Fished in my kayak about a half mile outside 2004 bridge toward the bay. I beached the kayak on a point by the channel and caught some finger mullet in my castnet to use for bait. Ended up catching 1 26 inch red, four keeper trout, and 7 or 8 huge gaftop. Kept the reds and trout and let the gaftop go. Highlight of the trip was hooking into a 30 or 40 pound tarpon. He jumped once and I fought him for 10 minutes or so before he decided to head for West Bay. In hindsight I should have jumped in my kayak and let for take me for a ride but I think I was still in shock that I hooked a tarpon. What a thrill to fight. It took me awhile to settle down after that. What a blast.
Chocolate Bay. Tarpon!!!
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Nice. Here I sit at work not having fun.
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Wow that was awesome!!!
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Nice job on the tarpon. Good to hear that some people are getting back to fishing after Ike.
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Take a look a the pictures at Lutes Marine....there is a guy there holding one about 50lbs
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Sounds like fun, I found some wading in the surf about a month ago, I couldnt belive it either. How did the water look out there?
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sounds like a lost tarpon. i guess we could name it ike...kcross said:
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9,461 Posts
Nice to see a report.. Shoot If you have the time and can get there Fish On... It part of the rebuilding process. I hope to go out, but the tree company is getting ready to clear the way for the lines..
Still not power... It wont be long.
For those going out, remember to go SLOW and remember all the debris in the hidden places.. The ship channel may be the safest travel path for a while.. ICW #2
Still not power... It wont be long.
For those going out, remember to go SLOW and remember all the debris in the hidden places.. The ship channel may be the safest travel path for a while.. ICW #2
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1,593 Posts
Congrats on the tarpon hook up, but beware of the addiction that often follows
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I thought you were a good enough fisherman than to confuse a ladyfish for a tarpon. Ill bet the specks were really mullet. Had to rib you a bit . Good job
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Capt. Lowtide is correct about the addiction. My first trip to Key West I set the hook on a GOOD one and when it turned it ripped the front treble off one of the old Bomber 7" mullets. I had to go back. Next trip, right outside the marina, I stuck a 75# approx. that never stopped jumping until it went around a piling and cut the line. No ping, it was just gone. We rerigged in the dark. We saw a huge swirl and I cast just behind and up-current of it. Small,short shanked jig w/ a crab the size of a half dollar. I feathered the line as it drifted into the Marina and then I felt it. It is like no other tap. Reeled down quickly and set the hook w/ all I had. There is no way to describe what happened next. 40 minutes later the hastily retied leader broke just below the bimini. Not at a knot,not on any thing. That is tarpon fishing and I can't get enough. If I lived where they do all the time, I'd go before and after work. When you set the hook and they imediately go vertical, it is so close and personal I don't know what to say,but the the guy who stuck one in Chocolate on trout tackle does.
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688 Posts
I have seen tarpon a couple of times in the bays after ike. I have never seen them in the bays before. Mostly in trinity.
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