TARPON CONSIDER THIS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ANYONE CONSIDERING THE FOLLY OF FLY FISHING FOR TARPON. I AM HERE TO TRY TO SAVE YOU TIME, MONEY, AND, QUITE POSSIBLY, YOUR SANITY.
I had just returned from a three-day
“None? Really? That’s too bad.” There
“No,” I said. “I don’t want to go back for
trip fly fishing for tarpon in Florida
was a hint of judgment in his voice.
three days in June next year.” Pause of
when my old man called. A seasoned
my own. “I want to go back for seven
fisherman, he cut right to the chase:
In years past I had fished for tarpon
“How many did you catch?” he asked.
in April, but I’d gone in June this year.
days in June next year.”
He asked if I would go in June again. I
“Son,” he said wearily, “I think you need
immediately said I would.
to get your head examined.”
frequently spoken in the greater
There was a brief silence on the other
My father does not stand alone in his
Florida Keys region. I told him that I’d
end of the line before the former
assessment of my obsession. My wife,
had half a dozen “shots,” two “eats,”
trial lawyer started in with his cross-
friends, and colleagues all think I’m
and one “jump.”
examination. “Let me get this straight.”
absolutely nuts—just flat out, bat-shit
I responded in tarpon-speak, a language that originated and is most
Pause. “You fished for three days.”
crazy. They share the same look of
“Okay,” he said. “But how many did you
Pause. “You didn’t catch a single fish.”
disbelief when in one breath I recount
catch?”
Pause. “But you want to go back for
how I spent three days not actually
“Well, I didn’t actually catch any.”
three more days in June next year?”
catching a single fish— and then in
24 TAIL FLY FISHING MAGAZINE
