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Women on the Water

With this much silver, who needs gold!

Written by Merry Beth Ryan

AS SEEN IN THE MAY/JUNE 2006 ISSUE

Women who are interested in taking up saltwater fishing should know that when it comes to the ultimate challenge, sight-fishing to South Florida’s most sought-after game fish is as good as the sport gets. During anytime of the year, fishermen prowling the beaches from Sarasota down to Marco Island, will find the crystal clear water along the Gulf’s pristine shoreline provides an angling paradise like few others, but it’s during May through July, when sight-fishing to giant silver kings is in the spotlight, that excitement and adrenaline levels soar!

Sight-fishing is actually a style of shallow water angling that everyone can enjoy, which is why with each passing season, we see more and more women joining their male counterparts in this heart pounding type of angling. Ladies, don’t let the size of the giant tarpon you see portrayed on the pages of this magazine and on Saturday morning fishing shows intimidate you. I’ve personally witnessed female anglers of all ages successfully catch and release silver kings that were substantially larger then they were. With the correct tackle and patient instruction, anyone can do it. Some gals enjoy chasing these glamorous fish so much; I’ve heard them refer to tarpon as “silver queens” rather than “silver kings.”

In order for any angler, female or male, to achieve success stalking and landing these shimmering, diamond plated beauties, your sight-fishing tactics require patience with a capital “P.” What you will also need is stamina. Don’t be concerned if you’re not built like Wonder Women, once the fight of your life gets under way, your sky-rocketing adrenalin level will provide all the stamina you need.

Unlike fishing the secluded backcountry, sight-fishing for open water, beach tarpon requires an early start. Ideally, during late spring and early summer mornings, your eyes should be studying the water for signs of life just as the sun begins to peak over the horizon. A sea breeze usually picks up as afternoon approaches, creating a chop which makes the schools of migrating tarpon much more difficult to locate. The earlier you can be on the water searching for a ‘happy’ pod of fish, the better your odds of creating a memory that will last a lifetime. Happy, un-pressured tarpon are generally much more cooperative than a school of spooky fish which have been cast to all day long.

Here along the Gulf Coast beaches, early morning tarpon usually reveal their presence by rolling and gulping air on the surface, often referred to as “milling.” Milling fish tend to feed better, which is another reason that the early bird usually gets the worm. Remember though, the fish you see rolling on the surface usually don’t bite; rather, it’s the tarpon below them that strike with abandon.

To make the most of this open water type of angling, you have to know how to play the game. As your captain guides you parallel to the shoreline, you must keep the bail of the reel open. This allows you to pull the trigger and make a cast at any given moment. Many agree that sight-fishing for tarpon along our sandy shorelines can be compared to deer hunting. The waiting game truly comes into effect, and if you’re not careful, it is quite possible to catch a severe case of “Buck Fever.”

Once a school of fish has been located and you have determined the direction the fish are heading in, you will need to make an accurate cast ahead of their path of travel. By doing so, if the lead fish chooses to ignore your offering, you will still have a chance with the trailing fish. Whatever you do, never cast directly into the middle of the school. This will surely send the tarpon scattering. During peak season, anglers who put in their time, regularly encounter fish weighing from 50 pounds to well over 150 pounds, so be ready for anything

Once hooked, tarpon explode from the water like missiles as they attempt to shake the hook. To win the battle, anglers of any skill level must remember to bow-to-the-king. Maybe you’ve heard the expression. Simply put, you must relieve the pressure on the line once the ballistic fish goes airborne. This is done by quickly leaning forward and tipping your rod toward the fish in a downward motion. As soon as the tarpon re-enters the water, be prepared to reel as you bring the rod tip back up.

Choice baits when sight-fishing beach tarpon are live, silver-dollar size blue crabs or pass crabs. Greenbacks, which are small baitfish that practically fit in the palm of your hand, are also preferred. Tackle can be scaled up or down depending on skill level. Some experienced female anglers prefer light to medium tackle for its light weight, while others opt for medium to heavy action rod and reel combos which provide increased backbone. Either way, your equipment must be in top shape and capable of holding at least 300 yards of line. Even on the best of days you may only get a limited number of casts to schools of passing fish, so regardless of tackle choice, do your best to make every cast count.

Fishing etiquette is not written law, though it will be to your best interest to respect other boaters fishing the same beaches around you. They too are working hard to locate fish. When you run across a boat that is hooked up, do your part to stay out of their way. Allow plenty of breathing room for the fortunate angler to coerce his or her fish from the school. Once the commotion of the ongoing fight has settled, the school of tarpon will again regroup and settle down. You’ll make a lot more fishing friends by showing the same level of respect you would expect to be treated with.

Each and every silver king, I mean, silver queen, I’m privileged enough to hook and fight, is as thrilling and exciting as my very first. These high jumping fish are treasured around the world for their strength and acrobatic performances as they effortlessly catapult out of the water. Olympic gymnasts don’t have a thing on these aquatic tumblers. I can personally attest that their high flying aerial displays are sure to keep you coming back for more.

Landing a tarpon of any size is definitely a huge achievement and a special Kodak moment. But whatever you do, don’t pull the fish into the boat for a photo session. Those beastly in appearance, tarpon are fragile. It is best to photograph this magnificent creature next to the boat while keeping it submerged. And remember, it’s illegal to possess a tarpon of any size without a tarpon tag. Regardless of the law, ALL tarpon should be released unharmed. These fish are worth much more alive then dead.

Girls, if you are looking for a pure adrenalin rush and an exciting way to get involved in your significant others favorite sport, sight-fishing to beach tarpon is your calling. Just seeing the fish’s large eyes daring you to throw a scrumptious crab or lively bait to them is enough to make you a complete fanatic. I know I’ve become totally addicted!