Large Fish from Jolly Roger Pier at Topsail Beach

For all those making angry comments... I happened to be out walking the pier the day this group caught the fish. I was not part of the group and know very little about fishing or fish. I turned on my video as it looked like they were catching something big.

[@ToddWilsonorg]

To clarify for everyone commenting... I'm not a fisherman and was not part of the group who caught this fish. I just happened to be on the pier that day and turned on my video to record it as I was out walking. Don't shoot the inexperienced cameraman!

[@japenjosh80]

Just so everyone knows, NC law (allowed) 1 Tarpon per Day during the filming of this video, IN 2021 NC made it LAW all Tarpon Caught are catch and release. BTW most people who kept Tarpon's (from this pier) used their Fish to feed the Sea Turtles at the local Sea Turtle Hospital. SO IF YOU DONT KNOW SOMETHING, maybe just maybe you make sure you know what you're speaking of.

[@DIRTY_WITE]

This gotta be sloop lol

[@ianwalker8494]

Thank you for sayin this lol

[@mikevw30]

they should of beached that fish. i highly doubt it lived.

[@porkfied]

I have seen that done on a pier you are right.

[@daveferrell2932]

I'd like to know if that fellow has his Tarpon stamp....

[@sharkinwithseaweed]

Why does everyone feel so bad for the one fish that is untouchable due to its sport fish billing ? Where is the outrage over the whipping out of Conch ? Sharks ? Grouper ?

[@hanygharib3029]

Excellent catch. Which type of Rod, reel & line were u using please?

[@marjoriebray5418]

This really freaks me out, to see such poor sportsmanship in dealing with a tarpon. Actually disgusting. There was no reason to kill this fish.

[@fisherjoe98]

It wouldn't have survived the fight anyway

[@ianwalker8494]

U don't know this man nor what they're gonna do with it

[@nasiasteel9105]

Should have never taken this fish out of the water when they are this size they tend to die very quickly

[@rodpace206]

why keep this fish out of the water this long

[@zanevetcher8804]

This is a tarpon. I can’t believe they did this. 😒

[@fishingkings9236]

Ikr. No way it lived after that

[@Djonlyoneme]

He said he was gonna clean it right there

[@garykay7418]

idiots.

[@trevorthefisherman5548]

If you ever get the chance again, bring that fish to the beach. Get in the water and don’t take it out of the water. Shame none of you knew how to handle a tarpon.

[@garykay7418]

exactly. it's called beaching it.

[@rapidtransit8373]

After watching this I was thinking the same thing. I've lived in Southeast Florida 🌴 for over 50 yrs. caught a lot of Tarpon and never killed one. Do what this man said walk them to the beach get in the water get a few pics. do it all as fast ad you can and revive the fish then set it free.

[@jacobmcpherson9993]

I’m sure they have this fish hanging up in there house this is a trophy fishy and it wasn’t going to live after that fight anyways

[@Jordan-tz4pe]

Exactly people needa grow up learn about fishing 😂🤦🏻‍♂️

[@Well_Edumacated]

the day and age having a fishing "hanging" on the wall is pointless. if you catch a big fish take a picture and let the fish go no one care that you caught a big fish.

[@fishinfool3795]

@@Well_Edumacated Go hug a tree. You'll feel better.

[@rapidtransit8373]

I live in Southeast florida 🌴 and have caught over 100 lb. Tarpon and it fought and ran for quite a while. Once it got tired I walked it down the pier handed my friend my rod and ran down the beach. Once I got the hook out we worked the fish in the water. He slowly rested and swam away to fight another day.😊

[@IloveUSANA]

That fish is dead

[@nathanmcallister7887]

Christina Bieber they kept it

[@daveferrell2932]

I bet they didn't have a tarpon stamp either

[@bipedalhominid6815]

Did wildlife bust this guy yet?

[@landensfishing8482]

i hope so

[@jacobbarlow625]

You’re allowed to keep Tarpon in NC

[@jacobbarlow625]

@@landensfishing8482 1 tarpon a day and no size limit in NC

[@brittneylandreth6284]

You can only keep 1 scale to make windchimes its illegal to keep must release

[@wilesdukedubose4431]

Did fatback break his back? Hope so!

[@mikelaughlin270]

They were ALL fat turds!

