Massive Mystery Fish VS Kayak (I Was NOT Expecting This…)
- By: Tony Acevedo
- on
Who wins in the battle of a MASSIVE Mystery Fish VS Kayak?
I was out filming an Insider Report for Insider Members when I paused and saw a BIG fish swimming right at my kayak.
I dropped the Alabama Leprechaun Jerk Shad down in front of me and held on for the ride!!!
Massive Mystery Fish VS Kayak [VIDEO]
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Gear Used In This Video:
- Alabama Leprechaun Jerk Shad
- 3/0 Hoss Helix Hook
- Century Weapon 7’10” Medium-Heavy Fast-Action
- 10lb PowerPro Braid
- 20lb Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon Leader
I had caught a few fish that morning and was almost ready to head back to the ramp when something caught my eye in front of the kayak.
I happened to be standing with the Alabama Leprechaun Jerk Shad all rigged up and ready so I dropped it down thinking I’d hook into a nice redfish.
That is NO bull redfish…
A MONSTER Tarpon came up and gulped down the jerk shad and took off!
I was not prepared to fight a fish of this size and for most of the fight, I was waiting for the line to break.
Conclusion
It’s hard to think of a more memorable catch!
On top of this being an INSANE eat, it just goes to show that you can fight bigger fish on lighter tackle just as long as you take your time and do it properly.
You never know what will bite your hook!
Do you have questions about the setup I was using or any of the gear?
Please go ahead and ask in the comments section!!
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That was super exciting Tony! Thanks for sharing.
For sure!
Great catch, maybe one of the staff sent it to pull you home…looks like it could have worked. Awesome surprise.
Thanks Chuck! Haha I went in circles for a while thats for sure.
Occasionally I am in Puerto Rico with a Volunteers in Mission team and get to take a morning to fish the lagoons off of San Juan Airport. We are looking for Tarpon. The charter equipment resembles “Bass gear”. Seven foot medium rods, likely 20 pound mono. A 20″ to 30″ fish will take some careful handling to get it back to the to the 14 to 16 foot boat the guides commonly use. The deal is catch one, Guide unhooks, photograph and release. It is a hoot and on a two to three week construction assignment it is a “good break”. I can hardly imagine doing it from a kayak! Well done Tony!
Thank you for the great feedback Rev Lou! There are some big fish that can be caught on light gear, but definitely takes some patience!
Mercy!! I would have fallen out of the kayak! As usual, great job Tony! Wish I was there!
Haha thank you Jeff!
Really exemplifies the power of 10 lb.
For sure!
That’s exciting!!! Bring me one of those tarpon my way, Tony 🤣
Haha i’ll see what I can do!
Yea believe it or not about a year before the covid start I hooked into about a 75 pound tarpon fishing a dock in millcove in Jax fl on get this a spinnerbait?!!! It took off on the otherside of the pilings and jumped like they always do throwing the lure but what a surprise and thrill!! I have only caught 1 tarpon in my life a small juvenile about 15 pounds throwing my bone and silver spook jr topwater I was actually fishing for bass after work at my old neighbors seawall and I kept seeing fish come up top and gulp air at first I thought it was a gar but noticed it didnot have a long snout like gar do so I cast to it and what a thrill it had eyes the size of a silver dollar that area is known for bass because of the brackish water though tarpon sometimes are there good job on the catch Tony your the kayak guru that’s for sure and thanks for the great report and all you do😉👍
Thank you for the kind words Steven! I’ve hooked some smaller ones on spinnerbaits. You never know what they’ll hit!
So cool Tony! Love your continuation of the narrative after you realized what you just hooked into! Congrats on the light tackle long fight and getting her up close to your kayak. Definitely a most memorable hookup!!
Thanks John! I was calm on the outside but the adrenaline was pumpin!
Did this happen to be over near Plantation island in Mosquito Lagoon? I saw a big tarpon just lazily swimming around there a few weeks ago. He swam literally 2 feet in front of my kayak and didn’t seem to care at all that I was there. I was rigged up similar to you with 10lb braid / 20lb leader and knew it would be a waste to try and catch him, so I didn’t bother.
Nope not there, but tarpon have been scattered all over lately. I didn’t think it was a tarpon when I saw the wake, and if I knew it was one I would have never thought it would hit artificial that close to me. Fun fight though!
So awesome! What a beast on such light tackle.
Thanks Pat!