Tarpon slayfest (23 total) and a trash can slam

kmagnuss

We had an amazing two days of fishing this past Friday/Saturday.  Other than some questionable wind it couldn't have been any better.  First morning out we went 3/10 on tarpon ranging from 50 to 150 lbs... the majority being in the 80-100 lb range.  50/50 split between bone Hogy 7" and silver baitbusters.  Never saw a single fish roll.  This all happened in about 3 hours.  Back to the dock by 10.
That evening we got 10 again!  3 landed... again.  These started off with some bohemeths but we ended the night on 4 juvis in a row, about 30 lbs.  Same bait as the am but we switched to dark colors.  The biggest of the night was actually caught on a bass worm as soon as it hit the water.  Crazy.  Saw one fish roll all night.
Next am the wind had changed and there weren't nearly as many fish.  Went 1/2 in the first 10 minutes, putted around for an hour, then decided to go explore.  That's where the magic of the trash clan slam happened.  Jack, ladyfish, lizard fish, and puffer.  It almost didn't happen but with persistence and dedication we kept the dream alive!
That night we had a storm sitting over us, managed one beast of a tarpon that most have been in the 150's, got a few jumps from him but ended up shaking it.  Dang.  Wind picked up and the rain started so we hauled butt back home... it's times like these that being able to hit 55 with 3 guys in the boat is nice.
Had an amazing time, good laughs, and a TON of yelling and hollering at all that flying silver.

-Mag

kellercl

Wow, excellent work.  That is a crazy tarpon in the first pic.  

SportsFan

Awesome !  Your reports are inspiring. They read well too. 

Gypsies Call

Dang Keith!  Thats awesome.  I've jumped juvi's... four total in the last two mornings... all on either a yozuri greenback imitation, or a doa shrimp.   Haven't put one yet in the boat, but I'm going to one of these days!

kmagnuss

Those yozuris are REALLY hard to get a tarpon to stick on ...  treble hooks are extremely difficult to get to stick in a tarpon's mouth.  DOA shrimp on the other hand... they seem to stay hooked up pretty well.

Hobbs28midsouth

Nice

Gypsies Call

I don't like the treble hooks on the yozuris either and have changed over to single hooks to try out.  Unfortunately the hits I got this morning were on a lure that still had the trebles on it. My hookup rate when I switched to single hooks seems to be worse, but sticking once hooked seems better.  Thats on trout, ladyfish, and snook, though.  I'm also using small white paddle tail 1/16oz jigs that I've had success with before.  Usually I cut the head off the jig and discard, leaving about a 2" tail section.  I fish light tackle - 15lb braid/30lb fluoro leader - and not quite sure what exactly I would do if I hooked a 50lb tarpon except just hold on and follow.   I know you use the bigger baits and heavier tackle, but what do you think of the terroreyz? Any other lures you can recommend for targeting the juvi's?  Appreciate all your advice.  Reading your posts as well as others has really helped me!  Thanks... GC

kmagnuss

Terroreyz work well on tarpon up to about 30-40 lbs.  Anything bigger and the hooks bend.  Also, anything bigger and it's difficult to get a good hookset and have one stick.  Mark Nichols said he landed a 70 pounder on one though, so who knows.
The nice thing about the baitbusters and the 7" Hogy eels is that the juvis will hit them just as well as the adults.  And don't think the adults won't hit terroreyz... they will.

kellercl

Any idea what inshore fish would break hooks off a lure?  I had a strong hit near the mangroves that tore the hooks clean off my lure.  Jack or tarpon is the only thing I can think of.  It was a first for me.  Just curious what people think would have done such damage.  It was a single hit.  

kmagnuss

I've had plenty of snook and redfish break hooks.  

Snookaddict91

Nice work captain!

kellercl

kmagnuss said:

I've had plenty of snook and redfish break hooks.  

Fair enough, thanks for the knowledge.

stoutner

Amazing! Great job and thanks for the report.

Tarponator

You know you're doing something right when you are catching them without seeing them.  Well done!

That silver fish boatside is no local.