Tarpon on the fly - Islamorada 2009

[Sniz]

So I just got back last night and had a hell of a fun trip, but now i'm wasted tired! Need a vacation from my vacation.

I took over 600 photos in 3 days! Here are a handful I have edited so far.

All I can say is....I have huge respect for Tarpon now, more than I did before. Last year I hooked one on a fly rod that quickly broke the line so I never really got to feel the full fury or see what these fish are capable of.

that changed this year. 1st day, I hooked into a 130lber on a 12 wt fly rod w 30 lb leader........what ensued was hell and heaven at the same time. 1 hour of hell on my body that I will never forget.

such a powerful fish.

Me fighting the tarpon, have to try as much as you can to keep them down, if they can make it up to get air your in for more of a fight....general rule is, every gulp they get is another 20 minutes your going to have to fight them.





tarpon coming up for air, notice the yellow streamer that he took. (this is actually one of the 3 that my brother hooked the next day)



Got him close to the boat, but not ready to give up just yet. This Tarpon was within 10 yards of the boat 30 minutes before our guide was able to get a hand on him, just wouldnt give up.



and we got him!!!! So happy



Landing my 1st Tarpon especially it being on the fly called for a few celebration beers....being in the Keys, that meant these guys

Thats the fly I landed my Tarpon on...wonder if Corona could use these in their ads





Next was my brothers turn....he broke off 2 'poons within 2 minutes of hooking them then finally his 3rd he fought for close to an hour, traveled almost 1 mile down the beach the fish pulling the boat the whole time. What a fight.

The strike! Check out my bro's 'O' face as he's giving the fish all he's got



and Tarpon doing what they do best! this one was a jumper





John after battling the fish for 50 minutes in 115 degree (heat index) weather under brutal sun......



and the end result....the hook broke in half right at the boat as the guide tried to grab the fish for the 4th time.....thats considered a landed fish BTW. John in the background trying to cool off, we took a dip right after.



My Dad was down there too, he was bait fishin as his body won't let him dance around the boat like you need to when fly fishing....he had a hell of a good time regardless. Landed the biggest Tarpon of the trip at roughly 150lbs

He said he thought he was going to die before getting that fish in, I was worried about that too!

Here he is with his guide Jeremy.



Just as we pulled up he hooked a small bonnethead shark...like a hammerhead just smaller

Old Man and the Sea



and the catch



and the final spot we fished the last day. Known as "The Pocket" it was Ted Williams favorite spot to fish. The cross is in honor of him . No one approaches it.




More pics to come as they are edited....sucks having to get back to work!

[BillLee]

Looks like a good workout trying to catch those monsters! That thing would probably pull me off the boat.

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by BillLee

Looks like a good workout trying to catch those monsters! That thing would probably pull me off the boat.

you stand a pretty good chance of falling off the front casting platform when you hook a tarpon....I know I almost did!

[Septro]

Great looking pics.. now I'm thirsty for a Corona!

[ssabripo]

very nice pics!

what mode were you using(Tv, Av, etc) and what were your settings (ISO, F-stop, shutter speed)?

excellent stuff

[E90SLAM]

Nice....the coronas just like the ones shown in commercial...

[vjordan]

gotta tell you...that was great..they have bone fish here in san diego bay..can be caught on fly..so i've heard..really great pixs..congrats

[sandyeggo325i]

damn those are some crazy vibrant colors...processed?!

[Sniz]

all 87 shots that I edited are found here:

http://s138.photobucket.com/albums/q...view=slideshow

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by sandyeggo325i

damn those are some crazy vibrant colors...processed?!

yeah there is CS3 work going on there, I wanted it to look like I saw it.....it really is amazing down there.

[ohaywood]

That first picture looks like real life.. can't really figure out what it is. The colors on the rest are gorgeous as well.

Oh, and that's a damn impressive fish.

[Sniz]

Originally Posted by ohaywood

That first picture looks like real life.. can't really figure out what it is. The colors on the rest are gorgeous as well.

Oh, and that's a damn impressive fish.

thanks!

thats what i was going for, realism w a touch of extra color/contrast added to make them pop.

using a CPL and the location I was in....it didnt take much.

[ohaywood]

Originally Posted by Sniz

thanks!

thats what i was going for, realism w a touch of extra color/contrast added to make them pop.

using a CPL and the location I was in....it didnt take much.

That's exactly how they came out. Nice job.

[ska///235i]

Nice shots, but too much azz on the 1st pic

[TurboFan]

At first I thought the thread title was "tampon on the fly"