Tarpon Quest [Paperback]

John N. Cole (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1997

In Tarpon Quest, Cole offers a vivid and detailed look at his quarry, the great silver king, and of the exquisite waters of the Florida Keys and the Marquesas Islands that it inhabits. He describes the dramatic pursuit of these huge fish with fly rod and flies - near misses, heartrendering failures, the earned (and unearned) successes of others, and finally his own chance. (51/2 X 81/4, 112 pages)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers 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.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From 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.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: The Lyons Press; 1st edition (July 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558216227
• ISBN-13: 978-1558216228
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,820,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cole captures the gill-plate-rattling-surge of salted fish., May 31, 1999

By 

R.B. Craddock ([e-mail]) (ground-zero!) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tarpon Quest (Paperback)

John Cole LIVES fly fishing...splatteing his days on shallow-draft boats into tales that haul us all to the splintered, warped planks of Key West...to the wind-lashed channels of obsessive pursuit. READ THIS BOOK--a tropical drink stitched to your discontent...small enough to hide in the side pocket of a commuter's valise.