Tarpon Info Update

The video link below depicts a school of large mature tarpon cruising under a Florida Keys bridge May 2009 as they move northward along their seasonal migration route. The Bonefish & Tarpon Conservation and Research Center of the University of Miami is conducting satellite PAT tagging research on the tarpon to study its migration patterns. For more information and to support the research, please go to http://www.bonefishresearch.com/

Link to video- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaUBVyWBbzA

Wonder if this is what the tarpon look like under the Sunshine Skyway that spans Tampa Bay?

Also of Interest- Taxonomy- Tarpon

Click on the links below in white for more information

Domain: Eukaryota- Whittaker & Margulis,1978 - eukaryotes

Kingdom: Animalia- Linnaeus, 1758 - animals

Subkingdom: Bilateria- (Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983

Branch: Deuterostomia- Grobben, 1908

Infrakingdom: Chordonia- (Haeckel, 1874) Cavalier-Smith, 1998

Phylum: Chordata - Bateson, 1885 - Chordates

Subphylum: Vertebrata- Cuvier, 1812 - Vertebrates

Infraphylum: Gnathostomata - Auct. - Jawed Vertebrates

Superclass: Osteichthyes- Huxley, 1880 - Bony Fishes

Class: Osteichthyes- Huxley, 1880 - Bony Fishes

Subclass: Actinopterygii- Ray-Finned Fishes

Infraclass: Actinopteri

Cohort: Elopomorpha - Greenwood Et Al., 1966

Order: Elopiformes- Greenwood Et Al., 1966 - Tarpons and Tenpounders

Family: Megalopidae- Tarpons

Genus: Megalops

Specific name: atlanticus - Valenciennes, 1847

Scientific Name: Megalops atlanticus- Valenciennes, 1847 This link will take you to Fishbase and detailed scientific information for this species.

South Tampa Bay

They're heeeerrreee!!! The tarpon have arrived in numbers and are showing up in all the usual places; the Skyway, southshore, Key Royal, Boca Ciega Bay and in the passes. No real numbers on the beach yet with all the west winds we were having. But, all that should change in the not too distant future with the prevailing east winds we've been feeling as of this week. Typical baits this time of year include; threadfin, scaled sardines and pinfish.

Looking forward to the "hill" tides and getting my DNA scrubs!!!

Very informative blog- tarpon fishing, fly fishing, etc.

From Aaron Adams Ph.D.- Manager of the Fisheries Habitat Ecology Program at Mote Marine Lab, Director of Operations and Research for Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. and fellow tarpon enthusiast.

http://www.fishermanscoast.com/

Bonefish & Tarpon Trust- http://www.tarbone.org/

Skinny Water Culture's - First Annual Tarpon Season Kickoff, and Low Country Boil, Friday April 24th 2009

What?: Skinny Water Culture's - "First Annual Tarpon Season Kickoff, and Low Country Boil"

Why?: Since the annual migration of Tarpon is near and dear to the local anglers of the Tampa Bay area, we figured there should be an annual event to celebrate it! Plus, no respectable Tarpon fisherman will be able to be contacted for the next 4 or 5 months.

Where?: Coasters Bar and Grill 1311 Gulf Blvd, Indian Rocks Bch - (727) 596-3332

When?: Friday April 24th 2009 starts at 4pm till close

Details: Low Country Boil from 4-7PM (Shrimp, Crawfish, Kielbasa, Corn,Potatoes, and a plethora of other goodies, boiled up Louisianna style) with drink specials from Landshark Lager, and Sky Vodka.

Full Fledged Unit starting at 9pm and playing live music until 1am. Drink specialsthrought the night.Giveaways from Howard Films (Chasing Silver 1 and 2, and Location X), Skinny Water Culture Fishing apparel,and others TBA.Ages: 4-7pm for the Low Country Boil - all ages, after 9pm 21 and up--

VinceSkinny Water Culture FamilyVince@skinnywaterculture

http://www.skinnywaterculture.com/

http://www.myspace.com/skinnywaterculture

Tarpon Video Shorts from Spanish Fly Theater

Received permission from the folks at "Spanish Fly" to post the links to these two short videos.

Check out this short of Capt. Wejebe sitting on the beach watching tarpon roll while he eats a sandwich! http://www.spanishflytv.com/theater/swt-tortugas-tarpon.php The close up of how a tarpon eats is classic. Where I live and fish for tarpon I am often blind casting or fishing deep, and rarely get to see the fish take the bait/lure/fly. It's nice to have a snapshot in my mind of what the take looks like.

The video below accurately depicts everything about baby tarpon fishing that is so rewarding. One could say it's most like treasure hunting. http://www.spanishflytv.com/theater/vdm-san-felipe-tarpon.php

After so many seasons, "Spanish Fly" on ESPN2 is still one of the best fishing shows on television. Thank you to Capt. Wejebe and his production staff for all the hard work traveling, filming and putting together such quality entertainment.

EPIPHANY- this little tarpon (below) that we caught last year measured TL (Total length) 12 inches. That would make the fish approximately one year old. Given that tarpon are long lived fish and the fact that I am 47 years old means that it has the capacity to outlive me!

Tarpon- Art, Literature, Fishing, History

Fellow tarpon enthusiasts: Did you know the entire text as originally published (with photos) of "The Book of Tarpon" by A. W. Dimock is available to read at:

http://www.archive.org/stream/bookoftarpon00dimorich

This treasure of a book was published in 1912! Current internet value for "The Book of Tarpon" in hardcover is between $67.00 and $99.95.

Also, check out this gem- From the PBS show, "Untold Stories". Scroll down to the weblink below to watch the show titled "Fish Fever".

Show Description: "In 1885, the first tarpon ever taken on a rod and reel was caught near Punta Rassa – a fishing feat that revolutionized sport fishing and lured hundreds of eager anglers to Southwest Florida in search of the “silver king.” Tarpon reigned supreme, but other sports species abounded. A century later, anglers and commercial fishermen were battling over the dwindling bounty of the Gulf."

The show can be seen in it's entirety at:
http://wgcu.org/Programs/UntoldStories/

Enjoy!!!

More Tarpon Artzy Stuff

http://www.dianepeebles.com/

I am sure all of you have your favorite tarpon paintings, or maybe you have painted or sketched something yourself. This painting above by Diane Rome Peebles is mine. What's yours?

A worthwhile read- "My Tarpon Addiction"- by Thomas McGuane, see Field and Stream Magazine link below.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/fishing/saltwater/2005/05/my-tarpon-addiction?#

I believe I first read "My Tarpon Addiction" in a Midcurrent newsletter (which by the way is a great way to keep up with what's happening in the fly fishing world) BTW, does anyone have a copy of the old movie, Ninety Two in the Shade, adapted from McGuane's book titled the same?

If you enjoy anything having to do with fly fishing, consider signing up for the Midcurrent newsletter at http://www.midcurrent.com/default.aspx Marshall Cutchin puts an amazing amount of work into this site!