They had been told it was a good spot.
Matt’s buddy, Scot, said he knew a stretch near the Everglades, Florida that held fish. Catfish on the hook. Rods set. Waiting.
When the rod went off, there was no doubt. It didn’t just bend — it screamed. Line tearing, drag singing. And then it exploded out of the water.
That’s when they saw it.
Big.
Not “pretty good” big. Not “that’ll do” big.
Serious big.
The river wasn’t wide. There wasn’t much room to run. But that fish tried anyway. They chased it up and down the stretch they had, adjusting angles, clearing space, staying tight.
At one point a boat came down the river. The woman aboard saw what was happening and slowed.
“Got a big one on?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“We’ll stay back. Don’t want you cutting that line.”
She drifted off to the side, watching. Taking pictures.
Eventually, after a long, hard fight, they brought the tarpon to hand. The kind of fish that makes your knees shake a little. The kind you don’t forget.
They didn’t have a camera.
Matt gave the woman his email. She promised she’d send the photos.
Months went by.
Nothing.
Then one day, out of nowhere, an email.
Her phone had been lost at the airport. Recently returned. She found the photos and remembered.
She sent them.
The biggest tarpon Matt has ever landed.
A moment almost lost — returned months later.
You can see it in his face.
He knew exactly what that fish was. And he still does.
Angler: Matt R.
Date: May 2021
Species: Tarpon
Location: Near Everglades, Florida