ABSTRACT
Introduction ............................................................................................................ 329 Background ............................................................................................................ 330 Tarpon Fishing Records ......................................................................................... 331 A Record of My Own............................................................................................. 333
Although a fresh wind from the south had spread a glistening chop across the water’s surface, through Polaroid glasses I spotted a school of about 40 fi sh traveling in our direction. At fi rst they were only faint wavering shadows, but instinct told me they were tarpon, probably of good size. “Be ready,” I instructed Guy Valdene who stood in the stern of the boat, “to cast at 10 o’clock.” “Ready,” he answered. As soon as the lead fi sh were in range, my companion false cast once and placed the orange and yellow streamer fl y a little off target. Just the same, a very big fi sh turned out of the school and came after it. I held my breath; waiting for the strike, which I knew would be more like an explosion. But in his excitement, and from inexperience also, I suppose, he struck too soon and took the fl y away from the tarpon’s big open mouth.
