Hunting Record Tarpon

Longtime fly-fisherman and bestselling author, Monte Burke, sits down to talk about his latest book, Lords of the Fly: Madness, Obsession, and the Hunt for the World Record Tarpon, the thrilling story of the men who chased world-record tarpon on a fly rod. Few gamefish challenge fly anglers like the tarpon, a high-flying, tackle destroying beast that prowls the flats and backcountry waters. But in the annals of tarpon fishing, one period stands out as the best ever known. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, something unique happened in the quiet little town of Homosassa, Florida. Giant, triple-digit tarpon showed up and so did the best fly anglers in the world — Lefty Kreh, Stu Apte, Ted Williams, Tom Evans, Billy Pate, and others — gathered together to try and catch the world record tarpon. In doing so, they battled beasts on a daily basis and unveiled a never-before-seen competition for a fishing accolade that has alluded so many. Listen in as Monte talks about the men he met in his research, the fish he saw, the history lessons he learned and the process needed to report on such a unique time in fishing history. Filled with larger-than-life characters and vivid prose, Lords of the Fly is not only a must read for fly anglers, but anyone who longs to better understand the obsessions of an angler on a quest for a world record. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices