I met a real good angler today while out on the trail fishing for Tarpon and Snook. He is from the Miami area and had his canoe and a buddy who was spin fishing with him. I could tell he was a good angler because he saw the Tarpon I was casting to and courteously gave me some space while I worked the fish. Later on, he hooked up with a baby Tarpon and I took these pictures.




I wish I could remember the angler's name because we shared so much enthusiasm for fly fishing, I think it would be fun to fish together again. We traded flies and remarked to each other how fraternal fly fishers are.

It was a few hours before I hooked a Tarpon, but when I did, I felt pretty humbled. This fish was maybe a third bigger than the fish above and was perhaps 25 lb. The surging runs and leaps were spectacular and the strength of the fish was awesome. My arm was aching as I pushed the 9-weight applying side pressure. I knew it would be next to impossible to bring this fish to hand because of the steep bank and deep water, but I was content to play the Tarpon until he was spent and rolled on his side to say goodbye.

I have caught fish before, but no fish I have ever hooked has thrilled me as much as this Tarpon did today. Maybe I will consider buying a heavier rod. I'll be staring at the rack all next week.

sweet marsh - that is awesome. i can't believe your hooking all these baby tarpon while on foot - that is so cool. now you just gotta land one - but i realize that it's not an easy thing to do. nice job - love reading your reports and seeing your great photos. keep em coming.

It´s very addictive! I stood at pond X untill midnight after losing fish after fish. I was just hoping for a second chance every time the fish got away.
Those fish are pure dynamite on the fly rod.

I hope I can visit Naples this fall again and find another spot to fish for Baby Tarpon again.

start practicing driving so you can use my car this fall to access more spots. theres peacock bass near miami etc etc

What about a kayak behind the store ? I think I could manage
fishing the docks from a kayak for a change.

I don´t think Michael will be visiting Naples this fall.
First of all he has job trouble and secondly he never forgot
your typing joke. He even hardly talks to us anymore.

Marshall, I guess you weren't kidding about posting those pictures up. I'm the "good angler" you met Sunday out on the trail. I'm glad I got the monkey off my back with that tarpon earlier on because the rest of the day was tough indeed. Of course the sun taking numerous breaks and me doing most of the poling didn't help much either. The learning curve gets pretty steep when it comes to sight fishing snook in clear skinny back country waters. We saw about 16+ slot size and up snook....and those are the ones I saw. If I counted the mud boils when the sun was down I'm sure the it'd be well in the thirties. My buddy had about 3 good shots with soft plastics and I one with a bunny tail/palmered webby hackle fly....needless to say he wasn't interested in the fly and the others didn't like the sight of spinning tackle. I don't blame em.
The name is Bobby by the way but I won't hold anything against you for not remembering. Tarpon tend to have that effect on people. Just imagine what a bonefish could do.
B

Macabi,

Tarpon have had an effect on me for sure, memory bank blanked, wiped clean by hard pulls and silvery leaps. I tried to recall, but couldn't til now... last name is Gibson! I'm glad you "found" us here and I sure hope you chime in with a report now and then. I know I'd like to hear more about poling in the backcountry and your adventures.

I'm heading out there again today. Got to get there early to catch the 'feeding window' which doesn't always last long. Matter of fact, after you hooked that Tarpon in the picture, the place went calm for a couple of hours. Seems we hit the tail end of the bite. A few dropped in to the bays and trapped some more baitfishes, but were not as active as they were early on.

Thanks for the little Clouser, let's trade some more.

Bonefishing...Miami style.....hmmmm, now that has me forgetting my own name!

hey marshal sure look like your having a good time down there hope to meet up with youiup here some time this summer have fun keep posting those great pictures so use guys can be jealous there calling for 8 to 10 in of the white stuff for thursday in to friday up here just think of all the fun your missing tight lines

Marsh, I am looking for a 10 weight so if you cast one you think is a must have post it or call.
I am also buying a squareback canoe from old town, they sell them here @ Osprey bay kayaks. And I already have a minn-kota 55lbs to mount on the back. Looking forward to dropping anchor during the last minutes of a big tarpon fight.

Mike,

We just ordered a bunch of rods including a 10-weight. I'll be putting them on the rack and I'll check-chuck them for you for sure. Just about all of the salt rods here are tip-flex and 4-piece, which is as it should be given the windy conditions and long casts required and also transporting them on the airlines.

Curtis Grant gave me a copy of his Vol 1 DVD "FLIES OF THE EVERGLADES" Tying Flies for Permit-Gruper-Snook-Triple Tail- Billfish. and it's awsome. Easy-to follow stops, clear, simple teaching echnique. Curtis' own new twists on kiler patterns. I'm going to ask him if we can stock some copies in the shop.

give me a shout when you want to hook up and fish.

Marsh

Wow can't believe it's been a month. I bought a 16 ft American Eagle canoe/with my trusty 55lbs. Minn-Kota fixed on back. I have been chasing redfish, and Snook. Right behind my place, Mangrove Point never another sole here, just me, a dolphin, and some BIG shadows. Love to fish with you for some Tarpon, and cast a couple of 10 to 12 weights. I will also be fishing the upper K during May. And will probally fly home for the ffim conclave. Can't wait to be home on the riva'! Although I love chasing fish here as well. Raining pretty hard here in St. Pete. If I could ever figure how to post pictures I would show off my reds and Snook. Mayby you could remind me how? Any day it rains I have off so if you want to go out in the rain, or a sunny day in the canoe just shoot me a line.

Mike,

Check your PMs. Good going on the Kayak. Let's get together and fish.