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Rain delay.....hopefully we will get started at noon.
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WARNING: DO NOT scroll down to the bottom!
I met Capt. Mark Hall at Crandon Park ramp at 11:45.
We have fished together many times but this was the first time we would fish around Key Biscayne which is where my mom lives. The ramp is 5-6 minutes from her condo.
We did not catch any fish at our 1st stop and then we went to a bowl in a flat and there, I caught 6 species of fish...all on a jig!
Lizzard fish
Blue runner
Muton snapper
Grunt
Jack Cravelle
Blow fish
Cape Florida Lighthouse
After 30 or so fish, we moved on in front of where my mom lives and caught a few more jacks...this time on top water.
My mom's area (1 block back of the water).
Mark spotted some bait and made a couple of cats to fill the live well full of pilchards!
He would use them as a fish magnet. We went looking for snooks at the end of Government Cut.....
.....but no one was home except species #7, a needle fish.
The infamous and ritzy Fisher Island.
As we made our way back to the marina we made a few stops at some beaches that had rock jetties. We even interrupted a late afternoon photo shoot!
It was now 5 pm, the sun was setting and I declared that I was done. Mark then said, "we have one more spot to go to".
He instructed me on what to do and on the 3rd cast...it was game on.
I have heard all about people hooking a tarpon but not landing it. When I got hit, the fish took off to Cuba. We chased it for 40 minutes or so. My arms have never screamed the way they did today. The fish jumped twice.....spectacularly! The second jump was with the sun setting behind it. I would have been satisfied with that memory, which I will never forget. Then the fish ran...and ran...and ran...and ran. I had him to the boat 5-6 times but he did not want to be landed. So...I tightened the drag and gave it one last effort and Mark was able to bring it in.
I have no words!
I really don't know what else to say but to thank Mark for getting me on the fish, coaching me through it and then landing it.
His last words before we came in were, "Ernie, my trips really don't usually end like this".
If you are ever in Miami...hire Mark!!
Time to head back to reality......
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Ernie............You are the MAN! Nice tarpon! And "back to reality" does suck . My reality has been travelling back and forth from NC for the past 3 weeks to take care of my mom that broke her hip........couple of weeks to go at a minimum..............but I am not complaining..........just lots of miles/hours on the road with a short turnaround between trips. She says that I am a good son .
Think we will ever get out for a second trip this year?
Last edited by Curly (Nov-10-14 7:10PM)
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Curly wrote:
She says that I am a good son
That's a good thing! My mom just had knee surgery. One sister was down here last week to help her. But she is doing great so I got to go fish...and feed her the catch!
Curly wrote:
Think we will ever get out for a second trip this year?
Bob wants to go pickle fishing Saturday...it's predicted to get up to 45! I was chilly yesterday when it was 67.....supposed to be even colder next week. I may shut down for the year......
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Nice catch Ernie! Well played.
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Ernie wrote:
Bob wants to go pickle fishing Saturday.........
Kosher dill or Gherkins?
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Congrats Ernie! Catching a fish like that takes a lot of skill (and a good guide to help). You can tell by the look on your face that you have about 1000% surge of adrenalin and joy going through your veins right then. I bet you are still on that high today. NICE FISH!!!!!
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30lb leader, MH spinning rod, 30lb braid.
Mark kept me calm and made sure I stayed patient even though my arms were searing. He is a master with these animals. Took great care and made sure it was ready to roam the waters before being released.
As I sit at the terminal on the way back to reality, I member the commands he gave. Following them earned me that fish. Otherwise, it would have been....."I wonder how big that was"?
We did not measure but that really is not important. Landing it was!
Now I want one on a fly!
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Curly wrote:
Kosher dill or Gherkins?
Those pickerel guys call them pickles......maybe sweet?
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Nice Ernie!
Before I saw the final pic. I thought you were having a great trip. It quickly became a trip of a life time.
Did you ever have the blow fish at fords fish shack? Really good eating. But you need more than one.
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Jeff- I have heard that blow fish are tasty! We caught 3....appetizers.
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Never saw the blowfish on the Fords menu. I will have to look for it and give it a try.
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What an awesome report, and great pics too. Congrats on the tarpon catch!
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That was an awesome trip! Way to go and that tarpon is really cool!
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I would guess about 45 lbs. Did you get a scale? Kinda customary to keep a scale in our wallet.
Capt Mike
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Beautiful pics and nice report Ernie. Thanks for sharing!!!
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captmikestarrett wrote:
I would guess about 45 lbs. Did you get a scale? Kinda customary to keep a scale in our wallet.
We did not measure or weigh it. Mark estimated it at 50 or more pounds. I have no idea. All I know is that I saw two spectacular jumps and many runs.
They confiscated my scale at the airport on the way down....
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GregF wrote:
Never saw the blowfish on the Fords menu. I will have to look for it and give it a try.
They used to call it puffer fish. Now the call it something like "fish wings"
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Memory that'll last a lifetime
Congrats buddy!
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hookup wrote:
Memory that'll last a lifetime
Here is what is burned in my mind....
1. The 1st run
2. The 2nd jump with the sun in the background
3. The last effort to get it to the boat
4. How my forearm feels today
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We will start calling you Popeye!
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Ernie wrote:
captmikestarrett wrote:
I would guess about 45 lbs. Did you get a scale? Kinda customary to keep a scale in our wallet.
We did not measure or weigh it. Mark estimated it at 50 or more pounds. I have no idea. All I know is that I saw two spectacular jumps and many runs.
They confiscated my scale at the airport on the way down....
No a scale from the fish.. .. it is a custom among poon fishermen.. :-)
Capt Mike
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captmikestarrett wrote:
No a scale from the fish.. .. it is a custom among poon fishermen.. :-)
Never thought about it but I was slimed up pretty good.....
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GregF wrote:
We will start calling you Popeye!
I will eat me spinach tonight.
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