Fish ID....Tarpon in Prien??

[cmdrost]

Ok....my buddy at American Rodsmiths came down for a trip with a guide recently and sent me this pic. I know tarpon used to inhabit prien back in the day, but have moved out supposedly because of the pogie boats.......anyway. Been debating whether a tarpon or lady fish? Lady fish scales don't get that big right? I have another guy who is claiming he caught a tarpon in his marsh. Be awesome if they are coming back in this area!!

Guide said it was a tarpon.....What say you tarpon or ladyfish?

[cmdrost]

For comparision.....small tarpon pic vs. large lady fish pic:

[longsidelandry]

I'd say a tarpon going by it's lower jaw kind of hooking up like it is. Plus a ladyfish has a long skinny body where as this one kind of has a belly.

[longsidelandry]

Top pic - Tarpon
Bottom pic - Ladyfish

[Mediumheavyaction6'6]

tarpon for sure

[Micah]

Originally Posted by longsidelandry

I'd say a tarpon going by it's lower jaw kind of hooking up like it is. Plus a ladyfish has a long skinny body where as this one kind of has a belly.

Took the words right out of my mouth.......looks like a tarpon

["W"]

Dont know how much truth holds to this but my dad told me that my Great Grand paw caught at 30lbs Tarpon in Prien lake in the 50's or 60's time frame......

They have an old pic of it....

[Choupique]

thats a poon fo sho

[Micah]

I know nothing about tarpon......can you keep them that size or can you even eat them?

[Gerald]

Looks just like this picture of a tarpon.

http://www.rodnreel.com/gulffish/lar....asp?FishID=73

[LaAngler]

wow, been fishing that area for 24 years & never seen or caught one there.

i have seen some big ones busting bait outside the jettys

[cmdrost]

W....I believe it. Go into George Parets Drug Store on Lake St. and look at some of his old pics..They used to catch loads of tarpon in Prien way back when.

[Gerald]

Prien Lake has got some deep holes [40+ feet] just like Lake P.....where they catch lots of Tarpon.

Also, in Flordia......don't they catch Tarpon back in some of the rivers where the salinity is probably similar to Prien Lake.

[huntin fool]

TARPON!!

Whoever asked to eat them, if yall catch them, let em go!

[LaAngler]

Originally Posted by Gerald

Prien Lake has got some deep holes [40+ feet] just like Lake P.....where they catch lots of Tarpon.

i'm guessing you mean years ago correct? the only 40 foot water I know of in prien is the old river.

[fishinpox]

man that is awesome , i hope they come back but unfortunately with the general attitude in south Louisiana of kill everything you catch i don't think its very realistic ........ would be nice though

[huntin fool]

Originally Posted by fishinpox

man that is awesome , i hope they come back but unfortunately with the general attitude in south Louisiana of kill everything you catch i don't think its very realistic ........ would be nice though

X2!!!!!
As soon as somebody "meat hauler" catches one, that baby will be in the Ice Chest!

[huntin fool]

Originally Posted by LaAngler

i'm guessing you mean years ago correct? the only 40 foot water I know of in prien is the old river.

or the channel, where that one looks caught

[Micah]

Originally Posted by huntin fool

TARPON!!

Whoever asked to eat them, if yall catch them, let em go!

Wouldn't eat it, just asking for general knowledge.

[huntin fool]

Originally Posted by Marsh Boy

Wouldn't eat it, just asking for general knowledge.

It's cool, i do beleive some people eat them in FL, but majoirty let them go as sport fish.