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Print versionGrand Slammed - Big Time!
Last week I had great expectations for this week’s fishing with Gerry and Mark Tattersal but nothing could have prepared me for what was to come...
It’s now 8am and I have just come back from walking the beach across the road in search of the elusive Bonefish, of which I’ve just had one – all of about 4lbs – no monster but a bonefish never the less! After her release, I dug my feet into the warm sand and watched the sunrise on my last day here in Paradise, and by the time you guys read this; I shall be on a plane home to reality. When I get back home I have a lot of work on, and then the new baby is due, so I won’t be back in Florida until autumn.
Gerry and Mark headed for home at the end of last week, I’m sure as they flew home they found it hard to come to grips with the outstanding fishing they had on their first trip to the sport fishing capital of the world. The Florida Keys are a place where dreams are made and dreams were certainly made this last week.
Day one was pretty tough going – general species fishing was slow - the tarpon refused to bite, well apart from two small ones of about 40-50lbs, which are nice to see but they’re not the hundred pounders we seek. As the sun set on day one on a nearby Bonefish flat, a big bone of around 10-12lbs was tailing in about 12inches of water, and lacking the correct tackle onboard to cast at her... this just about summed up Gerry and Mark’s first day with me – crap!
Day two was a different story. At the crack of dawn we headed for where we sighted the big Bonefish (with appropriate tackle aboard!) and we were ready to try for one of these much sort after fish, but nothing could have prepared us for what was about to happen. Tarpon are hard to catch, but Bonefish are so much harder!
After a short steam we were on the flats, moving around quietly, looking for fish as we went, but there was not a fish moving or a ripple in sight. Now the channel through this bank is very deep (all of 4ft!) and sometimes other species can be found lurking here, so we put on some Berkley Gulp shads and proceeded to have a go whilst we kept an eye out for any Bonefish on the shallows either side of the channel. On our first drift Mark hooked a Cuda, then a small Jack Crevalle, and then Gerry hooked into a real screamer of a fish. After carefully playing it, up popped a small Bonefish of about 2lbs - hooked in the arse!
A quick change of tactics was needed. The jig rods we were using were swapped for 6lb class spin rods loaded with 10lb braid and a 10lb fluorocarbon leader, armed with small jig-heads and Berkley Gulp shrimps (which work awesome for Bonefish). Over the next two hours we nailed another 7 Bonefish (so 8 in total) with the biggest approaching 7lbs. Now 8 Bonefish is a real red letter day and to finish off, as the sun morning sun burned through, a shoal of small but feisty Jack Crevalle turned up to pull a few strings. The rest of our week then went from better to better.
Getting the guys in tune with Tarpon fishing didn’t take long and by the next day the Tarpon were back on the move. Tarpon over 100lbs are a big fish, that demand respect; they make easy business of destroying anglers and this is just what happened. For the next two mornings we lost 100lb Tarpon after 100lb Tarpon, but our afternoons were rewarded with huge Lemon and Bull sharks to roughly 180lbs.
Mark hadn’t fished in 18 years and his dad Gerry had organised this trip to try and catch him the angling bug again, and it was certainly working. The more Tarpon we lost, the more focussed Mark became on catching one. Focus turns into determination, determination turns into effort, and with effort, eventually it’s going to come right sooner or later!
With enough Sharks and other species under their belts, we were now completely focused on catching some ton-up Tarpon before this father and son team had to head back to reality and it was Marks turn to go first. After hooking an estimated 140lb monster, she took us from the Gulf, through our bridge, into the Atlantic, and then back to the bridge again – finally doing us by going one side of a bridge pillar whilst we went the other. Fish gone!
Next it was Gerry’s turn and his fish, again around 140lbs, did the same – stiffed us good and proper on another bridge pillar! Tarpon are a cute fish – the most intelligent fish to swim the seas - and if given the chance - they will do you on any structure going! Next it was Marks turn again and he decided to do it in style hooking the mother of all Tarpon. After five aerobatic jumps in the bay, this fish screamed for the bridge, passed through and kept going out into the Atlantic – fish on! I fired the boat up and kept chase.
