Saw this shared from the Suplee Fly Fishing Company Facebook page. (give them a like, if you would… support people speaking out in favor of our resources)
The comments below are theirs, not mine. I thought they’d have more authority than anything I might add.
A nice, dead tarpon
New Women’s #12 pound world record on Fly.
So rather than comment on this post I thought I would share my thoughts here. As a guide who has participated in most of the Major Florida Keys Fly Tournaments for over a decade. I understand wha…t truly difficult accomplishment this is to achieve.However as a Florida Keys guide for the past two decades. I all also understand how much pressure and stress this very fragile fishery is under.I’m just not sure that in this day and age of technology this practice if killing these huge mature fish just for the sake of a world record is acceptable.I personally have never considered killing one if these fish for this purpose. Have I killed fish while fighting them to pure exhaustion just so one of my wealthy sports could get there ever so precious “grab and grin” shot with a prehistoric beast? I would be lying if I said I haven’t. But these world record chasers are the upper tier of anglers and guides and I would think they would have a little more respect for the resource.We have digital cameras,Face Book, Twitter, Instagram, email , FaceTime etc. these fish can be caught, taped, photographed, filmed what ever and instantly uploaded for all the world to see.I say let’s stop killing these huge old fish just for the sake of world records. A true world record is one that released and never scored so that maybe our children have a chance to catch one of these fish some day.
- If you liked the story above, check out these stories below
- Records are funny... 2 lb. test bonefish (0.979)
Tags: records, Suplee Fly Fishing Company, Tarpon
what a terrible thing to do to a tarpon.
Really sad, really disappointing.
The length / girth conversions to weight for tarpon are very accurate and very proven, with a substantial history behind them now. There is absolutely no reason to kill a tarpon (or any fish in my opinion) in order to validate a record – personal or other. They can even build you a very life like wall mount from measurements and photos. Killing that fish greatly detracts from the accomplishment in my opinion.
By the way, that looks like the back door to the World Wide Sportsmen Shop on Islamorada.
The guide is irresponsible should know better, he’s killing his resource and destroying any respect he might have had from his peers. Not sure why this practice is still legal , and amazed that someone who’s a good enough fisher person to accomplish this feat would need that ego boost so badly.
JC