Are You Ready to Bow to the King?

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If you want your tarpon fishing trip in Clearwater to be a success, you need to be willing to bow to the king.

If you read our previous blog on tarpon, then you already know that these prehistoric fish can get big and they won’t be caught without a fight. Tarpon fishing isn’t like fishing for trout or bass; it takes a whole different set of skills. One of the skills that all tarpon fishermen and women need to learn is called bowing to the king.

What is bowing to the king?

Once you’ve hooked a tarpon, you need to be prepared for a fight. In almost every case, the tarpon will leap into the air and violently thrash around. That’s why, as soon as you hook a tarpon, you need to drop the tip of the rod in order to make the line slack. This is called bowing to the king, and it is an essential skill for tarpon fishing.

Why should you bow to the king?

In most cases, you wouldn’t want to ever make your line slack, but when tarpon fishing, it is a must. Tarpon are such big fish and they thrash around so much that they can easily snap a line that is too tight. Additionally, if there isn’t enough slack in the line, you may also pull out the hook.

Bowing to the king is just one technique you need to master in order to be a successful tarpon fisherman or woman. Book your tarpon fishing charter in Clearwater today for expert tips and guidance on tarpon fishing.

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About the Author...
Matt Douglas

Matt Douglas

Captain Matt Douglas is the founder of YACHTFISH and is a licensed United States Coast Guard 100 ton Master Captain. Captain Matt grew up on the waters of Tampa Bay and lived and worked in Costa Rica for over 11 years. He has extensive experience in Central America, the Dominican Republic, the Bahamas and Florida. Captain Matt is a tournament-winning captain who has an intense passion for boating, fishing and creating life time memories for his Clients. These passions, combined with his experience, were the catalysts for YACHTFISH. Captain Matt is laser-focused on what he enjoys the most, and knows the best, in Tampa Bay and Costa Rica.
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