Everyone I talked to on the Pacific side this week gave me so-so reports, but not so on the Caribbean. Fishing started getting real good last week accord to reports from Silver King, Rio Colorado, and Capt. Eddie Brown. Alex Thomas sent me the following detailed report of a fish they estimated at 210 pounds.
From Thomas:
After several days of rough weather and 90-130 pound tarpon, the waves died and Mikko Hautanen from Pirkkala, Finland, staying with Silver King Lodge and guide Captain Clifford (a fly fishing specialist) landed this estimated 210-pound Tarpon with a fly rod. The fight lasted 45 minutes but the behemoth never jumped, which is very odd for tarpon.
Mikko was using a G-LOOMIS Cross Current #15wt 8,3″ rod, MAKO 9700B reel, Scientific Anglers BW Express 600gr line, 50-pound (16-inch) tippet, 30-pound YGK flurocarbon (12-inch) shock, a locally made (by Capt. Clifford) custom fly, about 18-centimeter yellow/red/orange with lots of flash on a Tiemco SP600 6/0 hook.
With Silver King Lodge full, it’s nice to be out on a flat ocean with the big ones hitting. The fish’s measured girth was 116,5-centimeters and fork length 198-centimeters. Mikko said, “This fish was extremely fat all the way to the tail, so she was different shape than many other big ones we’ve caught this week.”
The fishing went slack for a few days but went on fire again Thursday as Capt. Eddie Brown pre-fished, getting ready for the first leg of the Club Amateur Annual Tarpon Tournament. Brown reports that there are fish everywhere and they aren’t shy.
Alberto Laurenchic will be defending his win from last year. Every year, the tournament draws 30 or more anglers to the two-and-a-half-day event.
