I talked to guy in a little boat at the boat ramp the other day who said that he had caught a small (20 Lbs) tarpon near there.

I have been down here from upstate SC for about 5 weeks. I have caught a descent number of reds and trout from Guana, 206 and highbridge, but this past week it has really slowed down for me.
So, I decided to try and catch a tarpon out of my kayak. I went to a flat right next to the inter-coastal where I had seen several tarpon. Some of them in the 20-30 lb range. All I was able to net were finger mullet so that is what I was using. I had a big surf rod and one of my redfish rods. There were several tarpon cruising around, but would not hit anything. Then one chased some kind of fish and then chased them out right beside the boat. I tossed the mullet on the redfish rod in front of the fish. I felt a small tap and set the hook. The fish made about a five yard sprint pulling drag and then came all the way out of the water right in front of my boat. If it was not 100lbs it had to be close. It immediately came out of the water again and broke my line. The whole thing could not have lasted 20 seconds, but it was an exciting 20 seconds. I went back the next day still hoping to land a small one, still plenty of fish, but no luck so far.

I know, no pictures- it didn't happen. There were not even any other boats around. I love catching the reds in my yak, but that one jump will be the most remembered this summer - so far.

I was out one time and saw small tarpon crashing bait back in a small creek. I had light tackle but said what the heck. I grabbed a Top Dog topwater and waited for them to start crashing the bait. When they started I tossed the lure into the bait and started yanking it. End of story.... I lost a good topwater lure within 5 seconds.

The most exciting 20 seconds for me was nothing like that.

I do bet it was exciting!

Hmmm....My most exciting 20 seconds. I was 16. Although I don't think she was quite as excited.

Seriously though, congrats on your first silver.

You will notice I specified "in fishing".

I know that feeling too! felt like that when a grouper hits a pinfish, but then gets rocked up

It is thrilling isn't it? That's why tarpon are so incredible. You only need to catch one big one for the hero pic, then the most fun is the hook up and the jumps. Simply magnificent creatures especially when viewed from a kayak up close.

I believe you - it happened to me also. About three years ago I was trolling a mud minnow and bam my rod bent over and drag screamed like I have never seen. Picked up the rod and a Tarpon came out of the water shook his head and broke the line. I sat there for at least ten minutes in amazement.

You want excitment. I hooked frigging flipper from the kayak the other day. I really wish they were not such magnificent creatures cause I really wanted him to pull me around for awhile, however, I finally was able to reach my knife and cut the line. I have had problems with knots and lines breaking etc. Of course when flipper was on the line everything worked perfectly. Robbie

That is cool