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[hipshot]

Here's another video I thought I'd offer up to share. Most of my favorite vimeo vids are redfish oriented, but this one has always given me a huge thrill. While I've caught quite a few tarpon on the fly, I've never tried it from a float tube. And I probably never will..................

Last year when Marigold and I went down to Aransas Pass to fish Lighthouse Lakes, as soon as we set up the RV in Rockport I drove down to the pass check out my intended launch spot in the daylight, since I planned to launch before sunup. I knew if I took the fishing gear, I'd end up launching and fishing, and I needed to get back, so I left the tackle behind (and wished like hell I'd taken it). I found the kayak launch and met an old man just coming in at sunset. He was in his 80's and retired. He told me that when he retired, he and his bride sold their house and bought a big fifth-wheel RV with a one-ton truck. They toured the country flyfishing, picking seasonal locations; they spent a lot of time in Florida, a lot of time in Louisiana, a lot of time in the Texas coastal bend and south Texas, and a lot of time in the Rockies chasing trout. He told me they kept coming back to Rockport; it became their favorite place to stay (as it has for Marigold and me). Last year they finally pulled the trigger on a lot in Rockport, and built a house. He fishes pretty much every day now in waters that he knows and loves. We swapped some lies about fish and fishing, and since we both tie our own, we traded some flies. He told me that the day before he had been fishing right there where we were talking, and had hooked a tarpon on a fly. In all of his years of fishing in Texas, this was the first Texas tarpon he had hooked. Now, tarpon were still plentiful off the Texas coast back in the 50s, but by the 60s they were declining rapidly. They soon became nearly nonexistent in Texas. In recent times they have begun to make a comeback. They are occasionally caught off the upper Texas coast, and the further down the coast one goes the more frequently they are encountered. But catching a tarpon in Texas, especially on the fly, is still a very special event. The old man was really stoked. Tarpon are probably best known for their bad habit of falling off of the hook. They have a massive upper maxilliary that is like steel; hooks very seldom penetrate it to the barb. When they jump, they shake their heads violently. A lure with any weight to it is easily thrown. And if they land on the line, they often break it. So the technique for tarpon fishing involves giving the fish slack when it jumps. One bows toward the fish, extending the rod to quickly throw slack in the line. Since tarpon are also known as "Silver Kings", this technique is referred to as "bowing to the King."

Anyway, most tarpon fall off the hook on the first jump. When the old man (I wish I could recall his name, but I just can't) hooked his tarpon, he stayed hooked up for three jumps. He was as excited as a kid at Christmas, and was planning to fish that area every day until he managed to land a tarpon. He invited me to his flyfishing club's meeting that evening in Rockport --  an honor; their organization is known to saltwater fly anglers throughout the state -- but I had to decline; I didn't want to leave Marigold alone the first night in a town where she knew nobody.

I hope he's landed his tarpon. I know that whether or not he's succeeded, he's enjoyed the endeavor to its fullest. So, in his memory, and in the hope that he has fulfilled his quest, I offer this video to the anglers in the group for your enjoyment:

Tapâm - a flyfishing journey on Vimeo

[hipshot]

Not sure what the malfunction was, but click on the header beneath the video screen if you want to watch the video.

[hooter]

Jim that sure looks like fun but I'm afraid my ole ticker would give out from the shock of seeing a fish that big on my line! Think I'll just sit on the bank and 

[wwaggett]

That was very cool. Thanks for sharing.

[Tweetys_Revenge]

Very cool    But but as Hooter said Id be afraid of the fish making lunch out of me

[hipshot]

Tarpon don't eat people; they pretty much stick to fish, shrimp, and crabs.

[hooter]

Tarpon don't eat people; they pretty much stick to fish, shrimp, and crabs.

Jim, everybody here knows your very knowledgeable of the feeding habits and habiats of the very different kinds of fish in our wonderful Coastal areas and all but, I have to ask a question. I've done a little, very little salt water fishing and everything I ever caught always had BIG and UGLY teeth that always kinda said "keep your fingers and hands outa my reach". You say they pretty much stick to fish, shrimp, and crabs, well, I didn't go to Dental College for fish or other carnivorous things but the teeth that I see in this picture is not for chewing and if the person holding the fish knows they don't eat people, why has he got a mest glove on his hand???


 

[Tweetys_Revenge]

Tarpon don't eat people; they pretty much stick to fish, shrimp, and crabs.

If it has teeth it can bite just not much of a fisherman myself great video always amazes me how guys can spend hrs fighting fish deep sea fishing I will hang in the back and drink a CRB (cool refreshing beverage) and watch and help as needed more of a chill type person.

[hipshot]

Al, that's a barracuda. They got's teeth. I know; I've bled on them before. A tarpon is basically a giant herring. It has no teeth.
That said, I've no doubt that there were sharks in that water. If they're catching tarpon and jacks, the sharks are there. But whatever swims there, the video was awesome, wasn't it?

[Gumbo]

Tarpon don't eat people; they pretty much stick to fish, shrimp, and crabs.

You must be catching the little ones -- I've opened em up and found legs 

[hooter]

Al, that's a barracuda. They got's teeth. I know; I've bled on them before. A tarpon is basically a giant herring. It has no teeth.
That said, I've no doubt that there were sharks in that water. If they're catching tarpon and jacks, the sharks are there. But whatever swims there, the video was awesome, wasn't it?

    Yes it is an awesom video and all the jokin and leg pulling aside, I would love to do that, scary, but still be fun.