Tarpon action has been excellent
Capt. John GiddyUp-Bunch
May 4, 2009
Fort Myers - Saltwater Fishing Report
GiddyUp reports of late have really blown/sucked because of countless days of high winds here in SW FL. Tarpon fishing was suppose to be perhaps at its zenith in or around April 15-25. April 21st has long been my best tarpon day of the year. Waiting for the Tarpon season this year reminds me of waiting for good news from your girlfriend in High School. "Better late than Never" is definitely the theme for this year. Check this out!
On May 1, 2009 ("Hooray-Hooray for the 1st of May") GiddyUp has a charter to the Knapps Point fishing area just off the the Sanibel Beaches. Live and frisky Threadfin Herring are poised to volunteer in the baitwell. No Silver Sides are showing so I figure it will be a chum&pitch bait day. For whatever reason and pls don't ask me to ever explain it, I look back and see a small Cabo 20 spinning reel with a Black/Silver Crystal Minnow Yo-Zuri sitting oddly out of place in my rocket launcher. As you know, charter customers will do anything you tell. So, I SAYS the following...."Dude, do me a huge favor (forgot his name but I didn't forget his girlfriend's) and flip that lure out and maybe a Spanish Mackerel might hit it." (I could see Spanish everywhere but the Dude was paying so much attention to his girlfriend and was completely oblivious to all surrounding him). A small Spanish Mack jumps on the lure and the purpose of this exercise was to impart on said Dude the correct way to fight a tarpon. As I'm explaining opposite side rod position/pressure on a run, cranking like a mad man if you feel slack (fish swimming towards boat) the Dude is paying attention and doing exactly as Da Captain says. What happened next was truly amazing. A solid 110LB Tarpon attacked the Spanish Mackerel attached the Yo-Zuri and the fight was on. The girlfriend screamed (one of the best I have EVER heard) and the fight was on. Now, the reel is what? A Cabo Model 20. The line? Yo-Zuri Hybrid 10LB test . The leader? 20LB Yo-Zuri light pink. The Rod? St Croix Premier Model 60MHF (8-14LB) and (6ft). In other words, a great big trout, redish, and maybe beach snook rod. About 2 hours later, the Dude wants to handoff this great fish to his total babe girlfriend (and yes she was). Normally GiddyUp does not allow "handoffs" between anyone but I had to play the sensitivity card in case said Dude dropped dead from a heart attack (who would be there for his gorgeous, hot, young, and beautiful girlfriend except me) so I decided "What the hell....let her fight the fish." Well, let's say this. Anna Kornakova had nothing on this babe including all the sweating and groaning. The fish was soon released, the Dude lived, and the Babe got a nice 20 minute aerobic workout on a GiddyUp Fishing Charter. After it was all done, I said, "let's go get another one!"
They said, "Please take us back to the hotel!" I said "Both of you?" It was an exceptional 4HR Charter. I came home, cleaned the boat, and prepared for another great day of tarpon action.
Sharks are of a major concern at this time
The Tarpon are here. This is my best story. And to think I go to work bare footed! On some days I have the best job in the world. GiddyUp
More Fishing Reports:
More Fishing Reports:
