We all remember getting smacked in the face back in 2010, the first time we saw the tarpon from Tapam “a flyfishing journey” in the film of the same name by our buddies Daniel Göz and Jan Back Kristensen. Fish the size of calves, living deep in the maze of mangroves—scratch that, the Nicaraguan jungle! After that film, which was a total revolution, every angler craving a taste of the exotic rushed out to buy #12 rods and book trips where you could go “do the Tarpon”! As for me, I headed straight to Cuba—cheap and welcoming, and the Tapam lodge was just getting off the ground back then… plus I already knew Cuba well, having gone every year since 1992. But Daniel’s film with those monster tarpon, that was a whole different story.
Today, the Tapam lodge is a well-oiled operation, a far cry from Daniel and Jan Bach’s original adventure, but the fish are still there, and so is the joy of catching them! So here you go, feast your eyes! You’re gonna cry your eyes out for not being there!
Alright, I know which film I prefer… I’ll let you be the judge… but I won’t try to sway you.
But like they say: out of ten tarpon you hook, eight ain’t gonna make it to your boat!
Alright, flex those little arms, slap on some sunscreen and bug spray!