Fishing Frenzy

Almost everyone has had the experience of trying to catch fish, whether in a lake, a river or in the sea each version has its unique challenges, and the excitement is the same in all venues. One common theme among anglers is the pursuit of the biggest one they can land. There are few species that can rival the thrill one can get Key West tarpon fishing.

The Silver King, one of the most common monikers for Megalops atlanticus is a large fish by any standard. It can each over 8 feet in length and weigh as much as 350 pounds. This makes it a worthy challenge for any fisherman, experienced or novice. In addition, these fish are known as superb fighters.

The number of their population across their range as been dramatically reduced since 1960, with a reduction thought to be as much as 30 percent. Considering the intensive fishery hauls in South America this is a surprising low number. Part of the reason for their survival is they can spawn year round and lay as many as twelve million eggs per female.

Another lucky trait that is very fortunate for them is that Americans find their flesh less than delicious and their bodies too bony. This in combination with a serious effort by the government fish and wildlife department has made regulation of sport fishing quite successful. As a result, the population numbers have remained relatively stable for over ten years.

It is not the most glamorous sea creature and is rarely sensationalized in Hollywood films, the way Marlin or sharks are depicted. This is undoubtedly good for the strength of its numbers. For the avid angler however, it should be known that this is a species that can provide the same level of physical challenge and thrill as the more famous open ocean counterparts.

One might conclude that it is easy to entice a strike from a hunter that feeds at night and during the day, but that would be a mistake. The bait must be present to their front a few feet below the surface and moving away from them. The sight of a school of six to eight foot predators coming direct at one is enough to throw off any cast.

Assuming on gets the cast off and is lucky enough to entice a strike, the natural instinct for most anglers is to give a might yank to set the hook, but in this case, far better to give several moderate yanks in rapid succession. If the fish jumps to try and throw the hook, stop fighting during the period it is airborne, as the tension will help the hook dislodge.

If one does not have a boat, then places where there are many bait fish, preferably in a shady place like under a bridge is a good spot to try. After landing a fish, enjoying the victory is natural, but the hook should be removed and the fish released quickly. Key West tarpon fishing can be one of the highlights of any vacation.