WHILE visiting Panama in Central America recently, the crew from Halco Tackle had the opportunity to try out some of their famous Aussie lures on the local sportfish.
According to Halco marketing manager Tim Carter who was visiting Panama with Halco’s Neil and Ben Patrick, the trio had the opportunity to fish “with our good friends and agents in Panama – Alta Pesca.”
“We were fishing near San Jose Island in the Las Perlas Island chain, 60nm South of Panama City close to some rocky outcrops when the Laser Pro 190DD in our new H81 Liquid Lime colour got smashed and headed west in a big way,” Carter told Fisho.
“The fish jumped a long way out but was immediately identified as a tarpon.”
Ben Patrick was on the rod and initially the tarpon was thought to be around 100lb.
“It fought pretty hard, taking us around several reef systems trying to shed the lure but Alfredo, the skipper, did a great job keeping the fish away from all the danger areas and Ben did a fantastic job keeping the pressure on the fish the whole time,” says Carter.
The fight lasted around an hour and a half on 30lb conventional tackle with everyone on board hoping the hooks would hold, as tarpon have a reputation for shedding lures due to their iron plated mouths.
When the fish finally came to the boat it took three to lift and was estimated to weigh around 200lb. The hooks were well buried in the fish’s mouth and outside the head.
“We took some quick photos and the fish was returned to the water and released, swimming away strongly in the end,” Carter said.
As well as the big tarpon, Carter says the Halco boys also caught cubera snapper, amaco jack, mutton snapper, yellowfin tuna, wahoo and other assorted species during their Panama visit.
Halco’s Ben Patrick with his big tarpon prior to release.
