It is generally regarded that Samuel H. Jones was the first to ever catch the silver giant tarpon
using only a fishing rod and reel way back in March 1884. This claim was published in the 1945
volume of the Salt Water Fishing penned by sportsman and well-portfolioed author Van
Campen Heilner. The catch was a 172.5 pound behemoth fished off the waters of Florida’s
Indian River inlet aboard a Buell spoon. Earlier, this distinction belonged to W. H. Wood who
supposedly caught a silver king off Surveyor’s Creek in Florida in March of 1885.
Now it would seem that that quest for establishing who got the very first tarpon using an
ordinary rod and reel is about to be rewritten yet again. According to historical documents, it
was in February of 1882 when New York financier-turned fisherman Anthony W. Dimmock
landed the first-ever tarpon while fishing in the mouth of the Homosassa River in Florida,
sweeping warm currents past Shell Island and well into the turquoise waters of the Gulf of
Mexico. This was a full two years before Jones supposedly landed his and about 3 years before
the tarpon was officially recognized as a game fish.
And this is where the problem lies.
Because both Dimmock’s (1882) and Jones’ (1884) claims were before the official recognition of
the marine species as a game type of creature, people and noteworthy individuals simply did
not bother looking into the fact that these 2 men indeed caught the very first tarpons. It is
equally sad for Dimmock as only a handful of tarpon experts officially recognize him and his
black guide, Tat, as the first ever person to ever reel in the giant fish.
According to Dimmock, as written in his memoirs, he recalled seeing the fish make a giant and
awesome leap like he has never seen before. The brilliant rays of the early morning sun on that
warm February morning made a rainbow out of every drop that sprayed around the marine
creature. He said he first thought of it as a mermaid as he was taken aback by the sheer might,
strength, and wild activity. He even pitied the Merman who may come home late that evening
for not being able to see his beloved again. Then he thought of the wicked genie being set from
its eternal damnation. It was only with Tat’s yelling that he was brought back to earth, saying
that it’s a tarpon.
He and Tat then had to wrestle with all their might as their line was already fast disappearing
with each spectacular jump of the majestic fish. While there’s no record of just how large and
heavy Dimmock’s catch was, the mere fact that they were the ones who essentially pioneered
tarpon fishing as a sport deserves mention and correction in the annals of history.
Understanding and Using the Tides to Your Advantage
In attempting to land a fish this size, it is important to understand the tides as this can either
make or break your perseverance.
Smaller tarpons as well as other game fishes can be found around the interior bays of Florida
down to South America and heading east to the tropical island of the Bahamas. These species
won’t be migrating anytime soon so they will be converging in areas with deep cuts and holes
during the low tide. As the tide rises, they will be moving out to shallower waters – flats and
bays – essentially to feed. The best time to catch them is right after the dead-low tide and make
sure to position your skiff or boat in between the shallow zone and the deep cuts. As the water
rises, tarpons slowly come out towards the crest. Cast about 3 or 4 feet in front of them.
As the tide continues to rise, small tarpons will be moving farther out. You have a window of
about 1.5 to 2 hours before the water reaches its peak. Once this happens, it will be nearly
impossible to pinpoint where these silver kings will be as they will be spread across the entire
breadth of the bay. Now, if it’s a small bay, you can still manage to catch some of them. But if
it’s a large body of water, good luck.
By the time the tide starts to recede, you can employ the same tactic as these tarps will be
returning to the deeper cuts and holes. Again, you have to position your boat between the
shallows and the deep as they move towards the safety of the cuts. Unfortunately, they are
much trickier to catch this time simply because they will be in such a hurry to their refuge they
might not even notice your bait.
Landing a famed silvery king requires the right fly to use. There are 2 types of fly designs that
are used in tarpon fishing. These are essentially based on visual and auditory targeting.
The first is a Keys-style design that is sparsely dressed yet very sleek and is often used to hook
fish in clear waters. Its wing is tied to the hook’s rear. It features a collar in the front. The shank
can be built to taper or left bare. If tapered, it can be painted with fluorescent dye before
finishing with an epoxy or even a clear head cement. The original design of this type of fly is
around 6 inches long while its modern reincarnations are shorter by half.
The second is especially designed for deep water fishing where the visibility can be poor. This
design is characterized by a bulky wing, large eyes, and a heavy chenille body. A classic example
of this design is the Whistler which creates sound waves to attract game fishes.
These tips can hopefully help you land that elusive tarpon jumper. If not, it’s always a joy to try
your hand out at fighting against these silver kings.
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