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200+ pound tarpon caught in Texas on a fly rod.
Port O'Connor, Texas
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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
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