Tarpon Quest

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Landing the tarpon with a fly rod is an impressive feat in sports fishing. Cole ( Fishing Came First ) had all the right equipment, a first-class guide and plenty of determination, yet the great fish eluded him for several seasons. Tarponstet are abundant in the waters of the Florida Keys (they can be seen from the Overseas Highway), which Cole regards as the most fascinating fishing grounds in the nation. He shows us the world of the Keys and the neighboring Marquesas (south of Key West) as he recalls other, unproductive expeditions and describes other game fish common to the area--permit (the local name for pompano) and barracuda. Readers of the charming, low-key account will celebrate with Cole as he lands his first (small) tarpon. (Apr.)

Library Journal

The author, whose other fishing books have dealt with salmon and stripers ( Striper , LJ 11/15/78), began an obsession to fly fish for elusive tarpon when he was in his mid-60s. This thin book pays tribute to the noble silver species that the author spent myriad days over a period of three years trying to catch and release. The luckless times were frustrating, but the saltwater environs around the Florida Keys were beautiful, and just sighting these majestic creatures created joy and wonderment. Cole intersperses his angling experiences with relevant data regarding tarpon history, habits, and characteristics that make it a unique gamefish. He succeeds in his pursuit at the end, but it's his contagious enthusiasm for what he's doing that makes this book so appealing. Recommended for sports collections.-- Will Hepfer, SUNY at Buffalo Libs.