Tarpon - guess the weight

**V8_rob** · 21-04-2007, 17:47

I caught this the other day whilst on vacation and I've no idea as to what it weighed.

All I can say is that it was 5 feet long and took 3 hours to land. It also broke an 80lb trace trying drag it out onto the shore... I'm just curious as to what it might have weighed

Reel is a Shimano 5000GTE-B for scale, rod a Mike Ladle Surespin

**GrumpyBloke** · 21-04-2007, 20:10

Hell of a fish mate ! I,d give you around 120.
Was it taken at night or just dark when you finally won?

**V8_rob** · 21-04-2007, 20:33

Hooked it a few minutes after midnight, it came alongside a minute after 3am.. was still dark though the cockerells were crowing

, though by the time I had it livened up again and swimming away is was 3:30am and it was just starting to lighten up a tad.

**GrumpyBloke** · 21-04-2007, 20:46

I bet " for f**ks sake " crept into your mind as your arm started to seize up.
By the way , where in the world did you have it?

**bassed hard** · 21-04-2007, 22:18

What a beauty that is I bet that made that rod bend and that reel scream !!
Probably made you scream after about two hours on the hook as well I'd think.
I have no idea how heavy that would be but just wanted to say congratulations on catching it - I've seen people water skiing behind less powerful things than that

Well done - where did you get it from ?

**V8_rob** · 21-04-2007, 22:26

I visited Curacao in the Netherland Antilles, off the coast of venezuela. I've been there 2 times previously to visit my wifes parents. This time I insisted on taking my tackle

I had been told by a couple of local people that they were all small tarpon of 5-10lb in the lagoons.. apparently not.

**GrumpyBloke** · 22-04-2007, 00:29

Should think your one ate them!!

**martinw** · 22-04-2007, 10:42

estimating weight from length is tricky!
using the formula girth squared in inches x length in inches / 800

30x30x60/800= 67.5
35x35x60/800=91.8

the only tarpon ive measured was 81inches long x 43inches girth=187

length to girth was around 1.9 to 1 all very inaccurate but it gives a rough idea.

Fantastic fish and a real bit if fishing skill!! could you hear it crashing about in the dark.
What end tackle were you using.

**V8_rob** · 22-04-2007, 12:21

Mainline was 20lb Fireline with a few feet of 30lb Vanish for a shockleader. End gear was a large weighted foam float (40g) that I picked up in Dubai, a small chemical light was pushed into the top. That allowed a good view of the float up to about 100m. Below that was a 2' 80lb trace with a 3/0 Mustad forged hook. All very simple to be honest.

I must say that I'm chuffed with the two 4-piece spinning rods that I'd purchased prior to going. I can see them being used regularly whether home or abroad. I'd read a lot of articles on here about what reel to mate to the spinning rods. Nearly all didn't really see the purpose of using a baitrunner reel, though it's turned out to be one of my best purchases and really came into it's on with this type of fishing.