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Fishing Report for Homosassa, Florida
Capt. Mike Locklear
May 20, 2005
Homosassa - Saltwater Fishing Report
Fly-Fishing World Records A Threat to Tarpon Fishery
Jos Arets of Holland is one of many who come to Citrus County each year to ply the waters of the Nature Coast for giant tarpon. This elite hard core bunch of fly fishers who chase big game fish around the globe break out their 11 & 12 weight fly rods and reels backed with 300-400 yards of 30 pound test micron.
Long days are used to prepare to do battle with the silver king tarpon. Local guides like John Bazo, Jim Long Jim Dupree and Earl Waters prepare their boats with push poles, twin trolling motors and array of flies consisting of some 3 to 4 inch bird feathers that resemble a crab or shrimp or something that the tarpon thinks is a threat to their little eggs they are about to lay. The tarpon are not really hungry as they are in the pre-spawning ritual.
Each year beginning in May, giant tarpon arrive for about 3 weeks and then move offshore to spawn. It is argued between guides and anglers these tarpon are a separate strain of fish thus the large size in world record proportions. Many record fly line class records have taken off the mouth of the Homosassa River.
The world largest tarpon are found off the west coast of Africa near Gabon, Sierra Leone. Unofficially, a tarpon of 300 pounds was captured from that area. The world record on conventional tackle is 283 pounds.
The 20 pound line class fly tackle world record is 202 pounds belongs to Jim Holland, Jr. taken in from a place only named Hampton Hole. The 16 pound line class record previously belonged to Billy Pate and has remained intact since 1982.
Homosassa Guides and Director Doug Kelly of Tarpon and Bonefish Unlimited are wondering why schools of tarpon off the Nature Coast have been reduced in numbers form perhaps as many as 5,000 fish to a mere 500 to 1000 tarpon. Some anglers have rumored perhaps the tarpon are being targeted for food from our neighbors south and west of us in foreign countries.
Most guides are for the tagging study; however, some think if the information gets out to the wrong hands, the tarpon will be history, like the manatee and become extinct. Tarpon live to be 60 years old and any takes or incidental kills, like world records or fighting the poon too long are truly taking from the gene pool of the genetically giant tarpon.
Bull and tiger sharks eat their fair share of tarpon but the eating machines do not usually target the larger fish unless it has been hooked and fought to the end from inexperienced anglers taking up to 8 hours to land, a tarpon will build up lactic acid and becomes an easy prey.
Also the prissy anglers who try for world records in anything less than 12 pound test kill the tarpon from overworking it taking over 8 hours to purposely land it and become a hero in the IGFA world record book.
Arets does not give a hoot about world records. He is a catch and release and “let the fish live” type of guy. He uses a leader about 2 feet long whereas the International Game Fish Association rules specify a leader no longer than 12 inches. With longer leader the captain can grab the fish at boat side and quickly release it or can re-tie another fly
Perhaps the giant tarpon populations were dneted the worst when my Dad, Eustace “Skip” Locklear and others like the late Bob Trotter and Don Bradshaw used to bring in their catch. This was during the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Hundreds were killed.
Now a $50 tag is required and only about 1000 tags are purchased throughout the state of Florida each year.
Freddy Archibald’s Dad just passed away recently as Fred is a legend in these parts. He taught me and many others the sport of fly fishing and was staunch believer in fighting the fish no longer than 30 minutes. He was so funny as a watch dog or commander and chief of the poon fleet, he would go over to a boat that was fighting a tarpon and cut the anglers line after a fair warning to break off the fish.
He was more than willing to pick a fight with any guide or weekend warrior who did not abide by the 30 minute rule. One day he met his match when he blistered Steve Kilpatrick of Chiefland, the guide of the 202 pound tarpon of Jim Holland. Kilpatrick said he was going to fish the way his client pays him to do and that is bring to the boat and hoist it up for a quick photo.
Later in the fight, the fly rod broke in two and the tarpon got away. Fred, whose nickname is “Fearless” laughed his tail off and hollered over to Steve and said hurray for the fish! I thought the two would tangle upon arriving at MacRae’s docks for fuel. Steve is no pushover and Fred knew it, so he befriended Steve by giving him a Shipoke t-shirt, a trademark of Fred.
Those were the good old days when tarpon were very plentiful.
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