200 Lb.+ Tarpon Taken in Port O'Connor

[Mark Cahill]

Got this in from Capt. Scott Graham:

200+ pound tarpon caught in Texas on a fly rod.

Port O’Connor, Texas.
On Thursday August 28, 2003 a world class tarpon was caught off the Texas coast on a fly rod, possibly the second or third largest in the world on fly gear.
Port O’Connor Fly Fishing Guide Captain Scott Graham was fishing solo when he hooked into the behemoth fish.
He had been hunting large tarpon on a fly rod for the previous 8 days, had jumped several two days prior and four well over a hundred pounds the morning of this catch. The fish was sight cast to while rolling on the surface. As it turned and ate Graham’s fly, Graham realized this was a huge tarpon; he called over to the nearby boat of Ted Baker, from Houston, who was also fishing solo. Baker anchored his boat and boarded Graham’s to assist as needed.
After a one hour and twenty minute battle, the fish was landed, measured, photographed, and a scale removed for research (and a souvenir), the scale was bigger in diameter than a soda can. The length of the tarpon was 87 inches (7’3”), and the girth was 43 inches. The estimated weight was 201 pounds based on a reliable formula. The fish was revived and released unharmed. Unfortunately for Graham, the fish will not qualify for a state record, because it was not killed. Although veteran guide Graham has held numerous state records on a fly rod, he could not bring himself to kill this majestic fish just for a record.
“I honestly think this fish was bigger than we taped” says Graham, “we measured her in the water and she had an eight to ten inch sag in the mid section that would have given her another couple of inches if she were flat and straight, but you know, it doesn’t matter.”
Capt. Scott Graham can be reached at: 1.866.FLYCAST, or on the web at: www.flyfishingtexas.com

[bones]

High fives to Captain Graham.
What a perfect gentleman,..........he coulda killed the fish and his name gone on to another record, but he chose otherwise. The battle.....the memory........ photos........ the scale..........what else does one need?

Thankyou, Captain Graham, for returning this great Silver King to the water so others may get a chance at him.

[talbot3]

As a knowledgable friend of mine said--Who needs to spend thousands of dollars to go to Florida?

I am going to plan to move south.

Duncan Talbot

[THE GAME]

I thought it was illegal to keep a tarpon.Catch and release only. How do you get around that?

[Animal Chris]

a Tarpon Tag. Since Texas has implemented the tag system, I haven't heard of one tarpon being killed, even though I know of several people who purchase them every year. Regardless, I agree with Scott's decision to release it. Tight Loops, AC

[lemaymiami]

My hat's off to the captain! It's very tempting for a guide to kill a monster and book off his trophy for years after. It takes a good set of values to realize that a great fish deserves to live.

Once again, Great Catch.

Capt Bob LeMay