This is scary. What would you have done differently.

[george]

Is a long video and you can begin it at 30 minutes.

 

[live bait]

I saw that video this afternoon, I think the only other thing John could have done, is once the leader touch was made, & the entire event recorded, would be to realize you were out matched & cut the leader. The amazing part is he never dropped the rod, managed to get back in the kayak & land the fish. When that Tarpon made its first jump it looked like a Mako.

 

[Roccus7]

Get a bigger boat...

 

[Avenger]

Get a bigger boat...

Beat me to it.

 

[MOJOE]

Get a bigger boat...

Roccus maureen and I saw the video earlier when George post it,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,,we said the same thing get a bigger boat ,,,,,,,,,funny you said it too before us ,,,,,,,,,,,glad John made it (out) ok ,,,,,or should I say back (in) the yak ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,><)))):>
><)))):>

 

[MOJOE]

Beat me to it.

Avenger yes he did beat us too,,,,,,,,,,><)))):>
><)))):>

 

[captmike28]

I saw that video this afternoon, I think the only other thing John could have done, is once the leader touch was made, & the entire event recorded, would be to realize you were out matched & cut the leader. The amazing part is he never dropped the rod, managed to get back in the kayak & land the fish. When that Tarpon made its first jump it looked like a Mako.

I agree with you completely, John. I don't think anyone denies J.S's ability as a top-notch angler. I suspect very few of us could have hooked, fought, and held on to what had to be a Tarpon of well over 100# on that tackle and from a kayak, no less.

What concerns me is that far too may "experts" have serious, if not sometimes fatal accidents because they believe they are experienced enough to avoid the potential dangers of situations like this. What if John hit his head going overboard and was unconscious? I don't think his vest was self-inflating as he mentioned hitting the inflate button once he realized what happened.

I certainly don't believe anyone would have thought any less of his accomplishment if he just cut the leader as you suggested. As the old saying goes, "No fish is worth dying for".

 

[OVERBORED]

Expert? Guy didn't know how his life vest works!

You see the fish, cut the leader. Done.

 

[pequa1]

2024. First year I was seeing dolphin pod attacking p-nuts and this was way back in the back bay, 50 yards off the houses and in 5mph channels. After a week or so of sightings, some of them right off my stern, I noticed a different fin. I was livelining snappers as I usually do in August but the dolphins were too smart for that. But not the "funny fin." Later confirmed it was a sand tiger shark, possibly same one spotted off the JB fishing piers a few days earlier. Hooked it. Nantucket sleigh ride for a bit. Finally started to gain my line back after "moving three backyards" north. then and only then did I think about, what next? Fortunately, the hook came out and a few minutes later I stopped shaking. I had kept the rod 30° or less off either side of the bow and the drag of the old ABU 5600C4 performed just right. No flip.

 

[longcast]

Expert? Guy didn't know how his life vest works!

You see the fish, cut the leader. Done.

Expert? Guy didn't know how his life vest works!