[@ascencionmartinez2032]

What type of fish is it it's a bigin

[@nicksuwito]

Tarpon

[@fsd34760]

It’s a tarpon. No one eats it. Put your pride aside and put it back harmlessly

[@CubbyCPie]

No doubt a nice fish congratulations. Idk if you realize but that fish can't breath out of water! By all means take your picture and get the measurements but do it quick so you can get it back in the water! We all want our trophy fish.. at the same time there's no need to kill a fish just for a few pictures and measurements if you're not going to process the fish. Good fishing but poor handling. It's a shame to waste a fish for a few pictures. If the fish was eaten that's a different story! A fish able to grow that size with that given species deserves to live in my opinion!

[@Dcvillnz]

Jacob Linker I was noticing the same thing . Letting it slam on the pier and then keeping it out of the water for so long . This pier and beach that they are at is a Richy beach so these guys didn’t use any normal common sense. It’s a shame that this beautiful fish died . (Most likely a Tarpon ) Cause they probably just threw it back from there. About 30feet .

[@andynkaren7109]

Chris Hoyle (I don’t know anything about fish or fishing so I’m just curious) Why would just throwing it back in kill it?

[@cenimadreams]

Jacob Linker its hard to make more giants like this one if people keep destroying them and their natural habitat with pollution

[@joelail6741]

It is most likely that the fish was doa coming over the rail. A tarpon that size would not lie still in that net, like you saw in the video. It happens more often than you would think , that a fish will have fought so hard during the struggle, that it simply will not recover. On another note , there is no certain proof that the Tarpon died either. Tarpon are pretty tough , and can survive longer than you would imagine, out of water. With that being said , my likely guess is that the fish died , and there was nothing that could have been done for it. I fish this pier anytime that I have a chance , and I have never shared the "T" with anyone that wasn't a sportsman, with great respect for the fish that they have caught. In 40 years of fishing that pier, I have seen more unsportsmanlike conduct from weekend "googans" catching anything and everything and leaving it their to die , or beating it's head against the rail , only to throw it on the deck, and cook in the sun. Just refrain from passing judgement on issues that you aren't experienced with, that's the moral of my post. As far as the beach itself , it's a very family friendly, "fishing" beach. I was very disappointed to read a comment with a derogatory tone toward the beach itself.

[@joelail6741]

@@Dcvillnz It's nowhere near 30 feet from the pier to the water , and your comment about the beach itself isn't appreciated. Don't try to describe something that you know nothing about.

[@derekleaberry1199]

Get that fish back in the ocean, nitwits. Some fishermen can be callous towards fish that aren't edible. Don't know how many times I've seen skates left to fry on fishing piers.

[@mikedar8484]

That Tarpon was as good as dead when it was landed.. they took way to long to get it...

[@dough3246]

That's just sad and illegal. I am an avid fisherman and hate seeing such a fine fish get treated like that. I'm sure they didn't have a tarpon tag to keep it. They should be fined!!!!!

[@saint00alex]

I checked NC fishing Regs and it says there is no limit on keeping tarpon, and nothing about tags needed. Still is a damn shame they killed such a nice fish. No way these guys are eating tarpon. And you don't see any of them posting on here, defending their action. Nothing illegal, but shameful.

[@henrychurch9318]

in florida it's illegal.

[@ohlookasquirrel5868]

alex marx what make you think they didn't eat it or gave its meat to someone else

[@michaelwilson5346]

Jesus Barboza Because NOBODY eats Tarpon! You obviously don't know anything about these awesome fish. People fish for them for the sport. It would be like keeping a Sailfish for no reason. Nobody eats Sailfish either, but you probably didn't know that.

[@TheJasoncash83]

Michael Wilson who says they didnt eat it? Just because some people dont eat tarpon doesnt mean that they dont....

[@fishassassin2670]

the fish died from the fight. it is a lot more common than you think with tarpon of that size. they are old and cant fight and live anymore.

[@Dcvillnz]

Fish Assassin not necessarily it’s all in how you handled and released the fish . They need steadying and recovery about 5-10 minutes b4 releasing. They’ll take off when recovered .

