Looks like a poor man tarpon. They are fun to catch especially when not much else is happening, even heard of people eating them, I'd have to be really hungry to try that!
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Looks like a poor man tarpon. They are fun to catch especially when not much else is happening, even heard of people eating them, I'd have to be really hungry to try that!
I've had several guys tell me the meat on the back taste just like lobster. Should of known better but I kept one and tried to clean it. Well, no knife not even electric will even scratch that armor!! I tried for about 30 min with everything I could think of. Nothing short of a sawz-all or a chainsaw:eek: will cut through the darn thing. Ended up burrying it in the garden. I guess the jokes on me!!:D
you use tin snips to cut up their back to get to the back straps.
They are fun to catch.....The more alchohol involved the more fun they are.......never tried the rope lures tho.....always caught them on my variant of a fishfinder rig with a 5/0 hook baited with a bream or good sized baitfish.
They do tend to roll when they hit something so I guess there is alot to be said for the rope lures........I have had them come up with line wrapped several times around their bill........
CrappieBuster is right..........at his home lake they call them "Lake Murray Marlin" and in early summer they will hit everything in sight.
I catch them all the time in north florida while I'm crappie fishing. They love minnos and jigs of all colors. I pulled in one over 4' and 3' at the same time that was a fun fight trying to wear down both fish. But I lost the crappie that was on the other line. That was disappointing. They are fun but like Fishin Addiction said they are hard to clean. I've had all kinds of people say they are great to eat. Just not worth my time.
If you like to fly fish and want some real fun, take a couple of peices of heavy nylon trot line cord. Tie it to a large brass swivel, make cords about 6-8 inches long and fray them out. Catch them when they are basking in the shallows like they do during spawn and this time of year. Cast to them and work that lure by them. Get a 1-2 ft one on a 9 ft fly rod and you got oxbow tarpon. Will also work with spinning tackle.