We recently filmed a television show produced by Robert Stewart and Making Memories, [1] Southwest Florida Outdoors on Fox Sports Florida.  Yesterday we received a copy of the finished show which will air in January of ’07.  Our soon to be announced ReVisor® spokesperson was the guest host.  A signed copy of the show along with a [2] Temple Fork Outfitters fly rod and reel outfit, and of course several ReVisors® will be included in the silent auction of the [3] Fisherman’s Ball fundraiser for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation.

The show was shot in Tampa Bay over two days in late August and early October.  Admittedly, I am biased, but the show was great.  [4] Captain Jim Lemke took the unidentified spokesman and [5] OPI President, Brett Snyder out for tarpon, snook, reds, and anything else that wound up “on”.  “Just get on fish,” producer Bob said.  No doubt a fishing show without catching fish would be pretty weak.  Now you know why it took two days of filming.  To Captain Jim’s credit, he got us on fish, they simply were not biting. 

One fish that did bite was a nice 40+ pound tarpon that must have wanted to make it in show business.  Captain Jim had us sight fishing for tarpon under one of the Tampa Bay bridges.  Tied up under the bridge, we look for the large, dark tarpon shadows on the dark side of light line coming from the road above.  Using live greenbacks for bait, we entice the silver king by casting into the light.  When they hook up, it is a mad scramble to untie and get the boat out from under the bridge and away from the pilings.

The first hook up was with a large, 60+ pound tarpon that fought like the dickens to stay near the pilings.  On one rather acrobatic leap, the tarpon smacked one of the pilings well above the water mark.  That one will hurt for awhile.  We got him boat side, rested and revived to swim off with one last splash for good measure.  Good fishing, good TV.

Then it got better.  After a few misses and the light and tide working against us, the unidentified spokesman had fish on!  Much better at getting untied and away from the pilings (or maybe this one saw his buddies piling scar), the tarpon headed the right way.  Jumping immediately and near the boat in the still dark morning hours, the tarpon was a natural in front of the camera.  While the unidentified spokesman (Wade is such a shorter description, I can’t wait until we make that formal announcement) was fighting the good fight, Captain Jim was giving the viewers the play-by-play.  Almost on cue, the tarpon took a big jump just off of Captain Jim’s left side.  Good fishing, good TV.

Then the came the clincher, apparently the tarpon was not getting the air time he felt he deserved for all his great acrobatic display.  Now on the stern side of Captain Jim’s redone Aquasport, a special guest star tarpon took one more dive and then launched himself into the air with a double twist and a perfect landing… right next to the center console.  Fish on, I mean in, fish in, fish in the boat!  Once in the boat, the poor guy got a good dose of stage fright and decided he really did not want to be on TV after all. 

Quick work by el Presidente got the tarpon under control and back in the water where he belonged.  A little nursing and water back in the gills and our star want-a-be was back among his buddies.  Can you imagine the stories those two tarpons are going being to be telling their buddies.  Word is the tarpon hook ups went down pretty significantly for a week or two afterward.

We did go on to hook up some snook, a red or two, but between Captain Jim, the unidentified spokesman (next week, I promise), the President, and producer Bob there was a combined 150+ years of fishing experience on that boat.  No one can remember landing a tarpon in quite the manner we all just experienced.  We were using Quantum spinning gear so I suppose the only thing that could have made the story even more incredible was if Wade (damn, I mean the unidentified spokesman) was using the TFO set-up.  Either way, the winner of the auction item is getting a great fly setup, great sun protection with the ReVisor®, a Hall of Fame autograph, and one great fish story – caught on tape!

Keep on eye out for Southwest Florida Outdoors on Fox Sports in January and learn an incredible technique to boat the silver king.

Wet lines, straight drives, and all the best,Rick