[@larrytischler8769]

@@Dcvillnz Not if they are worried to death on light tackle first. I caught a small one on a spinning reel & 10 lb line that died while I tried to beach him. I was spanish mac fishing. I had a leader cut the gills of one or two, and one came out of the water on the bite and hit the pier so hard it never moved even after we put it back. But the dozens of other ones lived to let the Mexicans net them out and make fish meal.

[@robertthompson1489]

I have caught many tarpon in Florida they are a sport fish you can't eat them to catch one and kill it is just plain silly and very cruel if this makes this guy feel like a ''man'' which he is not nor is he a sportsman next time take a picture over the rail cut the line the hook will rust away and let it go

[@coreyleonard3320]

ROBERT THOMPSON can be eating it's just a person preference. I leaved in Apopka,Fla just on the other sanfond my uncle would keep smaller tarpon steak him from the rectum to tail soak in vinegar batter it in grind oatmeal & corn meal,and the rest is used for crab basket.

[@livin_coastal]

Robert is a pussy

[@Randylayhe001]

In FL this likely would become states evidence video 👮🏽‍♂️

[@rabrandconnections333]

Thanks for the great video!!

[@markbass9402]

You caught him. Now you clean him.

[@flawdaboyz]

you cant clean a tarpon

[@theo66]

Big people too !!!

[@Dougarrowhead]

Great fish and good job guys! Fukk the haters.

[@patrickwilson619]

The idiots that pulled this fish on the pier shouldn't be allowed back.

[@Patrick-yh5yd]

Why kill a protected fish you cannot eat?

[@garykay7418]

googans.

[@glennmigues6368]

I can't believe he let that Tarpon die. Poor sportmanship!

[@larrymcfarland6448]

Why would you kill this fish just for a picture you can’t eat them really sad I know you were excited about the fish but honestly a waste sorry to be negative but I believe if your not going to eat it don’t kill it

[@mikelaughlin270]

And by the looks of all those people in the video they need to be on diets anyway.

[@chuckhartey9349]

That's a pretty big LY!

[@johnstrong5421]

The ocean is a really big place.

[@jeffreyscottwilder6650]

Hope you got a tarpon tag

[@pantera5858ify]

Who cares

[@joel1964.]

Nice tarpon bro 👌

[@gomerahfishing9376]

Mantap bang ,,, Spot nya ok banget Semangat terus buat kontennya Salam kenal bang Salam joran melengkung dan salam support terus🙏🙏🙏

[@georgewallace9719]

Every fisherman knows that the Magestic Tarpon is catch and release only.All people in this video should be fucking ashamed of themselves.Should have videoed and cut the line.What a big brave fucking hero he was until that living dinosaur gasped his last breath and everybody just walked away!!!!!

[@Awpalagyi1966]

What a Tarpon! WOW! Congratulations.

[@gabemccaffrey7257]

Hope you had your tarpon tag

[@landensfishing8482]

poor sportsmanship

[@catherinecarden4581]

The guy in the peach shirt is Josh he fish’s with my dad and me!

[@mofo264]

I know him too. Hes a real jerk. He stole my cousins tackle box and rods.

[@Elijah_is_not_present]

@@mofo264 hey i know him too hes actually really nice

[@FloridaBoyGrizz]

I wouldn’t be so happy to say you know these idiots. Him and these other idiots should learn how to handle a fish like that

[@catherinecarden4581]

@@mofo264 lol he tried to throw me off

[@catherinecarden4581]

@@Elijah_is_not_present well sometimes he is....He will try to throw me off the Pier or throw me in the bait tank

[@40s9s3]

This video is a tad upsetting. No reason to have had that fish on the pier or have flipped over the rail or even hooked it with that giant snag hook. We all get excited over our trophies but if we treat like that then won't be any more. Other than all that nice job

[@Djonlyoneme]

Well think he kept it. Probably don't know most people don't eat them

[@Kash_Moto]

dead tarpon

[@kennethmiller8516]

Kash Moto pl

[@Kash_Moto]

I'm not sure what you're trying to say..

[@robertthompson1489]

He is saying it now good for nothing an absolute waste should have been released

[@SIPATAHONA]

Amazing

[@darainkheng5031]

Poor tarpon he's dead without a doubt

[@raksadan807]

That Illegal shame shame should read fishing rule book. People fish all the time but dont know fishing laws.

