My Daughter's First Ever ...........

[Angler Systems]

Well it was my daughters turn this time, after all her brother can’t have all the fun and it’s her Spring Break also! A freind and I took Sydnee out on Thursday night with the hope of getting her a nice Snook and to beat her record of 26 inches. Once again we had a difficult time getting bait and that seems to be more of a blessing then anything as every time we lack good bait we catch some nice fish. While waiting for it to get dark (before using live bait) I would do a long cast with a DOA Bait Buster (on sale now @ MirrOlure, Daiwa Reels, Shimano Reels, US Reel, Angler Systems ) then immediately hand the fishing rod to Sydnee and have her work it across the target area. After 5 or 6 casts she said something like Daddy I had a bite, then Daddy I have a big fish…..as the drag starts to run off the reel and the fish jumps. My buddy cleared the other lines as I watched her closely. After a nice 15 minute battle on my medium weight Gloomis/SOL 3000 combo with 14lb braid Sydnee had the fish close to the boat. Soon thereafter Steve had the Boca on it and Sydnee could not believe what she had caught. It was her first ever Tarpon and she got it on an artificial lure!





After she called and bragged to her brother. I got a chance to fish and picked up another Tarpon, this one coming on a Pinfish. We also jumped two additional poons and picked up a Snook and Mangrove Snapper (aka lunch today) before heading back to the dock.





What a great Spring Break for me!!!!!

Jeff

[Blue Magic]

Nice fish Sid.....
Jeff don't post this picture anywhere else. Your not supposed to pull that tarpon out of the water.....That's a no no

[Capt Rick Hiott]

No kidding?
Is that a new Fla law?

[Angler Systems]

Originally Posted by Capt Rick Hiott

No kidding?
Is that a new Fla law?

No law, just not "proper".

[Capt Rick Hiott]

Dont take this the wrong way,,,,but I hate a boga-grip too.....................

[Blue Magic]

It is a law.......tarpon and jewfish are not supposed to be pulled out of the water for any reason what so ever.
The taking of photographs after removal of hooks and posing for pictures with tarpon and goliaths is not considered an immediate release of the fish. For tarpon you must have a tarpon tag and with goliaths they are designated as prohibited species.

[vettnman]

Nice fish Jeff. That grin on your daughters face just makes it all worth it!!

[Angler Systems]

For additional information here is a quote from the Florida (flrules) in the "Tarpon Possession" thread in "ask the law" section.

In terms of photographs, etc. I read #1 and do not believe I did anything wrong and would do it again. I did not "harvest" the fish and it was immediately returned to the water. To harvest you need a Tarpon Tag.

68B-32.002 Definitions.
As used in this rule chapter:
(1) “Harvest” means the catching or taking of a fish by any means whatsoever, followed by a reduction of such fish to possession. Fish that are caught but immediately returned to the water free, alive, and unharmed are not harvested.
(2) “Professional fishing guide” means the captain or operator of a boat or vessel who is licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard to carry paying passengers and whose passengers pay a fee to fish for tarpon.
(3) “Snagging” or “snatch hooking” means the intentional catch of a fish by any device intended to impale or hook the fish by any part of its body other than the mouth.
(4) “Spearing” means the catching or taking of a fish by bow hunting, gigging, spearfishing, or by any device used to capture a fish by piercing the body. Spearing does not include the catching or taking of a fish by a hook with hook and line gear or by snagging (snatch hooking).
(5) “Tarpon” means any fish of the species Megalops atlanticus, or any part thereof.
Specific Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. History–New 11-30-88, Amended 1-1-98, Formerly 46-32.002, Amended 3-28-04.

Some captains only take smaller fish out of the water for photos, some do not take them out at all.