't know if you guys follow Eric Estrada of Estrada Art on IG @ estrada_art but if you don't I suggest checking him out. He appears in a lot of videos and is popular in the southern FLA tarpon culture. He and some friends struck out last year to catch as many species as they could on a 5wt and chronicled it all in their film "5wt Chronicles".

5WT Chronicles Trailer

The full film premiered at #POONFECTA a week or two ago. I'd hoped Ayto would attend and report but I think he was off treating himself to some sort of backwater adventure in the Everglades; leaving us hanging At 1:00 in the video you will see a glimpse of Nautilus' new X reel that will be available in January '16. Definitely a pre-production reel there.

This kid is not sabalo ready.


Edit - here's a LINK to the gif, it was bogging the page down too much

Thanks CP. The juvis are a blast to catch. It seems like their only instinct is to jump - it's comical. And you're right, the small poon look extra silver imo.

I really wish you would have mentioned poonfecta BEFORE the event... That vid is sweeeet.

Edit: ps, I didn't go to the Everglades on the last trip. I went up to Homosassa and Crystal River to see the landscape A.W. Dimock fished in "The Book of the Tarpon." It's still a pretty wild and natural place.

Well, after that debacle last night in Oxford I had to do something to cheer myself up. That usually involves tying some flies or looking at the forecast for the next flat Gulf day - but as far as tarpon go, I think that is time wasted now. Between the massive red tide, monster seas, today's hurricane strength norther - I'm afraid we can call the 2015 tarpon season closed.

Some of you regulars have seen this clip before. We filmed it one day late this summer and I edited it to make a :15 instagram clip for my daughter. She's the one videoing. We had spotted the fish and putted over close to them when she picked my iPhone to video. The first cast was out there and I'd stripped back pretty close to the boat when he hit. The airshow was breathtaking and soon after he dove in the water the last time he was off. I turned around to Centerpolette and said 'Please tell me you got that' when she replied "well, I think I did, but I messed up a little I got it in slow motion". Haha. What an athletic fish.

Here's the clip that loops 2x like it's made to do in IG, then 1/2 speed, and finally in full speed. And like the commercial says "Filmed entirely with an iPhone 6" Get your hip-hop on.

Needed this after last nights embarrassment.

outstanding. I never noticed the fish that blow up in the back ground until now

...and just like that *poof* he was gone.

BKClark sent me this a while back too - Freakin' big ol' girl gulping air in slow-mo




Related to this picture at all????



Thinking about fishing is working, it's my mind off the issue that's wearing out F5 keys all over Texags.

I posted this one in another thread, maybe two, but always intended to leave it here because it's where it belongs, so I apologize for the repost.

Man that was a great day. Great, great, day.

Do you want me to forget about the Ole Miss loss?



Because that's how you get me to forget about the Ole Miss loss.

Beautiful fish BKClark!

Excellent updates! The 5wt Chronicles and youtube vids are awesome. Here's my first tarpon from 2014. I couldn't believe the size of her tail. Unfortunately, I don't have any better pics.

Edit...idk why imgur messed with the focus...

The Video is from a 175# er in 2014. What you see is the end game after that mean old ***** rag dolled an 18' Maverick for about a mile and a half.

The photo is about an 80# er caught on Buchanan's Bank in Islamorada.

I think CP has a video I sent him of a 140# fish from back in July

Good stuff

First time seeing this thread. Here is a video of a friend of mine on his first tarpoon trip a couple years ago. He got 5 to the boat that morning and broke two rods.

Chance! Outstanding artist!

Great video

Awesome videos guys.

So now in the "it's a rough life but somebody has to do it" category...

...I just got back from a week in St. John (USVI)/Jost Van Dyke with the rib (it was her step-sister's wedding- we were gonna go there anyway but then she decided to get married down there- our 4th trip down there).

View from our room at the resort:



Trunk Bay:



View from the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke, BVI:



There are tarpon down there but there's no flats to fish. It's all deep water stuff. And my stunt liver needs a stunt liver.

Anyway, to the you're gonna hate me part, I leave Wednesday morning for my corporate retreat in Palm Beach which ends Friday at lunch and after that will be a weekend in Islamorada fishing with Drew Moret (Sandy's son).

Where hopefully I'll find a few of these residents on the flats:

Another trip!? I might see you down there. I took this Friday off, and I haven't had a tasty hogfish in a while.

