Tarpon Chronicles 2014 Day 3

May 14, 2014

The wind... psychologically it breaks you down.  Every day we have awaken with renewed hope of actually being able to fish with some effectiveness, only to have them dashed by palm trees laid over and flags flying straight and not hanging. This morning it was borderline unfishable.  Don and I were both on the edge of getting seasick. 

Around 11:00 a.m. Don made the decision to go back to the hotel, thinking that this is supposed to be our vacation.  I, not being as smart as Don, went back out to do more battle with the elements. At the turn of the tide a large group of tarpon came from the bridge channel onto the flat and tracked straight at us.  I made my cast, a pretty good one considering, and a large fish rose up and struck.  I stripped the line hoping to come tight but never did.  Upon inspection the leader was shredded.  It was obvious that the fly had been deep in its mouth but the hook point just never found a home.  Two other good shots - one I made a poor presentation, and the other was followed but nothing else, and our day was basically over.

As much as I hate to say it, the forecast is for much lighter winds tomorrow.  I'm tired... mentally and physically.  The body is beaten up as every muscle has braced against the pitching boat for three days now, straining not only to maintain balance, but simply to stay on the boat.  I'm ready for something good to go our way.