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FL-The graceful shards of light dance off the shimmering surface of the ocean as the sun rises and falls over the horizon. This is the time when tarpon gods dance the dance of life and put on a show that is second to none.
Tarpon, or as I like to call them “Poons”, are a special creature, one that many an angler have pursued but seldom caught. Catching these mighty fish is a lesson in patience and knowledge of your prey, along with a big ole bag of luck. I spend most of my summers in chase of these silver monsters in magical places such as, McQueen Inlet, the Altamaha River delta and good old Wassaw Sound. However, every spring we make a pilgrimage to the playground of the Tarpon, The Florida Keys.
There are two surefire ways to increase your odds of catching one during your visit. One way is to go fishing more often. The other way is to seek out a hired gun, a tarpon specialist with local knowledge and an undisputed success record.
One of the best hired guns when it comes to catching Poons is a charter Captain in Marathon Florida by the name of Randy Rode. Randy is a third generation charter captain whose specialty is “Guaranteed Tarpon”. I came to know Randy through chartering his services for the last some years. Randy operates out of Bahia Honda State Park during the months of May and June with his trusty sidekick, “the Rode Runner”.
The “Rode Runner” is a late 60’s vintage 25’ Pacemaker center console that originally belonged to Randy’s father. The “Rode Runner” has a single gasoline inboard V-8 with a shaft drive and single rudder. It is hard to tell that this boat is in excess of thirty years old, but that’s thanks to Randy’s constant upgrading and maintenance. Why so much information on the boat, I’ll get to that a little later.
Bahia Honda State Park is located just Southwest of the world famous Seven-Mile Bridge. On the Southwest side of the Key are two bridges, one from the original railroad built by Flagler in the 1910’s, and the modern A1A Bridge. Between these two bridges is an area that holds more Tarpon per square yard than anything I have ever witnessed.
Having fished the areas of the Georgia coast for many years, it is not a rarity to see Tarpon rolling on the surface. Usually the pods are small groups of fish rolling slowly and gracefully on the calm waters of the sounds and inlets. Bahia Honda Bridge is a different story. One of massive amounts of Poons busting the surface of the inlet in and around the bridge supports in a water ballet that races your pulse and has you pinching yourself in disbelief.
Daybreak and sunset are the most productive times to fish for Poons in and around Bahia Honda Bridge. Daybreak is spectacular as you watch the sun’s fiery ball rise from the surface of the distant Atlantic and light up the emerald waters of the channel. As you wait in anticipation of the first rays of light, the sounds of massive schools of tarpon slapping tails and freeing themselves from the clutches of the water brings the action aboard the Rode Runner to a frenzied pace.
Swimming plugs, silver dollar blue craps, pinfish, and large mullet fill the coffers of the arsenal we intend on unleashing on our quarry. Circle hooks are used on pinfish and mullet, with short-shanked live bait hooks used on crabs. Heavy mono leader material is tied in a wind-on fashion so as to allow for easier wiring of the fish and more control once the tarpon is boat side. Heavy spinning gear is used for plugs and crabs that must be constantly cast and retrieved in the current with conventional reels used for pinfish and mullet.
Anchoring in the channel is a lesson in local knowledge and ingenuity. I have always used a short anchor rode with a fender or ball attached to it and the rode hitched to the forward cleat of the boat. This allows for a quick release of the anchor rode to chase down the Poon without having to waste precious time pulling the anchor. It also allows for you to return to your anchor space and quickly re-rig for another shot .
Charter captains in the keys use a similar method; only they have evolved to a system that employs a stationary rope hitched to the forward cleat and then to the mid-ship cleat with a generous amount of slack. The bitter end of the anchor rode has a stainless steel ring spliced to it with the float ball or fender some feet down the rode. The rope that is hitched to the forward cleat is fed through the stainless steel ring and hitched back to the mid-ship cleat. This system allows the captain to release the anchor from the mid-ship cleat, thus avoiding running to the bow of the boat and racing back to the controls to chase the fish and avoid the bridge.
Speaking of the bridge, the boat is always anchored up current from the bridge allowing baits to be drifted back between the uprights and into the waiting jowls of a giant Poon. Swimming plugs are cast to the port or starboard and retrieved across the area between the uprights. In and around the bridge uprights is where the action takes place and what action it is.
