Friday, 4/22/11 … very slow afternoon and then we hooked a big tarpon

We spent the morning shelling along North Captiva with a big group so we took two boats.

As I expected, the slow tide kept the fish from being active, and the afternoon fishing trip started out very quiet with very little action.

We caught a nice trout and a few ladyfish.

But then we went fishing for tarpon, something changed, and we got hot.  We quickly caught a shark and jumped two tarpon off Captiva.

We had a huge tarpon on that would not give up.   We just wanted to get the tarpon close enough for some good pictures.

My angler tired and wanted me to fight him but my arm could not take it. ( I was badly injured in an accident last fall that left my left arm partially paralyzed for a period of time.  My arm and hand have come back a long way, and keep improving every day, but are still weak.)

After a long fight, we were both exhausted and the fish was beating us.  As a last option, we tightened the drag down at 4:00 PM.  This made the fish mad – the tarpon must have sensed an advantage – and he fought even harder.

He looped around the boat and broke off the line.

It was a good fight.  We’ll get him tomorrow.

Captain Joey Burnsed ~ call 239-472-8658 or email captjoefred@gmail to book a charter.