The Elusive Florida Tarpon Shark

[Marcosis]

So today I watched as about 20 Florida tourists ran for thier lives as the obvious tour guide of the group yelled "SHARK" at the top of his lungs.
He did such a good job of clearing the surf, I didn't have the heart to tell him it was a small school of big tarpon.
"You won't believe it but I was nearly eaten by a huge school of SHARKS in Florida!"
Now that's a vacation to remember!

 

[H2Andy]

man, the first time my wife saw a tarpon (we were snorkeling) she did a great
imitation of an ICBM and landed right on the beach

i was like ... what the???

it took me a while to convice her that tarpon don't eat people. she still doesn't like them around

 

[Jcsgt]

So today I watched as about 20 Florida tourists ran for thier lives as the obvious tour guide of the group yelled "SHARK" at the top of his lungs.
He did such a good job of clearing the surf, I didn't have the heart to tell him it was a small school of big tarpon.
"You won't believe it but I was nearly eaten by a huge school of SHARKS in Florida!"
Now that's a vacation to remember!

Now THAT's funny!

 

[sasscuba]

Tarpon are awesome, especially on a night dive to feed them with your dive light..

 

[Mantasscareme]

Thanks, I needed a good laugh.

 

[DennisW]

Too funny.

 

[Matteo]

good stuff!

 

[nerobanchee]

Yeah, big fish sometimes scare me for a second. Especially when I am in Maui freediving and I see a huge shadow next to me. Then it gets closer and its just a giant fish. I have almost ran on water a few times. Getting used to it though, hehe.
Also had some spinner dolphins sneak up on my dad and I when he was spearfishing. I was thinking, my dad is bigger, he will get eaten first, right? I will just swim as fast as I can towards the beach (150 yards away). Was a good surprise when it was just a pod of dolphins that wanted to play/and or get fish from us. There was even a baby one, so cute.

 

[ReefGuy]

Actually, predators tend to seek out the smaller prey first. Less of a fight.

I was thinking, my dad is bigger, he will get eaten first, right?

 

[herman]

Oh yea, big tarpon I love them.
A couple of years ago on Bonaire my wife had an interesting experience with a tarpon. My wife dislikes night dives but since everyone else was going she decided to go. Anyone who has even done a night dive off any of the resorts on Bonaire are aware of the huge tarpon that frequent the sites. They are often in the 5-7ft range and very often come within a couple of feet of divers. After a few minutes into the dive she decides this is not for her and signals to go back, I have her by the hand to make her feel more secure. We turn back to the dock and a few yards from the dock I see a large tarpon heading directly at her, he is obviously playing a game of chicken with her. I feel her start to tense up as the tarpon approaches and at maybe 3 ft he turns and passes across her face. I am thinking COOL, she had a much different opinion. Next morning she came to me with her reg in hand and ask if we needed to repair it........both of the tabs in the mouth piece had been bitten completly off.