'Passin' A Good Time Hooking Tarpon

Still over here at Indian Pass and my anglers are having a big time chasing the Tripletails and Tarpons. On the hill today doing chores as I got stood up by my anglers. I called 'em up last night to confirm start time and answer any last-minute questions and they said "Oh yeah, we didn't come to Florida. I guess I should have called you".

I am always amazed how some folks don't realize that as much as this is a part of their vacation, it is still a job (with long hours) for the guy driving the boat. And the weather is beautiful today too - slick calm and sunny after a few days of having to watch summer rain storms - Oh Well.

The Tarpons slowed down a bit for a couple days after my last report but seemed to have picked back up again in earnest the past several days. We saw as fine a school of fish in West Pass yesterday morning as you could want, getting two before we were run out by a lightning storm. The Tripletails are still here as well. There was a tournament here Sunday with about 15 boats invited. Capt Jordan (Tuna) Todd won with a fine 'Tail a little over 16 pounds. My folks and I were looking for Tarpon but would have still liked to have bumped Jordan out if we could have got the big fish we saw to eat... they still caught 3 good 'tails.

I took a long time friend and client out to try to catch the last "big" fish missing from his list the day before his 70th b-day. A present from his son, the trip was to finally get him a Sliver King. He has had 'em eat before and been on the boat when somebody else got one but he hadn't made a true catch himself. We fixed that!
 

Papa Smurf getting a Tarpon just under the wire of turning 70.
 

Tripletails on the cutting table. Get the grease hot!
 

Another Big Fish at the Boat!
 

Weather permitting I'll put a few more silver missiles in the air over the next 10 days. I get to take my oldest daughter and crew out for her annual birthday fishing and scallop trips next weekend and then it's back to Grayton and beach launch fishing.

Remember, we do have a Fall Snapper season opening October 1st. Now if the Feds would just tell us how long it will last so everyone can plan their trips it will be a great Fall!