I met my friend and client Tommy at the boat ramp for a little night Tarpon fishing. As we pulled away from the ramp he asked if the Tarpon are thick yet, i told him i will let you answer that question your self at the end of the trip. I put the Maverick up on a plane as we headed south for a 10 min run to the Bridge we are going to fish on the incoming tide with a light east wind so every thing sets up perfect. As we setup we see a 60lb Tarpon swim 5 feet in front of the boat so i grab a spinning rod with a Daiwa Saltist spinning reel with a DOA Baitbuster on it and told Tommy the next Tarpon that comes by lead it by a few feet and reel and if he eats it set the hook sideways. Will it didn’t take long as i was rigging a fly rod i hear Tommy scream I’m on and it’s a pig. I unhook and start the motor up and start to chase the Tarpon down as we head out the tarpon turns around and starts heading back to the bridge and starts to jump and it look to be around a 120lb fish as Tommy fights this tarpon i get my gloves on so when the fish comes to the boat we can unhook it quick . As Tommy gets the Tarpon close i reach down and grab him and it was a pig around a buck twenty a nice Tarpon as we release it I asked him are you ready for more he said its your turn on the fly as we pull up to a new light we ease in and jackpot a stall of Tarpon around 20 to 30 Tarpon milling around as he held the skiff i laid the fly in front of a fish and I’m on the tarpon jumps and comes unbuttoned so i get ready for the next one to come bye and its a little 30lb and i tossed the fly in front of him and he follows the fly and inhales it I’m on this tarpon gos nuts and starts jumping around in the stall and 5 mins later i get him boat side and released as the night goes on we jumped 12 tarpon and boated 6 not bad for a night of Tarpon fishing so i asked Tommy so do you think there thick yet.
Capt. Jim Lemke
813-917-4989 cell
