Flat Out Fishing – Memorable Moments
From laugh-out-loud encounters with local boaters to an epic battle with a giant tarpon, these memorable fishing moments highlight the joy and unpredictability of life on the water. Share your own stories and join the fun!
Carpet?
I spend lots of time guiding my clients for tarpon at night in the harbors on St. Thomas. One of the hazards is the locals who live on their boats heading home around 10 p.m. after a “few too many” at the local pub.
Last summer, one of the dinghy brigade was passing by just as my client hooked a nice tarpon of about 50 lbs. In typical tarpon fashion, it came flying out of the water, landing with a huge splash on the glassy water. “Capt. one-too-many” in the dinghy saw the big splash and threw his motor in neutral, yelling, “Hey… what are you throwing in the water?”
I yelled back, “We have a big tarpon on, please get out of our way!”
He yelled back, “Carpet! Why are you throwing carpet in the harbor?”
Just as I was about to give him a piece of my mind (once I stopped laughing), the tarpon jumped again, and the light bulb over his head came on. He yelled back, “OK,” and motored off about 50 yards, killed his motor, and decided to catch the show!
Every time I think about “Capt. one-too-many in his dinghy,” I can’t help but laugh, especially when I see a carpet commercial on TV.
Tarpon On A Popper
Last July, while fly fishing with my 12-year-old daughter Rachel, I caught an 85″ tarpon on a 10 wt St. Croix fly rod and a popper. It took about an hour to land the fish, and it was a running battle that covered nearly a mile.
I was fishing for 50-pounders, not 175-pounders! It was pure luck that I got the fish to the boat. It had every chance to break me off, especially since I was using a 16lb test tippet. The overall length of the tarpon was 85 inches, and the girth was 40 inches. The estimated weight was 175 pounds based on the reliable formula (G2 x L / 800). Unfortunately, there was no way to handle the fish and take a photo when the only help I had was Rachel. She only weighs 70 lbs, and the fish was really strong. I had it up to the boat on the leader about six times, and each time it looked at me as if to say, “Just try to grab my jaw,” and then it would tear off again.
If it weren’t for Rachel running the boat, I would have never had a chance at this fish. She maneuvered the boat like an old pro, and when we finally got the fish measured, I was one proud Dad. It is one of the most memorable fishing experiences of my life and something I will never forget. It was made even better by the fact that I was able to share it with my daughter.
Be Careful, It’s Slippery
Why is it that warning someone that the boat ramp is slippery seems to neutralize all of their active brain cells? Every year, I seem to have one client that is hell-bent on proving that he or she can walk on anything I can. On one occasion, after the obligatory “slippery” warning, my client decided it was time to jump out of the boat to give me a hand. What followed was some of the finest footwork you’ll ever see. It would have made the Three Stooges green with envy if it weren’t for the trailer tongue. Unfortunately, in this case, the “nutcracker” had nothing to do with ballet, but it sure provided some side-splitting entertainment for a few lucky bystanders!
Share Your Memorable Moments
These are just a few of the unforgettable moments I’ve experienced on the water. I’d love to hear your stories too! If you have a memorable fishing or boating moment you’d like to share, email me at the address below. Once I get a few good ones, I’ll put them in a future column for all to enjoy.
Capt. Eric Anderson has written for ALL AT SEA since 2004.
Worth your time?
Thanks — noted.
