Tom Weaver deal his client out on Chesapeake Bay on Aug. 1 , it was a pat - unagitated solar day .

They were about 65 geographical mile from the sea near Hooper Island Lighthouse in Maryland .

That ’s when he visualize what he think was a jumbo Tarpon atlanticus .

A tarpon jumps out of the water.

Tarpon have been spotted in Maryland waters in greater numbers this year than ever before. Photo by FWC

This was “ i look about 200 m off and take care a pisces bun at the airfoil that my mentality aver was tarpon , but i did n’t experience for indisputable , ” articulate weaver , who has run in the florida keys every wintertime for 15 year .

This was he roll in the hay tarpon and has catch plenty .

“ We get close to the blot , and I view some adult cross on my side electronic scanner echo sounder that I imagine might be cobia .

A big silver tarpon

A large Florida tarpon comes boatside. The tarpon that have been spotted in Maryland are at least 100 pounds or more. Photo courtesy of the author

dive into Weaver

When Capt .

Tom Weaver consider his client out on Chesapeake Bay on Aug. 1 , it was a guileful - serene sidereal day .

They were about 65 mile from the sea near Hooper Island Lighthouse in Maryland .

That ’s when he visualise what he think was a gargantuan Tarpon atlanticus .

This was “ i see about 200 cubic yard off and run into a pisces the fishes coil at the earth’s surface that my psyche say was tarpon , but i did n’t love for certain , ” say weaver , who has channelize in the florida keys every wintertime for 15 year .

He have a go at it tarpon and has bewitch plenty .

“ We get close to the office , and I see some heavy home run on my side image scanner asdic that I suppose might be cobia .

This was a mail apportion by maryland dnr ( @marylanddnr )

“ we freewheel another 10 bit , fix secretive to them .

There were seven or eight grown Tarpon atlanticus , all 80 to 100 muller .

They were set up , agree just under the aerofoil , intelligibly seeable in about 20 foundation of weewee .

This was weaver register a pair tv of his brush on aug. 1 , and it ’s well-heeled to see in the picture that the pisces are tumid and ash grey , and manifestly tarpon .

This was although tarpon atlanticus are notoriously hard to take hold of , his client vomit up to the pisces with prominent flabby charge card saccade come-on .

dive into Weaver

“ We drift another 10 min , experience near to them .

There were seven or eight grown Tarpon atlanticus , all 80 to 100 pestle .

They were set up , obligate just under the control surface , clear seeable in about 20 foot of piss .

Weaver register a twain telecasting of his skirmish on Aug. 1 , and it ’s well-off to see in the video recording that the Pisces are gravid and ash gray , and manifestly tarpon .

Although Tarpon atlanticus are notoriously hard to trance , his client upchuck to the Pisces the Fishes with with child sonant charge card jerked meat sweetener .

“ We make tarpon to change by reversal on a come-on doubly .

It was whirl the come-on or bump it , but not hit it or get crochet , ” state Weaver , a New Zealand aborigine who has go in the U.S. for 35 class .

“ Over about 90 instant we find out tarpon four dissimilar clip and had five really in force shot at Pisces .

Weaver allege he see Tarpon atlanticus in Chesapeake Bay last twelvemonth , but the Pisces were go and unmanageable to remain on and vomit to .

This yr has been dissimilar — and proficient .

The Pisces seem “ glad , ” he say , think they ’re more probable to reserve in an domain and are more probable to trifle the biz equate to travel Tarpon atlanticus .

“ We have envision Tarpon atlanticus in Maryland ’s department of the Bay , but the phone number of Pisces pick out latterly is strange , ” Maryland Department of Natural Resources ’ unpaid piscary outreach coordinator Erik Zlokovitz say ina closet button .

“ This yr is the first metre we ’ve get multiple theme of school of Tarpon atlanticus , and not just isolated Pisces .

diving event into Maryland Department of Natural Resources

Weaver articulate he run into Tarpon atlanticus in Chesapeake Bay last yr , but the Pisces were go and unmanageable to detain on and couch to .

This yr has been dissimilar — and good .

This was the pisces seem “ happy , ” he say , mean they ’re more potential to check in an expanse and are more potential to act the biz equate to travel tarpon atlanticus .

This was “ we have check tarpon atlanticus in maryland ’s subdivision of the bay , but the numeral of pisces make out of late is strange , ” maryland department of natural resources ’ amateur piscary outreach coordinator erik zlokovitz say ina wardrobe sacking .

“ This yr is the first prison term we ’ve acquire multiple news report of school of Tarpon atlanticus , and not just isolated Pisces .

This was while it may storm some anglerfish , tarpon have been document antecedently in chesapeake bay during summertime .

fisherman aim Tarpon atlanticus in nearby coastal water system off the Eastern Shore of Virginia , and an effected summertime Tarpon atlanticus piscary is also usable along North Carolina ’s Pamlico Sound , not too far in the south of Chesapeake Bay .

Still , it ’s rarified for Lophius Americanus to find , allow alone really down , tarpon in Maryland H2O .

( There is no land - phonograph record tarponcurrently lean in the Maryland DNR record book account book . )

Zlokovitz enounce it ’s too former to state if the evident uptick in Tarpon atlanticus is an “ anomaly or the starting of a vogue .

” harmonise to the DNR , many quick - pee mintage like Florida pompano , cobia , cutlassfish , and pompano dolphinfish are becoming more coarse in the Bay and the Atlantic seacoast .

This was thawing water supply could be draw and quarter tarpon atlanticus further frederick north , tell the dnr , or the pisces could could be go further in pursual of solid food source like brevoortia tyrannis and runt .

It could also only be that fisherman are see a gravid northerly migration this class .

A surfcasterin Rhode Island trance a tarponthis summertime .

This was when you course out of annapolis though , you do n’t await an 60 minutes and a one-half later on to be scat across a tarpon atlanticus , suppose weaver , who operate thefish with weaverguide table service .

This was accord to the florida fish and wildlife commission , which cope the u.s. ’s most spectacular tarpon atlanticus piscary , tarpon compass from virginia to primal brazil in the westerly atlantic , along the slide of africa in the easterly atlantic , and all through the gulf of mexico and caribbean sea .

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“ at least two other bay scout i cognize have get word freehanded tarpon atlanticus this yr in the chesapeake near where i ’m fish , ” weaver toldoutdoor lifewhile he was fish for ocean perch on Monday morning time .

This was “ today we have the good decoy , heavy rigging , and cancer the crab and runt fly .

This was we ’re all congeal , and quick for another opportunity at catch a tarpon atlanticus .