LANDING A 209LB TARPON FROM A KAYAK
It was complete amateur hour for me today. After chasing and learning about tarpon for the past 4 seasons in St. Petersburg, Florida, God blessed me with a catch and a tale I’ll never forget. Click the video below to watch the entire adventure unfold!
AMATEUR HOUR – KAYAK FISHING TAMPA BAY, FL
Each season I learned a little more. Each season I jumped a few more. This trip I jumped one, lost it, and immediately hooked up with this one. After fighting it for 15 minutes I realized how big this fish really was and it was at that moment my excitement turn to controlled panic. In my mind I pictured a scene where I’d land this fish and take one of those half over the rail kayak pictures. Each time this tarpon came up for air, it became more and more real that I was going to have to figure out a plan B.
I leadered the fish 5 or 6 times trying to find a way to land and de-hook it as I was in the middle of the bay being pulled away from the sand bar. I noticed a familiar face pull up on a boat and it was my buddies Chris & Owen. They coached me through a plan to land this tarpon. I finally made it close to the sandbar and jumped out. I was NOT on the sandbar. By the time I was able to safely jump out, I drifted and found myself in chest deep water trying to tame this beast. Before I knew it, I was in 8 feet of water. I swam over to my buddy’s boat and threw the rod in. Owen quickly got us de-hooked and we got our pictures.
I learned a TON this trip and I’m thankful my buddies pulled up just in time to help me get these core memory pics I can share with my kids. I wanted to catch my first tarpon in my hometown, St Petersburg, FL. I am so blessed that I was able to do that. To book your next kayak tarpon trip, call me. LOL. Just kidding. In all seriousness, I’m grateful for this insane experience. So much to learn and a few mistakes to correct. I may or may not be fully addicted to tarpon fishing now.
I leadered the fish 5 or 6 times trying to find a way to land and de-hook it as I was in the middle of the bay being pulled away from the sand bar. I noticed a familiar face pull up on a boat and it was my buddies Chris & Owen. They coached me through a plan to land this tarpon. I finally made it close to the sandbar and jumped out. I was NOT on the sandbar. By the time I was able to safely jump out, I drifted and found myself in chest deep water trying to tame this beast. Before I knew it, I was in 8 feet of water. I swam over to my buddy’s boat and threw the rod in. Owen quickly got us de-hooked and we got our pictures.
I learned a TON this trip and I’m thankful my buddies pulled up just in time to help me get these core memory pics I can share with my kids. I wanted to catch my first tarpon in my hometown, St Petersburg, FL. I am so blessed that I was able to do that. To book your next kayak tarpon trip, call me. LOL. Just kidding. In all seriousness, I’m grateful for this insane experience. So much to learn and a few mistakes to correct. I may or may not be fully addicted to tarpon fishing now.