The Atlantic Tarpon, also known as the silver king, are fish living in the coastal waters. They are a large fish weighing over 350 pounds. They look bluish or green in color on top and a large mouth turned upwards. It has a large long bony tail on tope called dorsal fin that reaches almost to its tail.
Sportsman fish for tarpons because one it is hooked it provides a tremendous fight. While it is hooked, it leaps in the air, which adds to thrill of catching the fish. Since the fish is not good to eat, it is caught mostly for the thrill and fight involved with catching it.
There are many ways to catch the tarpon such as the typical rod and reel method, and fly-fishing. The most popular method is becoming the fly-fishing technique. Since fly-fishing, makes catching the fish more of a sport many select this method.
The tackle used is naturally heavier than stand fly-fishing tackle and designed more for the insects of the region. The typical tarpon fly rod and reel weighs about 18 pounds including the tackle. It is actually light considering the weight of the possible fish it will be used to catch. The fisherman uses a boat to get to the locations of the fish. They sit at the back of the boat and props theirself in a special chair designed to help with possible fatigue from battling the fish.
The guide will locate the school of tarpon for better chances of catching the fish. With the help of the guide, the fisherman learns how to cast the fly line into the water. Since fly-fishing takes a special technique, it is important to have the correct method of casting the line into the water. There is limited time from when the line first makes contact with the water until the fisherman corrects any errors of the cast. With the correct cast, the sportsman hopes the tarpon will inhale the tackle bait.
The hardest part of catching the tarpon in setting the hook. The mouth of the tarpon is extremely hard so setting the hook requires strength. The tarpon are known for spitting out the hook that is not set firmly in their mouths. The saying called “jumps” refers the practice of the tarpon tossing out the hook at the sportsman.
Tarpon are strong and have the ability to resist being caught. They are known for being tremendous fighter, so the fisherman will tire before the tarpon will. The standard time for catching and landing the tarpon can be up to three hours. This is quite a long time considering the constant battle the sportsman is involved in for those three hours.
Tarpon fishing is not for the weak or faint of heart sportsman. It requires being in good physical shape and a large amount of strength. Catching and landing the tarpon fish will take extreme amounts of strength, patience, and stamina. Many times the sportsman will have to rely on the guide for assistance for this fact alone.