Catch REPORT: The Tarpons Run

The tarpons are in and they are NOT shy. You can see them swimming in schools on the surface of the water. The single pointed fin sticking out of the water like a sore thumb. You simply can’t miss them. On a kayak .... they just swims around you.

It was a pleasant sight but unfortunately the tarpons here don’t grow into the size that are found in Florida otherwise it will be a hell of a fish. I love the ariel actions and the fast side sweeping swims after setting in the hook. It’s has more determination than a herring given firm and wider body plus powerful tail. Fantastic fish on light tackle.

It’s shoot on sight. Cast a bait into the middle of a circling school ... let the line lose and see the line straighten out in lighting speed. A firm jerk and “splash” ..... before swimming away near the surface and breaks into an ariel display.

On this solo fishing day, it was tarpon fever. Tarpons, tarpons and more tarpons ... Everywhere! Once I had enough tarpon fighting to kill my fishing urge, I decided to target some bottom feeders for dinner. On first drop, I had a sickle fish taking the bait as soon as it hit the bottom. Seems like the fishes were everywhere. Unbelievable ..... not in this small island of Singapore was how I felt. To get such actions ... we usually had to travel to remote islands. What an experience.

Drop in another bait to the bottom and waited for the magic to happen again...... I waited ... and waited and waited ... while the tarpons are still playing near the surface. No magic.

Tarpons still everywhere ..... and finally I just had to do it ... back to tarpon fishing again. Left the bottom fishing rigged rod in the holder and I continued the fun with more tarpons. As the noon sun hit ... the tarpons just disappear, probably into deeper water ... all the actions gone. Quite. Alone. I waited ... and waited .. and waited ..then changed bait .. and waited and waited again. Now this is more like the local fishing scene that I have grown to know.

“Tok Tok Tok ...... grottttaaaa tok tokl”...... behind me ..... it’s my rod rattling hard against the inside of the rod holder. I turned my back and the rod was in a full bend with the drag releasing line effortlessly. I grabbed the rod and felt the fish pulling the lines towards the open sea. It’s not a tarpon this time for sure as the fight was deep and strong.

Line continues peeling off while I pumped and pulled each time it stopped in it’s pace or changed swimming direction until I could see the silver body lying on its side by my kayak. A nice fat grunter weighing slightly above 2kg. With the gripper secure in it’s mouth .. and with one clean sweeping action, I lifted the fish onto the floorboard of my kayak.

Along the way home ... I bumped into one of our kayak fishing kakis and we show-off our day’s catch to each other at the traffic lights!!!! What a pleasant surprise.