I've been reading fishing reports trying to decide where to go this wkd... I really can't tell what will be more dependable and realistic... resident tarpon, bonefish, or something random like barracuda. Either way, good luck to you! I hope you catch something nice after suffering through the USVI.

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Another trip!? I might see you down there. I took this Friday off, and I haven't had a tasty hogfish in a while.

I've been reading fishing reports trying to decide where to go this wkd... I really can't tell what will be more dependable and realistic... resident tarpon, bonefish, or something random like barracuda. Either way, good luck to you! I hope you catch something nice after suffering through the USVI.

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If you're gonna head that way I'll post up my info and be happy to grab a drink or something. Also, I'm fishing alone so if you want to split a day or something I'm open.

Another Texags hookup.

Ayto shared these with me. They HAVE to go here...

https://instagr.am/p/9RVQe_ytmZ

https://instagr.am/p/9Djmj3ytn4

Check how that bucket mouth sucks mullet in!

Sounds good.
We have a mutual friend on the OB that I can get your contact info from. I'll be in touch.

Time to jump in on this thread. Been down to Costa Rica a couple of times and fished at the Rio Parasmina Lodge with my dad. He's been down there numerous times and I feel blessed when he took me. Next week he is taking my oldest son who is 13 to do some Tarpon fishing. Will post pics when they get back.

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and broke two rods.

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Is that like breaking the same rod twice? This turned out to be a six-piece Xi3 before the fight was over.



JMC94 - the more pics the better!

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I really can't tell what will be more dependable and realistic... resident tarpon, bonefish, or something random like barracuda.

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What's the deal on bonefish in the Keys? I know they're big and I guess rare because I keep hearing/reading them referred to as 'coming back'? Are they reliable enough on the flats to take a purpose trip for bones?

Based on the amount of guides offering bonefish charters, I think a good fly caster has a legit shot at landing one from March-October. Right now is apparently when all the big bonefish are cruising.

After further review, I think the casting requirements will stop me from targeting bonefish at this point.

Ayto - I'm presuming you are worried about distance casting requirements? I can see where that can be an issue for Keys bones because they are big, spooky, and wise from everything I've heard. The good thing about bones is they are voracious eaters with phenomenal eyesight and unlike a redfish or tarpon, they will run a mile to a fly as long as they see it. The Bahamas is great for bones and you're close enough to make that happen soon. With reasonable casting skills you should have no problem in the Bahamas.

Finn - what is this the fourth trip this year? Have you thought of moving to FL??? No need to buy a boat, bro! You're renting one every couple months.

we need a bonefish thread!

J/K,

Bonefishing in the Bahamas is significantly easier than the Keys. Generally smaller less wary fish, although there are some pigs on Grand Bahama and Chub Key

I think it's generally accepted by the guides in the Keys that bonefish number are way down. I've only fished for them a couple times when the tide was just right or it was too windy to tarpon. I've never seen very many on those times but they can be big

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Finn - what is this the fourth trip this year? Have you thought of moving to FL??? No need to buy a boat, bro! You're renting one every couple months.

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2 trips to LA in February for bull reds.

Tarpon trip to the FL Panhandle in June

Key West in August.

Islamorada this weekend.

I have a very understanding wife.

But, full disclosure, we were already going to be in Key West because my wife's company puts on awesome sales rewards trips to awesome places and because she's managing those people and sets up the trip she gets to go and I'm the beneficiary of such trips. And in locations like this on she knows I'd be completely miserable if I didn't get to fish.

And this Islamorada trip is piggy-backing off my company's annual corporate retreat which is Wednesday - Friday in Palm Beach.

Landed this 120# poon on the fly today. I'm so excited.



Had 2 other shots today but didn't get bit. This baby was my first shot of the day. Big, old laid up poon way up Florida Bay from Islamorada.

Oh, and on a 20# class tippet. A lot of guides down here are sticklers for using the IGFA approved tarpon recipe. And since my guide was the the son of one of the guys who came up with the tarpon standards...

...when in Rome I guess.

Congrats on getting your cherry popped, Finn!!! Excellent work!

Awesome fish!!

Looks like you might've been near Buchanan's Bank?

Not exactly sure where we were at but I caught that poon closer to Flamingo than Islamorada. Probably a little way west of Rabbit Key if I'm reading Google Earth right.