BIG TARPON

Seven things to know if you want to catch a tarpon over 150 pounds. Now bow to the king.

- Doug Pike

History counts many notable kings on land, but there is only one true king of the sea, and that is the tarpon.

My wife's late uncle, a Californian, asked if I could put him on a tarpon during a summer visit long ago. Longtime friend Capt. Jim Leavelle offered his boat, tackle and skills, and off we set enthusiastically to nearshore Gulf of Mexico waters.

Sharks ate most of our baits and nearly broke Uncle John's will. But with precious little time and energy left, a final line came tight, and the long-range tuna fanatic from California took control then promptly lost it when a basketball-size mouth pushed through the surface.

In a single package, the silver king is massive, unforgivingly powerful and unpredictably explosive.

The fish landed broadside with more of a thud than a splash, then made two more jumps, plowed to the bottom, and dragged 23 feet of loaded boat as effortlessly as a horse pulls a buggy.

Ninety minutes later, John is spent nearly to collapse. His first tarpon is boatside. Estimated weight is 150 pounds, with maybe a few rib-eyes more. Fish this size are rare enough, but the species grows to 100 pounds heavier. I asked three qualified captains (from three qualified regions) for their secrets on how to target these closet doors.

SIZE DOESN'T MATTER

A shared frustration, and I've heard it from others over the years, is that it's difficult to leave the dock dead-set on catching a monster. More often, they'll tell you that successful days of tarpon fishing include several bites and a few fish brought to hand. If one of those fish is extra-large, all the better. But these fish run in schools that include nearly all sizes, except extreme juveniles that prefer small creeks.