A 200-pounder to start the week

Sorry it has been a while since my last report — I am just so busy during tarpon season it is hard to find the time. It is pretty much eat, sleep and fish this time of year, and I barely have time for the eat and sleep part.

I started fishing tarpon the first week of May, as I always do. It began well, then a few late cool snaps slowed us down. The first few weeks had a lot of inconsistency — one day I would hook eight or ten, the next I would struggle for a couple. It is tough on those hard days, but honestly I enjoy them. It feels good after a long struggling day when a client finally sinks the hook, knowing only a small percentage of charters could have pulled it off.

This past week has been solid. Today we landed four, the largest a real monster, well over 200 pounds and my largest fish of the year. We started with a 75-pounder, then a 100, then a 130-class fish, then the big boy. Water temperatures are staying cool late this year, so I expect to stay on them until at least the middle of July, maybe closer to the end.

Tarpon fishing is the most tiring, challenging, technical fishing I do. I stay so focused all day that the hours fly by like minutes. It is also the most exciting, and by far my favorite fish to target. I can’t wait for tomorrow morning.