Ok, here is the quick version. Later start than planed. Drop boat in Owl’s creek at 8:20 to find a full lot and hit the overflow to park. Made some time up by throwing the net 2 times heading out of Rudee and caught about 20 spots, croaker, etc. for live baits. Lines in south of the pier at Sandbridge around 9:00. At 10:00AM the Spot on the TLD 15 in the rocket launcher way way back gets slammed very hard. Think it’s a king by the initial run which took atleast 150 yards in 10 seconds, then it skied and I saw it was a Tarpon, holly S#$%. Chaos in the cockpit (dad and me on board) to clear the other lines and gain some line back on this fish as it was atleast 350 plus yards by now going the opposite direction. The most amazing thing seeing it dance out of the water and tail walk on a jump. I start to gain on it about 10 minutes later and it sky’s again about 50 yard from the boat then sounds. As I’m working it closer probably 20 yards from the boat the rig comes loose. I had full tension on this fish the entire time and not sure what happened to break loose. It was a king rig with small # 5 treble’s which I realize didn’t have a good hold in her mouth. Very bummed; however, very happy at the same time. This fish was estimated to be 6-7 foot long and I fought it for close to 20 minutes. That was a fish of a lifetime and it’s unfortunate we didn’t land it but my father and I will always carry the vivid memory.

To top it off had a 40# King sky rocket another bait and snap the 80# wire on the hit.

We saw a lot of fish today, unfortunately we didn’t get to land these two.

Man what a bummer. There was a time when for about 2 years everything was aligned and I never seemed to lose a big fish, but then it all ended.

Don't feel bad .... I use to fish with Terry Stewart (TW"s Bait and Tackle) out of Oriental NC for Tarpon and most Tarpon hook ups end that way. All of mine did. They can loosen a hook better than a fresh water bass with all those jumps and flips.

Man...sorry that one got off...still sounds like a awesome thing to see!! Thanks for the report!

Just for the future whenever a tarpon jumps you should bow to him with the rod. As far as the drag with kings and tarpon alike if you keep the deag tight enough to hook then you can add more with your thumb but instantly release when the surge on a blistering run

Cool report....great expeience non the less! You'll get him next time!

80lb wire cut? DARN!

Good tip .....!!

Awesome trip, pretty cool hooking a tarpon off sandbride. How deep of water were you in? Losing a fish like that sucks, I had a similar experience a couple of weeks ago in the keys with a smaller fish then what you were talking about. we landed 2 of 3 which apparently is a pretty high ratio.

Tight Lines

Shep

I was in 31' of water about 1.5 miles south of Sandbridge peir.

man that is so awesome! I have made numerous trips to south florida JUST to catch tarpon and havent even hooked one! im going to just have to try my luck here for now on.

great report!

that is awsome. to bad they got away but you will always have the memory with your dad

Bow to the King!
That's the way it was explained to me. I fished for them off Brunswick, GA. Hooked two, lost them both after amazing aerial displays!
I have heard you land one for every 10 you hook!
Great report!

I hear tell that Steve Richardson had a sail in a spread of blues slow trolling off Dam Neck about a mile out on Tuesday. Same day Wayne Semour caught a 61# king off beach at Sandbridge.

I am the father who watched his son play with the Tarpon on Saturday.

I caught a 175lb tarpon in Boca Pass 4 years ago. 5 hour fight It just kept on circling the boat coming up for air looking at me like how could you....safely released

-Topper

did you get a pic Yopper. We just got back and were not able to take fish out of water for pics. Its amazing how long those fish can fight for.