Florida
We’re not in the Florida Keys
for the drinks, folks. Everyone
heads to this hotspot for the
summer tarpon. Make no mis-
take about it, tarpon are plenti-
ful in this area, but you’ll have
to be skilled to reel one in. Tar-
pon have been recorded at
reaching a length of over 8
feet, and weighing nearly 400
pounds! Fighting with this mas-
sive fish is the whole point. The
fun is in the win, but you’ll most
likely have to catch and release
unless you have a special permit.
pro tip
Use small live crabs as bait.
“If you’re looking for the ultimate
heavyweight flatfish, try your hand at
reeling in some of Alaska’s finest: halibut.”
Alaska
Goodbye, Keys. Hello, Homer and Seward! If you’re looking for the ul-
timate heavyweight flatfish, try your hand at reeling in some of Alaska’s
finest: halibut. At birth, halibut are actually symmetrical. It isn’t until later
(around 6 months) that one eye migrates to the other side. The top
part of halibut are dark brown to act as a disguise under the surface,
while the underbelly is white. Records get set regularly with these giant
fish. One halibut was caught in 2013 that weighed in at 515 pounds!
You’ll find more common trophies in the 100-pound range, but still, holy
halibut! No literally, the word halibut translates to “holy flat fish.”