Smoczy Ogon Manguma

Tied this on a 3/0 hook and the tail still kicks hard even on a slow strip, which is exactly what got the bite. Landed my first tarpon over 80 pounds on it after two misses earlier that morning. This pattern stays in my box from now on.

The hook stayed sharp after a dozen hard strikes, and that thick profile moves water just right when the tide’s pushing. First big tarpon of the season came on it, and the take was as solid as I’ve felt with any pattern.

I’ve thrown a lot of patterns at tarpon over the years, but this one’s profile in the water looks exactly like the real deal. The hook held strong through three hard runs and a jump, which is all I can ask for when the fish are pushing twenty pounds.