Live or Die
Capt. Mike Locklear
July 7, 2009
Homosassa - Saltwater Fishing Report
For the past two months, tarpon has been the main species targeted. For many people, tarpon fishing does not appeal to most fishermen because they are not a food source. Also, not much is known about their behavior. I am not going to get into that.
But if you want to read a great book printed this year, I highly recommend it if you are into fly-fishing. The title is "High Rollers by Bill Bishop. New it sells for $29.99 plus applicable tax.
Bill Bishop put his heart, soul and techniques into it. What makes this book different from most is Mr. Bishop illustrates the mighty tarpon and the knots by his own pencil.
Also his writings and opinions are that of many I agree with and the controversial ones are named as well. I could not resist thumbing through the book before reading any of it.
mr. Bishop indicates he has a few close friends in the fishing community, one a living legend, Flip Pallot.
My most favorite part is when he describes his anger over sometimes unknowing boaters or fishermen who hunt boats to find their fish.
At 53, I have been on both sides of that issue even at my home waters, Homosassa.
This past May, Capt. Gregg Arnold was in Homosassa and had caught and released an approximate 140 pound tarpon before 9:00 A.M. Later in the day, we nearly crossed paths while Capt. Tommy Locke poled Mr. Bill towards Capt. Kilpatrick. As far as I could see, there were not any poons around us at the time.
Capt. Gregg just bought Mr. Bill's book and had asked who was that poling and fishing on the Hells Bay Boca Grande. When I told him I thought Bill Bishop was onboard with Tommy Locke, Gregg asked if I could get closer to meet Mr. Bill.
I said I will try as I would love to take a good look at the new skiff by Hells Bay. Tommy must have had tunnel vision as he did not even look and I was afraid to hail them in case they really were on a school of poons.
Later I learned that indeed Locke was poling Mr. Bill and was missing his trolling motors, so I assumed that he did not stop because he had a good head of steam up and wanted to raft up to Capt. Kilpatrick.
June tarpon report is missing because I was too busy to report. Nothing is less appealing than pecking out a report after a long day on the water. It was ok as I saw it, but I left on the 22nd to fish my northern waters hot spots.
We had better weather last year, but we still managed to jump 3 tarpon the first day between two skiffs. We would have done much better except we had an Intruder.
We saw two more tarpon jumped, both on Location X. The masked man was there and butted in impolitely acting as if he owned those waters. He is what I call an Intimidator. My response to that is the fishing community is the Terminators. He must be run out of town.
He almost ran over my friends and scared the crap out of them. We had our lights on and so did he. But the saga continues. Respect is necessary between the guides, but sometimes the KJV Old Testament treatment overtakes me and I will retaliate like God except I know I am not Him. So much for the masked man.
The best present for me on Father's day was jumping a tarpon and going up for my first Helicopter ride over Ochlocknee Bay. For my wife she landed her first tarpon in 15 years using a Cajun Thunder and a pig fish. I managed a jumper and lost it when my fly line got tangled under my trolling motor bracket.
I am looking forward to more tarpon fishing through July and into the first week of August.
Anyway, get a copy of Mr. Bill's book and I will plan to heed his advice on live and let live instead of dying because of my ignorance and have a heart attack. I certainly have less a mind than Mr. Bill.
Homosassa Fishing Forecast:
July is a major time for hungry poons along the Big Bend. Plan your trips around the new or full moon. Halfs and quarters are good with half moon is sometimes the best.
Target Species:
Tarpon on Fly or Bait
More Fishing Reports:
