Growing up as a kid, we would get American magazines like Sport Fishing Mag, Fly Fishing in Salt Waters, etc every now and then, these were treated like gold dust and they would be so well read and every picture closely inspected till the magazine would fall to pieces. In these magazines we would see fish like redfish, bluefin tuna, strippers and of course the legendary tarpon! All I wished as a youngster was that I would one day be able to fish for tarpon on fly.
That day finally came, Michael J LaSota came with Jeff Currier to Dubai in April and we chatted about fishing for Tarpon in Tampa as they are some of the biggest around and Mike said if I ever have the chance to get to Florida he would sort out a trip with a great young guide. Greg Peterson from Head Shot Charters (www.headshotcharters.com). After a lot of thought and planning I managed to put together a trip to fish in Cape Cod for Bluefin Tuna, go to iCast and then met up with Mike and Greg to fish for tarpon! Mike true to his word, sorted out a fantastic trip!
After some last minute planning, the trip was booked and I was extremely excited, but as with any trip there is always a few issues, namely weather. After a great iCast Fishing Exhibition in Orlando where I got to meet a lot of fantastic people and got some lines from RIO, rod from Sage–the Salt 1290 and chatted with Jeff at Abel Reels, I was as ready as I could ever be! But the stinger was that the weather was looking terrible! Wind, rain and storms! But Greg said to still come through from Orlando to Tampa and we would do what we could do!
My excitement was obviously through the roof but I could see that it was going to be a battle; firstly it was not peak season so the fishing was going to be tough even with good weather. I got chatting to Mike and Greg and I quickly realised I was in a whole new ball game flyfishing for tarpon and I listened and tried to take in as much as possible from equipment set up, leaders, flies, casting, hooking and landing a tarpon!
With all this, the morning arrived and we stalled before we left the house with rain storms pushing through, but after a few hours Greg said let’s get moving and we would try some close spots. Greg is about 500m from the slip and we launched and headed out. We tried a few spots for smaller tarpon but we got chased off the water a couple of times by massive storms. I was quite happy at first to see rain after the scorching heat of Dubai, but after a few storms it was not so much fun anymore!
The next three days, Greg tried every trick in the book and we tried every different place imaginable! I came to realise Greg loves tarpon and the new places and things that can only come from a lot of time on the water and more so thinking and reading water. Every time we did see fish, they just would not take the bait, or the water was dirty, or the wind got up, or it started raining!With more people struck by lightning in Tampa than the rest of the United States, Greg took no chances and almost kept us dry and lightning free by running ahead of the storms. I was still having an amazing time seeing new places and experiencing new things but I was running out of days.
Finally after three very difficult days with a few hits but no hook-ups, Greg and Mike said that the last day, day four was the day we were going to give it everything and that we would basically stay out till we had some action. The weather was improving and it was game on!
We got to the first spot and before I got in the “cage” on the front of Greg’s 17ft Maverick Flats Boat the first big tarpon rolled! Adrenaline kicked in and I missed the shot, but the boys were fired up! We had several fantastic shots and I could now fully see Greg’s skill pulling us to fish and getting me several shots at tailing fish. After some great shots I still had not hooked up or had a strike from a big tarpon. With frayed nerves and adrenaline pumping through my veins, I handed over the cage to Mike. We tried a couple of spots and then Mike got a great shot at big fish. Two fishes swam in towards the boat and Mike put in a great cast and bang! Fish on! Totally amazing and the fish gave a great show, the fish was above 120lbs and Mike gave her the gears and had an epic battle with the tarpon and got the fish to the boat —great fish and bit of skill. Also it was good to see how it was done firsthand!
Next, I was back in the cage and within a couple of minutes Greg shouted out “two fishes, 5 o’clock!” I turned and saw the fishing coming in towards the boat, and put in a cast leading the front fish, Greg gave me the strip pace required to get the fly in front on the fish and I saw the big fish turn up towards the fly, breach and take the fly with its head half out of the water and a fly disappearing down a huge bucket mouth! I started strip striking but the fish kept on coming towards the boat and for a moment I thought the fish was going to drop the fly, but the fish swam pass the boat and I put in about six strip strikes till I heard in unison from Greg and Mike “I think you’re good!” The fish took off with a monster jump and finally after all of the waiting and planning, I was hooked onto a big tarpon! The adrenaline pumped and I had to calm down and enjoy the fight. I thought it would be hard but a big tarpon is one tough customer. We got pulled all over the ocean with Greg on the controls keeping me up close and with the ongoing advise keeping me in the game. The fight is totally different from anything I have experienced, and I enjoyed every second. After about 30 minutes, I got the fish close enough to Greg to have a shot at lipping the fish but only to pull away again. A few more heart stopping moments and finally Greg managed to get the leader and land the tarpon! A pure bar of silver and estimated in the 100lbs range. It was everything I had hoped and more!
The fight is totally different from anything I have experienced, and I enjoyed every second.
We got a load of pictures keeping the fish in the water all of the time and revived the fish to release! Alot of high fives followed by a great lunch at a restaurant on a pier out in the ocean. Mission accomplished and I look forward to the return trip next year! A fantastic experience and I would like to say a huge thank you to Mike for making the arrangements and to Capt Greg, who is a fantastic guide and host – and without his knowledge and skill, I would not have even got close to catching such a great fish in such tough conditions!
Fishing Gear Used:
Rod: Sage Salt 1290
Reel: Abel Super 12
Line: RIO Tarpon Quickshooter 12F/I
Leader: Hatch 60lbs Fluorocarbon Leader
Backing: Hatch 65lbs backing.
For more information or fishing products, please see our website www.oceanactive.com or visit us in our shop in the Dubai Garden Center.
Words By: Nick Bowles
