Ryan Wood, of Malabar and of RWood Outdoors on YouTube, caught and released this 100-pound plus tarpon Sunday off Melbourne Beach.(Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY RYAN WOOD)

Ryan Wood loves it when the ocean lays down. It means it's time to take the kayak out for a paddle off the beach.

Each summer, as the amountof daylight grows longer day by day, thenorthward migration of large tarpon departing the Florida Keys and Everglades reaches the beaches of the Treasure and Space coasts. Scores of anglers who enjoy the pursuit of the long-cherished trophy catch search for tarpon schools from Jupiter Islandto Port Canaveral anywhere from a few hundred yards to a mile offshore of where the sea meets the sand.

Wood, of Malabar, said this is his fourth season of targeting theocean-going run of memory-making fish aboard his sit-on-top kayak. On Sunday, he recorded video of the catch and release of a bona fide "silver king" off the shores of Melbourne Beach a few miles north of Sebastian Inlet. His fishing adventures can be watched by all on his YouTube channel, RWood Outdoors.

His "Alone in the Halls of the Silver King" is getting rave reviews by viewers.

"Tarpon is a humbling fish, for sure," said Wood, who first began fishing for them inshore while growing up in Hobe Sound. "But fighting a big tarpon while fishing from a kayak and trying to make sure it doesn't flip, well, that is really tough."

What increases the degree of difficulty with tarpon, Wood said, is the attempt to bring the fish alongside the kayak. He decided during this most recent tarpon catch he didn't want to simply chalk it up as a release when the leader touched the rod tip. So he reeled it all the way in, and removed the hook.

Wood discovered something about bait a couple of years ago that surprises some anglers when they hear it: Plenty of game fish, when they are hungry, will eat a hornbelly. The small, palm-sized bait fish often resembles the same profile as a threadfin herring (called "greenie" by many along eastern Florida's coast). While nearly everything that swims will eagerly eat a greenie, it is often believed the Atlantic bumper, or hornbelly as it is more commonly known, is avoided by most fish for which anglers are fishing.

"I prefer to use live baits like threadfin herring or sardines, but sometimes a hornbelly is all I've caught as bait," Wood explained. "I've been surprised with how well they work. I put them into my bait bucket and they hold up about as good as other white baits."

On Sunday, Wood used a multi-hook Sabiki rig to jig up some bait. Up came several hornbellies and little else. He then set his line to paddle while trolling a bait behind his kayak.

"I've had better luck trolling than drifting," said Wood, who caught and released two truly giant tarpon last summer. "The trick is to keep an eye out for tarpon as they roll. Then set up to paddle along the same 'line' as those fish travel along."

When tarpon "roll," they are gulping air. They have a specialized breathing system which enables them to enhance their strength and endurance by taking in air from the surface of the water. Often, during the summer tarpon fishing season offshore, these fish can be located by anglers who can see the fish as they break the surface momentarily to "roll."

Wood uses a Penn Spinfisher 4500 reel on a stout spinning rod rigged with 40-pound test Power Pro braided line. He ties to it 80-pound test monofilament leader and a 5/0 3x strength circle hook.

On Sunday, Wood's experience and techniques came together when a big tarpon decided to take his bait.

Then came the battle.

"One of the most exciting parts of tarpon fishing from a kayak is the 'sleigh ride,'" Wood said. "It'sexhilarating to be hooked up with a fish like that and have it pulling you and your kayak through the water."

Wood said what he has learned over the years is that each tarpon is a truly unique fish.

"You will observe very different behaviors from fish to fish," he said. "Some tarpon jump the whole time you fight them, some don't jump at all. Some will be acrobatic. Some will pull against you like a bulldog. Some are sprinters and some are marathon runners."

One tip he has is to try to keep the fish from taking a "roll" during the fight.

"It makes him instantly stronger," he said.

For example, Wood was able to conclude the fight within about 45 minutes versus about two hours for a similar-sized tarpon he caught and released last year. The shorter fight is better for the health of the fish.

"When the tarpon gets under the kayak, and you're fighting him straight up and down, you don't have much leverage," he said. "I fish a lighter drag and tend to palm the spool of the reel as I battle to help control the fish's runs."

Wood captured the catch to share with others using a multi-camera setup on his kayak. He began the YouTube channel as a way to share his videos with friends and family. He said he grew up a big fan of Blair Wiggins' "Addictive Fishing."

"I loved that show growing up, and started fishing for tarpon in spots like Peck's Lake in Hobe Sound," Wood said. "But since I fish alone a lot, I tend to think my videos are more like 'Survivorman'."

Either way, Wood said it has been great to see the evolution of the conservation mindset and ethical angling practices being employed. He said with the spreading power of social media, people who mishandle prized game fish get called out.

Capt. Chris Britton, of Grey Ghost charters in Stuart, caught and released this huge tarpon two weeks ago while fishing near the Crossroads in Stuart.(Photo: CONTRIBUTED PHOTO BY CHRIS BRITTON)

"You think back 15 years ago and when a television host caught a tarpon, he slipped a short gaff through its bottom jaw and brought it aboard the boat to explain how beautiful the fish was," Wood said. "It's illegal now, but when you look at that practice through today's lens, it would be unheard of to do the same."

Wood plans to spend plenty of time exploring the nearshore waters for more tarpon through the summer and in the process will also catch sharks, bonito, kingfish and more.

In Florida, tarpon are a catch-and-release fishery only. By law, tarpon measuring longer than 40 inches must remain in the water. For complete fishing regulations go to http://www.MyFWC.com.

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'Hornbelly' leads to Wood's 'silver king' offshore catch - TC Palm - TCPalm