i know there are a few caught in the bay but i thought they were just wanderers. you really go out fishing for them or they usually caught by accident.give me some details on catching.... time? places? size? why are they this far north??

I remember people targeting them in the inlets around the barrier islands of the Eastern Shore during the late summer last year.

I went after tarpon about 6 times last year on the eastern shore.
I did not catch any last year but I did locate a route they follow to
and from the flats. I hope to catch one this year.

Tom

Been tarpon fishin the ES of Va for 27 years. People that I have taken during that time have caught 17 tarpon, jumped off or lost another 50 or so, But last year was the first time I caught a tarpon. Had 5 on caught 3 in one day, biggest was 82" long and 52" girth(150# to 160#). The following week caught a 74" tarpon. It is a very hard fishery to learn.There are a few tarpon guides on the shore, Jack Brady, Buddy Vaugh and I think Charles Stant. People are very closed mouth about tarpon fishing and the best way to learn isto go with a guide if you choose to try. If ya cant get your boat in skinny water, hate bugs, hate catching big critters in blistering hot heat dont go.

150 would have broken the 30 year old state record of 130... You should have
weighed that one.

Capt. Pete

I noticed you named a couple of tarpon guides. What's the easiest way to get in touch with them? Do they fly fish for them or use bait or both? Any info would be great and I would be interested in talking to them about a trip.

Thanks

You cant keep a tarpon in Va., release only. Why kill something you cant eat? I got the fish mounted, that is enough for me. As far as tarpon guides Brady bait fishes, Buddy has caught tarpon on fly and will take you. Brady lives in Oyster and Buddy lives in Cape Charles. Call Infomation or Chris Bait and Tackle, forphone nos.

So I take it that the State reords for Red drum and Tarpon are frozen in time?

Until they let us get a weight citation, yes that is right.

Rob Savage is another guide. He lives in Machipongo.

I found this on red drum


B. It shall be unlawful for any person to take, catch or possess any red drum less than 18 inches in length or greater than 26 inches in length.


I did not see anything about it being illegal to possess a tarpon. I see where they
do not give a weight citation but cant find anything on why you could not submit
for a state record.

I talked to Dr. Julie Ball and Claude Bain, both told me the same thing, release only. And like I said before, the record doesn't matter, its the catchin that I like. I have had other records that have not been recorded, 98# Black drum on fly, 48" red drum on fly, 56" 36' girth red drum(est. weight 85-87#). I love to catch big fish but I leave the records for others who seek them.

How Big's That Tarpon?
In the early 1900s, William H. Wood, the pioneer of tarpon fishing, developed a formula for estimating the weight of tarpon in pounds. Its girth (squared) times its length — each measured in inches — divided by 800. It's a fairly accurate formula that gives the approximate weight of almost every type of fish, no matter what shape or size.
Bob Colura, a retired Texas Parks and Wildlife marine scientist, used this formula to calculate the weight of an estimated 214-pound tarpon caught in the South Padre Island, Texas, surf late in July 1999. That tarpon was estimated to be between 40 and 50 years old. — Robert Sloan

52*52=2704 * 82 = 221728 / 800 = a 277.16 pound tarpon

I spoke to Claude Bain this morning. He stated that if you had a state
record tarpon that you could weigh in the fish. Claude's number is
491-5160.

Tom

Well I guess they just ment red drum , but it still doesn't matter cuz I wont kill a big fish for a record, especially one I cant eat and as far as your fomulars, both tarpon guides Billy Sydnor and Jack Brady told me that fish weighted 150 to 160 pounds. My fishin buddy Chuck Wroton and Billy Sydnor Have caught tarpon up to 250 lbs, Chuck has one on his wall that is well over 220 lbs and it lenght was 91" and gerth was 57". And Anthony from PA DIST just called and my mount is in. So if ya want to see it come by my house. 721 Winston Salem Ave. The mold he used was a 150 lb fish.
Capt. Pete

my 1st time on this sight...ya'll are tough isay...tough

Capt Pete,
Nice meeting you last night at the Meet and Greet. Thanks for coming out. I wanted to bend your ear about these tarpon...may be next time. Thanks for your insight!!

If I am reading REELAX's note correctly, all of us are in violation. If it says 'take, catch, or posess,' we can't catch them at all. That can't be right...

Sounds a little off to me also. Got it from the Vrmc website.


http://www.mrc.state.va.us/regulations/fr280.shtm


Tom

my 1st time on this sight...ya'll are tough isay...tough

[/quote]


Dadio,

I hope you dont get the wrong impression... I am trying to give
information not bust some chops. I spent some time over in the
ES last summer, busted a prop, got stuck once had to wait for high tide,
got chewed by mosquitos. I asked alot of people about tarpon
no one wants to talk. I learned as much as a could and managed
to find a hole they transit through to and from the flats. I saw several
roll within 30 feet of my boat but no hookups. The formula for size
of tarpon is pretty common knowledge.

So please dont get a bad impression... and Pete again not trying to
bust chops but I thought you might like to know that if you catch
a state record this year. You have an option to weigh it in. I understand
you may chose not to but it is always good to know ones options.

Tom