Steve Pitts - Tarpon

[Phil Bondie]

Steve,
Just for your information, last week in C-ville from Workshop Sea Tours to Jane's Kitchen the locals were fishing for "catfish" and caught 1 tarpon one day and 5 the next, running around 25 lbs., throwing out hand lines.

I have to ask you, how do you fix tarpon? I got a chunk from the tail end and fried it one night and steamed it the next. It was like eating a rubber tire. I have not have anything that tough since my first experience with un-pounded Conch. A pressure cooker may have worked but I don't have one. Help? The locals usually dry it.

Phil

[Clyde Alleyne]

I can't say from personal experience how to cook tarpon, but I recall someone telling me once that what they did was to use a spoon to scrape the flesh off (apparently its very bony) and made a minced fish "paste" from the scraped flesh. They seasoned it with salt, pepper, ginger, scallions, thyme, garlic, onion, culantro (Chadon Beni) and hot pepper and used it to make fish cakes, fish burgers, and fish balls (for soup or in a pasta sauce).
Clyde

[Phil Bondie]

Clyde, Sounds good but also alot of work. Yes it does have alot of bones. I may try the fish cakes next time. Thanks, Phil

[Julia C.]

I probably shouldn't post here as I know nothing about fishing, though I do like eating fresh fish. Anyway I was interested enough to do a "google" search for a tarpon recipe, what with my interest an' all!
I must admit after a bit of a search I only found one recipe, apparently it is also good for Jack Crevalle, whatever that is.

1. acquire a piece of plywood
2. lay Tarpon on plywood
3. marinate fish on plywood
4. throw fish in dumpster
5. eat the plywood

[Phil Bondie]

Julia, Thats a good one. I must say though Crevalle's are not to bad, not as good as Mahi Mahi or Tuna but not bad. Today I got (purchased not caught) a 15 pound Grouper. I just finished frying up and eating about 2lbs. with rice and fresh tomatoes. Hugh and Mike wish you were here. Phil

[Hugh S]

OK Phil, now you're REALLY killing me! I LOVE grouper: catching and eating.

And Julia, thanks for the belly laugh. I needed that.

Hugh

[Phil Bondie]

Hugh, I prefer buying grouper. Hand lining up from 4 or 5 hundred feet is not my idea of fun fishing especially with the large rocks they use for weights.

I fish with Curtis (Aming) from Workshop Sea Tours. He is the only one in C-ville who has a covered boat, twin engines, fighting chair, GPS, radio, etc. and uses rods and reels. It is so nice to be able to stand up and walk around, stay dry and not get my bottom pounded.

Petro-Canada and the Tobago fish dept. have put out a number of rafts. Flying fish appear to be more abundant this year and with the platform, fishing is getting better. Live bait (jacks) is just now starting to come into the bay so we should be netting some this weekend. Then it's out for the yellow fin and Mahi Mahi. One of the locals brought in a 37 lb Mahi Mahi, two 20 lb yellow fins plus seven kings and lost a big sail on thursday. Another local caught 2 sails also on thursday. Phil

[JohnJ]

Hi Phil,
I'm staying in Charlotteville for two weeks at the start of the February, and have been emailing Captain Curtis about going fishing with him for a day. When I've been to Charlotteville before I've been out fishing with the local guys and have caught Kingfish, Yellow Fin etc but have alway wanted to catch a Mahi Mahi. What do you think my chances are if I go out with Curtis for the day?
Thanks
John

[Steve Pitts]

Hi Phil

Just noticed your post, so sorry about the late reply.

I have never eaten a tarpon, but I know that local beach fishermen will take them if they catch them, so perhaps one of the local recipes would be somewhere to start.

Sounds like the offshore fishing is hotting up, but we won't be out this year, so catch a couple for me please.

Cheers
Steve

[Phil Bondie]

JohnJ, I talked to Curtis and he said that something has caused him to be locked out of his email. If he has not responded to you he is sorry. You should not have any trouble booking a half or whole day with him once you get here. Of course you can never be sure of catching fish but with the platform and the number of rafts out your chances are pretty good for a Mahi Mahi. The rafts are quite a ways out and not many of the locals venture out that far. The sport fishermen do fish the rafts. I have heard, I believe, one of Frothy's boats got over 30 nice Kings one day in the last 2 weeks.

Steve, Yes the fishing is hotting up especially for the guys going out to the rafts and platform. Some of the guys who were up to the platforms first position have said they have seen some 200 lb. plus yellow fins broaching and rolling. This was before live bait was available so I don't think any have been landed. Like I said in another post in the first 2 weeks of Jan. I have seen more yellow fins brought in than in the last 5 or so years combined. The International Fishing Tournament is early this year I think it starts the first thursday in March. There should be some nice fish brought to the scale. I know most of the guys will set out their own rafts so with the 10 to 20 set out by Petro-Canada and Tobago Fish Dept the fishing should continue to be good throughout March.

I know by some of your other posts that you are going new places and trying new spots this year. Good luck and have fun, hope to see your back in Tobago in 2009.

Phil

[Steve Pitts]

Some of the guys who were up to the platforms first position have said they have seen some 200 lb. plus yellow fins broaching and rolling. This was before live bait was available so I don't think any have been landed. Like I said in another post in the first 2 weeks of Jan. I have seen more yellow fins brought in than in the last 5 or so years combined.
Phil

Blimey Phil - I dread to think how hard a 200lb yellowfin would pull.

If the YFTs out on the platforms are anywhere near the surface then you could try the technique we used out in the Seychelles.

We used big surface popping plugs around the drop-off, fished on heavy spinning rods, Stella 20000s and Diawa dogfight reels loaded with 65lb braid.
Casting and retrieving a big popper across the big blue and watching the surface explode as a YFT or giant trevally attacks the lure has to be the most exciting thing I've ever done.

We caught fish on the 50lb class trolling gear too, but I much preferred to catch tham on the poppers, where you hold the rod, work the lure and strike the take. Much more hands-on and something I would like to try next time we are out and fishing up North.

I have just found some excellent surface poppers from OTI retailing at 22 US$ and plan on ordering a few from 360 tackle, Texas.

Cheers
Steve

[JohnJ]

Hi Phil,
Thanks for your reply. I don't think I had a reply to my last email to Curtis, but it's not a problem. I'll be in Charlotteville on Friday next week so will go and look him up. I'm hoping to do a days fishing the following week, but I'll see how he's fixed.
Cheers,
John