Boca Grande - Charlotte Harbor, Florida - Tarpon, Snook and Redfish fishing Charters with fishing guide Capt. Mark Bennett- Fish Story

Boca Grande - Charlotte Harbor, Florida - Tarpon, Snook and Redfish fishing charters with fishing guide Capt. Mark Bennett

On a warm day in December

It was early December, it had been in the low to mid 80's for over a week. The day before I had a fly fisherman out looking for tailing reds. There were a lot of fish around. So with a mid week day off Jenni and I decided to go out and catch a few reds on fly. Armed with a 7 weight fly rod and a camera we searched the flats all morning. The fish that were everywhere the day before were almost non-existent.

There was almost no wind. Just perfect conditions and no reds. We were leaving a flat just running the trolling motor and eating a sandwich, when Jenni spots a tarpon. I really thought she was seeing things. Then she saw another, my attention immediately was drawn away from the peanut butter for a minute. I saw one too. We eased across the 3 to 4' flat and I was amazed. There were 20 to 30 tarpon laid up and finning all over this flat. Then the problem arose, the only rod in the boat was a 7 weight fly rod.

These weren't little tarpon one often associates with winter. These fish were full size, 100+ pounds. I had my fly stretcher with a dozen tarpon flies or so. There is still a problem. How am I going to get a 5/0 hook to penetrate a tarpon's rock hard jaw with a 7 weight. I decided to use a favorite snook fly with a 1/0 hook. I figured I would have a much better chance getting the small hook to stick. I just wasn't sure that they would bite it. I rigged a short piece of 40# for a bite tippet to a regular 10# tapered leader.

When I approached the first one, I looked at my "tarpon rig" that I put together and laughed. Thinking...if one does bite this I will definitely have my hands full. The first three I cast to never even flinched. I threw it closer each cast. Not even a look. They seemed totally uninterested with my humble offering. I relaxed and continued to cast. I figured they weren't going to eat but it was fun trying. I approached the fourth fish and made a cast. It was just past him and would come across right in front of his nose.

This one made one kick of his tail and followed my fly. He ate it just as my leader reached the tip of my rod. I hooked up and he jumped 10 feet from the boat and threw my little 1/0 fly. Now I thought...they will hit my little fly now what? The very next one I threw at kicked off and ate it. I hooked up, after three jumps I knew I had him stuck. Herein lies the second problem...this reel only has 125 yards of backing!

The battle was on. This fish was wild, after a few more jumps and a lot of frantic winding he was close to the boat. I thought...I really might land this fish. The tippet was holding, the hook was firmly locked in his top jaw. The rod was limited out. Pulling back (bending the rod) did nothing. The fish would not budge. I had to straight pull (point the rod at the fish) just to move him closer. The fish and I went round and round the boat.

He came around the side and seemed ready to land. I needed to time it perfect. I had to get the fish on his side grab hold of the leader and set my rod down to grab him by his jaw. In a last ditch effort the fish lunged under the boat. I pulled back and out. The fish came out. Just when I thought I had the upper hand, it happened. The rod snapped right above the cork handle. It sounded like a gunshot. This rod I have fished with since I was 14 finally met it's match.

I was determined to catch this fish no matter what. So I grabbed the broken piece and held it to the cork. I was still in this game. I brought the fish alongside grabbed the leader and released my fish. It was about 100 pounds. Not my largest I have ever caught, but definitely one of my favorites. Looking at the broken rod and twisted reel on the deck all we could do is watch these fish until sunset. Needless to say the next day I was back with a 12 weight in hand, but the fish were gone...

For Information and reservations:

Capt. Mark Bennett

(800) 467-0919 or (941) 474-8900