I retired here from CT and the fishing in Bradenton, FL is more than I dreamed of. Foot and a half redfish and over 2 ft snook, but Friday (12/7/07) something strange happened. A fish nailed my gold spoon and put up a great fight, no jumps and then it decided to drag me and my kayak picking up speed, I couldn't turn it. I saw my 10 lb test diminish off my spool until it got to the knot and the fish was gone was gone.
Today (Tuesday 12/11/07) I switched to 12 lb test and I also brought my largest rod & reel with 14 lb test. The same thing happend. They are in large schools, a narrow dorsal fin out of the water and they are chasing baitfish around Palma Sola Bay.
I'm thinking Tarpon, never caught one. Am I right?
Bill

Tarpon would be putting on an aerial show. They usually come out of the water 10 or more times.

Can you describe the fin in a little more detail?

Thanks, probably not a tarpon, but I could feel 4 or 5 severe head shakes.
Happens around 8 to 10 am. 12/7/07 and 12/11/07. Nothing today (12/12/07).
Fin-Almost looks like a twig, except that it moves. Huge scools pushing bait into grassy shallows and against resident seawalls. Creating foaming wakes. Lots of pelicans following the action and diving. Reminds me of bluefish in Long Island Sound up north. But bluefish never fought like this.
I've caught small rays hooked in the tail or wing in the same place (North-east Palma Sola Bay) from the shore with the same gold spoon (5/8 oz Krocodile)that fight like this. But I could always turn them from their long slow runs.

i would guess jack.... they put on a good fight and they do shake their head

Thanks Frank
Huge schools of Jack pushing the bait into the shallows? I caught a 1 ft jack on a gold spoon there last year. If your going west on Manatee Ave and cross 75th it's the first body of water you see on your right, Palma Sola Bay.
I caught a glance at a fast moving flash and it was between 2 & 3 ft