Kat scans the south Florida waters for tarpon
I would guess the vision of standing on the casting deck of a shallow water boat in south Florida sight casting to 100 pound tarpon has drifted through every fisherman’s dreams at one time or another.
Back in February I fished with Captain Joe Harley for tailing reds and while fishing we discussed the upcoming tarpon fishing season. A few days after that trip, I called Captain Joe and booked a tarpon fishing trip. Normally I like to explore new adventures on my own, but this time he had the boat and years of know-how. Tarpon fishing is the real deal, and attempting to hook and land a fish in the 100 pound class with a relatively light rod and reel takes a level of expertise that I knew Captain Joe could provide.
Calm waters wait to erupt
We met at Captain Joe’s canal front home and fishermen hangout at 10:00 am. Which was good because Saturday night was a late one, but that is a story for another day. After a short boat ride around Pine Island, he cut the motor and jumped up onto the poling platform.
Captain Joe Harley would be my recommendation for a great time on the water when you find yourself in or around the Pine Island FL area.
The clear water was only a few feet deep and with my polarized sunglasses I could easily see the white sandy bottom and grass beds. Captain Joe handed me his rod and reel to use since my rod was not up to the task of these monster sized fish. I stepped up onto the bow casting deck with the Hogy 10 inch bone colored soft plastic bait tied on the end of my line and began scanning the waters.
It was not long before we were sighting large tarpon lounging on the surface in the warm water . “10 o’clock a short cast away” Joe would announce. I’d find the fish and attempt to place the bait ahead of him. As the day wore on, we easily saw over fifty huge tarpon, and had amble opportunities. However, fishing being what it is, we were never able to get one to take the hook.
Adrenaline rushes as I cast to 100 tarpon in clear shallow water
Spending the day out in the waters of Pine Island sight casting to 100 pound tarpon was an experience I will not soon forget. We saw pods of huge tarpon lounging inches below the water’s surface. We witnessed groups of finning tarpon in slick calm shallow water. I may not have caught a fish, but having been out there and seeing the things we did is enough to satisfy any fishermen and leave him wanting more.
Never more than a few minutes pass without spotting another monster lurking below and presenting another bait in hopeful anticipation of a take .
I am not sure how much longer I’ll be stationed here in Florida and as I am saving money for an upcoming trip, I most likely will not be able to fish with Captain Joe again this tarpon season. I’m pretty sure my appetite to hook one of these monsters on a light rod will bring me back to south Florida.
While I’m still here, I have a few been doing some research and will surely embark on a few new adventures. Some of which will be more attempts at catching a tarpon or two. Stay tuned.
