Gabon Tarpon

[frank22]

.

 

[frank22]

these are the weighted hooks available from hogy lures

 

[frank22]

different sizes 6 inch to 10 inch , ball sinker can be used in front of the swivel on the main rig

 

[EugeneC]

Frank, you're the man, thanks for the input mate. I'm already practicing my yoga technique and stocking up on calming medications, I've been warned plenty about the frustrations I'm heading for

Dates have changed to 23 Nov to 3 Dec based on tides...I'm doing everything humanly possible to max out my odds, just hope King Neptune smiles on me.

 

[frank22]

Yeah they are insane fish but well worth it. We had 19 hook ups in one session and landed 1, well when i say landed i had the leader in my hand and the hook pulled, changed to that rig i posted and the next day landed 8 out of 15

Have fun bud

 

[EugeneC]

Sounds awesome and terrible at the same time...can't wait. Hopefully I can add one to my fishing CV in November.

 

[EugeneC]

By the way - what kind of leader were you fishing? I've read about guys getting smoked on 120lb leader and about others doing fine on 80lb leader off the same boat. I'm leaning toward 130lb Varivas, considering I'll be shore based.

 

[frank22]

nothing less than 100lb , some guys will say 80lb and others will say 60lb but i used 100lb YGK and varivas and some of the poons went through that like nothing. 1-1.5 meter length is perfect.

make sure leader is clear line and invisible in the water poons have very good eye sight and shy away if they see the line. their mouths are pure bone and have rasps on upper and lower jaws equivalent to 80 grit sand paper , so hooking them is difficult. handle with gloves , i still have scars on my knuckles from these fish.

remember to bow to the silver king when he jumps

 

[EugeneC]

Wouldn't mind scars from handling a 200lb poon honestly... 130lb Varivas it is then.

 

[frank22]

just found a old pic i took of a huge tarpon that frequented the fish processing plant in the caribbean , that snapper trap is 6 foot x 6 foot (the workers there leave it out for snapper and massive grouper that live under the processing plant)
so that gives you an estimate of the size of the fish.

 

[EugeneC]

Yeah, these fish grow to impressive sizes. In Key West we used to hand feed them in the little marina, there's a resident population of 6'+ fish that hang around there and have become pretty tame. It's a little unnerving when you've got your hand in the water dangling a mullet and one of those big girls approach with a hungry look, I have to say.

Sadly I never got to go fishing in the Keys and I used to really regret that, but nowadays I prefer wilder places, so it doesn't bother me as much.

 

[fishersteve1972]

EugeneC wrote:

Yeah, these fish grow to impressive sizes. In Key West we used to hand feed them in the little marina, there's a resident population of 6'+ fish that hang around there and have become pretty tame. It's a little unnerving when you've got your hand in the water dangling a mullet and one of those big girls approach with a hungry look, I have to say.

Sadly I never got to go fishing in the Keys and I used to really regret that, but nowadays I prefer wilder places, so it doesn't bother me as much.

Been to Robbies, great fun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF99ZISkO6w

 

[EugeneC]

Nice video, that's what in talking about. The ones in key west are a fair bit bigger than those though. Also played "kiss the grouper" a couple of times, which is pretty unnerving.