As we arrive at the boat basin in Bahia Honda State Park, Randy, who is busy readying the Rode Runner and filling the bait wells, greets us. We are quickly in the boat and headed out to the bridge through the darkness of predawn. The run from the boat basin to the fertile grounds of the bridge uprights takes all of three minutes. As we arrive and anchor, Randy readies the baits as the boat swings its stern to the bridge. Just like that we are fishing!
I’ll never forget the first charter I took with Randy. The shear number of Poons in and around the bridge was without equal. Never in my life have I seen the behavior these Poons were exhibiting. All of a sudden you would hear and see the water come alive with silver torpedoes of all sizes. These great pods would migrate from one opening to another, rolling, tail slapping, and gulping air like a drowning man fighting for his last breaths. I stood there frozen like a prepubescent youth who just encounter his first glimpse of a Playboy Magazine Centerfold.
Within minutes we were pitching live baits and swimming plugs at the massive pods. Sure enough, Guaranteed Tarpon! The line goes tight and the reel starts to scream for mercy as the silver beast notices he now has a boat attached to him. Without blinking, Randy orders all baits out of the water as starts the engine, releases the hitches from the mid-ship cleat, and starts to back with the current towards the bridge.
This is when the real action that separates the men from the boys starts. Tarpon are very acrobatic creatures and like to show off their aerial prowess in a bid to shake the boat from their jaw. I start to notice that the boat is getting really close to one of the uprights and the line is starting to get dangerously close to the piling supporting the upright. With a flick of the shifter and a stab of the throttle we come clear of the upright as Randy calls out to slacken the drag to eliminate the beast breaking the line on the piling.
With that done, the silver giant moves away from the bridge towards the single piling supporting the overhead power lines parallel to the bridge. Suddenly the fish decides to cut between the bridge uprights and the power line piling in an attempt to cut the line again. Randy spins the wheel, slams the shifter into reverse and firewalls the throttle as the boat launches in reverse and spins between certain disasters against either concrete structure. Like an E-Ticket ride at the land the Mouse built, all aboard are in awe of the fish, the boat, and the captain.
Stunned that the boat is still attached, the Poon heads towards the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Out of harm’s way, the frenzy slows down to a slugfest of man versus beast. Repeatedly the leader is within inches of the roller tip of the rod only to be pulled away in a show of nature’s fury. Finally the beast has tired and slowly approaches the side of the boat. Just as the leader is wired some uninvited guests show up for dinner. Bull Sharks!
Now I have done my fair share of shark fishing as well as seen a shark or two while swimming, diving, and wade fishing but these two guys were just plain nasty. We tagged the wore-out champion and revived him as we motored away from our unwanted guests. When we thought the coast was clear, we release the Poon to fight another day. Within seconds of the Poon swimming away the ocean exploded about 50 yards away as the two thugs pounced on the tired Poon. Sharks one, Tarpon none!
As we raced back to our waiting anchor buoy, a note of sadness was evident throughout the boat. The fight had been courageous and never had it crossed our minds that this majestic beast would loose twice in one day. But on the other side, sharks got to eat too. Rule of thumb, where there are Tarpon, there are sharks, hungry nasty ones. This rule applies to almost anywhere you find pods and schools of Tarpon so keep a sharp eye out for unwanted dinner guests.
Once back at anchor lines are in the water and anticipation grows to a steady hum. We are quickly rewarded with another fine hook-up and display of aerial mastery. Once again we are in awe of fish and Captain. The sneaky fish this time swims between the pilings underneath the uprights. Screwed! Well, not yet. Randy offers up the idea of jumping from the boat and passing the rod and reel under the upright while climbing to the other side of the upright and back into the boat in an attempt to keep the fish on. Randy comes around the upright and the fight continues. I’m sad to say that the hook eventually pulled, but on the brighter side, this one lived to fight another day.
This scenario goes on every morning and evening throughout the season. Nature’s spectacle and the incredible boat handling of captain Randy Rode thrill scores of lucky anglers. Randy is a seasoned professional that has the charm and character to match his plethora of skills. So if you see me out in the ocean, bays, creeks and rivers wetting a line wearing a t-shirt that says, “I rode on the Rode Runner” you’ll know why I wear it with such pride. Sea ya in the river.
You can visit Rode Runner Sports Fishing Web Site or contact them toll free (800) 322-7122
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