A. G. Penman's Record Tarpon: The
Rest of the Story
by Alec Newell
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| Penman's trophy tarpon on display at the Beaches Museum photo by Newell |
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| Penman (right) with 172 pound 7 foot 9 inch, record tarpon courtesy: Beaches Museum |
Canadian born Arthur G. Penman (1882-1966) moved to Florida in the
1920s, became a US citizen, and in the 1940 census is listed as living on
Florida Boulevard in a house that he had probably built for himself. Penman has been called the Beaches
"first pioneer developer." He was also an avid golfer and fisherman,
but most Beaches residents will recognize him as the man for whom Penman Road
is named.
As a youngster in the early 1960s, I remember visiting the old
Jacksonville Beach City Hall building and being impressed by the enormous
mounted tarpon that hung on the wall there. I didn't know it at the time but
that fish was, and may still be, the largest tarpon ever caught in the St.
Johns River. Also on that wall, below
the fish, was a plaque that bore a familiar name, Penman.
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| Penman Memorial Trophy photo by Newell |
The term "fish story" has become a synonym for
exaggeration and puffery. That same 7-foot 9-inch mounted tarpon, now on display in the
Beaches Museum, still bears mute testimony to the fish's impressive size. The
International Game Fish Association has pages and pages of rules for
determining what is a fairly caught record game fish. The fish's weight and the fact A.G. Penman
was holding the rod when the fish was hooked, has never been disputed, but even
Official Record catches are not entirely immune to omissions and embellishments.
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| February issue, 1954 |
In February 1954, Motor Boating Magazine carried an
account of the story which did not inflate the fish's weight, but did take
considerable liberties in reporting the tackle used and fighting time for the catch. The following information appeared on page 117 of that issue; the "...171-pound, 14-ounce tarpon was caught October 14, 1949 by A.G. Penman," (true, except for the date)
"on 15-pound test line," (it was officially 36-pound test line)
"using a 2/0 reel" (officially a 4/0 reel) "and a 4-ounce
tip." (officially a 6-ounce rod tip) Refer back to information on the
engraved plaque (see photo). "It took him 5 and a half hours to boat his
prize." (a total fabrication) But the best part of this fish story was
still yet to be written, or told.
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| Official statistics for Penman's trophy catch photo by Newell |
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| A.G. Penman courtesy: Beaches Museum |
"Well, I guess it's okay to tell the story now since they've all passed away. Phillip Hahn had taken Arthur Penman and his friend for a day of fishing on Mill Cove. Everyone knew the Cove was loaded with big tarpon. Phillip took Arthur and his friend trolling in an area known as Coon Point, the banks drop off real steep in an area between two sand bars, probably 12 feet deep or deeper. As they passed between the two sandbars the tarpon struck. It came out of the water, made one huge jump and landed on the sand bar. Phillip got the boat beached on the sand bar...got out...and beat it to death with a window-sash weight."
And that's the rest of the story.
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| The Arthur G. Penman Memorial Trophy "In tribute to one of America's most famous tarpon anglers" photo by Newell |