Three quarters of a mile, and nearly an hour later, she started to tire and it was a good job too. With a stiff breeze, 3-4ft waves had built, and bringing this big fish to the boat was starting to get difficult. On seeing his Tarpon flash her sides, I grabbed the leader and we eased her to the side of the boat; which to my surprise she came with ease and the leader did not break – the reason – she was hooked just on the outside of her upper lip and the leader had not worn! With a total length of 75 inches and a girth around 43-45 inches, we estimated her to be in the region of 175-185lbs – a monster of a ‘Poon’ and the biggest I’ve had to the sides of my new boat so far. Well done Mark! When the big Tarpon was alongside, I passed my camera to Gerry who proceeded to take pictures in the rough conditions. Unfortunately all were ruined due to sea water on the wide-angle lens – but as I think I said last week – that’s Tarpon fishing – these fish always win in the end!
The shark fishing continued to remain good during the afternoons, and the Tarpon fishing was good both mornings and evenings so that’s what we stuck to doing, but with the added challenge that Mark was now fishing, not for just a 100lb plus Tarpon anymore but a photograph of a 100lb plus Tarpon – the order of all orders – could I fulfil?
With lots of Tarpon from 120-175lbs under their belts but still no trophy photo, on Gerry and Mark’s last evening we were back on the bridge Tarpon fishing and my fish had saved their best until last!
Fishing with live crab baits, the guys made their first casts and as they did so a huge Permit flew out from one of the arches and just as it was about to engulf Mark’s bait... it saw the boat and turned away. Now permit are a fish that often shoals, so I quickly got the guys to reel in and we quietly edged right under the bridge for another go. They cast, Gerry’s float went, he struck but didn’t connect and as quick as that happened, Mark’s float went and he was into fish. 15 minutes later we landed a nice Permit!
Now for those of you who don’t know, a Tarpon, a Bonefish and a Permit make the Holy-Grail of all sport-fishing – the Florida Grand Slam! Mark hadn’t fished in 18 years and on his first week back in the game he catches the slam of all slams! Either he’s a lucky angler or I am a good skipper – I’ll leave that for you and the fish to decide, but the game wasn’t over yet. At 9pm that night on our last drift of their holiday, we finally got Mark his Tarpon for a photograph (below) which we estimated around 130-140lbs.
What a great trip! I’m sad to be heading for home. Here’s our total species count for a month in the Keys with only 16 days fishing - Mutton Snapper, Mangrove Snapper, Yellow tail Snapper, Goliath Grouper, Barracuda, African Pompano, Amberjack, Jack Crevalle, Spanish Mackerel, Ladyfish, Hog Fish, Catfish, Spotted Sea trout, Porgy and many others. Not forgetting 40-50 Black-Tip, Lemon and Bull Sharks between 100-200lbs - 9 Bonefish - 2 Permit and... A staggering 27 Tarpon!! 4 under 60lbs - 4 between 80-100lbs and a staggering 19 0ver 100lbs; many of which were between 120-140lbs including 2 monsters - one of 165lbs for Andy Hart and one of 175lbs for Mark Tattersall. Now that’s awesome Tarpon fishing!
At the beginning of this trip I named the new boat “Too Many Girls” after my daughters. After these last few weeks this name seems double apt! Most big Tarpon are females, and with 27 caught and released over this trip, I’ve certainly had my share of ‘Too many Girls’ here in Florida too! She is certainly a lucky boat. I do love my girls – both at home and here in the Florida Keys!
If anybody fancies a trip to the Florida Keys with me, you can contact me on 0845 203 3474 (local rate) or check out our website www.fishinginflorida.co.uk and if you visit us in Florida between the months of March and June, I’ll all but guarantee you a 100lb plus Tarpon! If you’ve never caught one, you’re in for the ride of your life!
I’m off for some well earned rest now – I’ll catch up with you in a couple of weeks, hopefully with some good fishing to report from back home.
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