[@usaalways1869]

Woooooooooooooo

[@HSBANATION]

TARPONNNNNNN

[@kameronsteel1223]

Some people should not even be allowed a fishing license

[@jacobbarlow625]

Don’t need a license to fish on a fishing pier and it’s completely legal to keep a tarpon in NC

[@larrytischler8769]

They fool around so damn long. Stuffs his arm in its gills. Hangs it up. We had a measuring board on the pier. It takes about 3 seconds to do it. Poor fish. It started with that light tackle. We used to use 4/0 & 6/0 sizes and we gaffed them shallow like a minnow in the center of the back. We caught fish with gaff holes already in them. But the Mexicans netted out all the 98% of the western GOM population for fish meal. So we have only a few left.

[@bapasimba1150]

Yes4....👍👍👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏

[@trtlsdadnc]

Hope they returned that tarpon to the water. It is illegal to possess one in NC

[@DIRTY_WITE]

Yea thats now back then you could harvest 1 per day per person

[@nateedaaplugg]

Yes, but it would have died after battling that long so there is really no reason to even though it would be more responsible

[@randyshellito2566]

KILLED IT for a few pics. What a zero hero . Have some respect . Get your pis and try to get it back in alive . Thumbs down .

[@Elijah_is_not_present]

actually your allowed to keep one tarpon a day in NC

[@stedyone1090]

OMG So many haters. If they removed the hook an released immediately it still would of been shark food. Tarpon are not in any way endangered.

[@TheReginalynne]

Would they not clean up the fish and eat it?? Or are they not allowed

[@cenimadreams]

That was disrespectful to the fish

[@wildermocha4614]

I can't ever catch fish off that pier

[@michaelwilson5346]

Wildermocha 4 Yeah, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime catch off of that pier, or just about any pier north of Florida and it figures these amateurs catch it. They probably don't even know what they caught or the magnitude of what they've done.

[@jpt2026]

That fish ded

[@jpt2026]

Never seen any1 ever measure diameter of fish lol

[@Skolmann]

Such a waste of a great sportfish. That fish was dead as soon as it was landed.

[@jeffreyscottwilder6650]

In the state of Florida it cost $51.50 for a tarpon tag who's the idiot that would kill a majestic species of fish what you should have did it just popped it off took a picture much better classic crossover $1,000 to mount dummies fish killers

[@jesussavesletyourgooddeeds3623]

All good things come from God .

[@Bestoflovesongs0425]

Nice!!!

[@u.b.gurung-travelvideo4469]

This is absolutely great fish guys great enjoyment

[@cheiflou5552]

OMG 🤬🤦‍♂️😭😭😭

[@carlosmckinnie6693]

I saw that under the pier

[@nathanharrison816]

I like that girls legs

[@Elijah_is_not_present]

shut up

[@cjharrin]

Uneducated fishing

[@alotofgrey]

All those people watching and no one said anything. Shameful.

[@harrisoncarter9187]

Bad

[@siphilipe]

I prefer that big size girl.

[@Logan-ns7uj]

reef donkey?

[@tigerphins3735]

Absolute trash of human beings. Laughing and having a good 'ole time at the expense of this poor beautiful specimen's life. I don't live too far from here and it's the pier I go to. Not too difficult to discover what cars these people drive if you see them around town now that we know what they look like. I would definitely applaud a good key job and tire slashing.

[@ohlookasquirrel5868]

Tigerphins congratulation you slashed the someone who probably didn't even do anything give yourself a pat on the back

[@beckyavery5569]

Tigerphins let me know when you are their bitch! Make my day!

[@Elijah_is_not_present]

i know all these people, fine folks and if you got to know them you would agree instead of jumping to conclusion as you just did

[@tigerphins3735]

I don’t fight trailer-trash girls or people who don’t know the difference between their and there.

[@tigerphins3735]

Nah, they’re not good people. Good people don’t act this way. I grew up fishing on Florida piers. Have never seen someone abuse & disrespect a beautiful Tarpon like this. Respect the sport and respect the catch.

[@Fwibits]

Very sad these “fisherman” don’t know how to handle a tarpon. This is not a fish you just kill…..

[@Dcvillnz]

That’s a damn shame ! You guys don’t need to fish buy yours from foodlion.