First-time Tarpon fisherman Jack Wiseman had heard the stories of the legendary Silver Kings of Boca Grande. He had heard stories of 200-pound beasts turning the most strong-willed men into aching shells of themselves after exhaustive day-long battles. He had even heard a story of a kayaker hooking a fish, and being taken for the ride of his life. After a Memorial Day weekend on the pass, the Vietnam Veteran has his own tale to tell. One he would not trade his left arm for.

Part of a wounded warrior fishing tournament, Wiseman and seven other veterans deviated from their regular golf outings and tried their luck in the “tarpon capital of the world.” Losing most of his left arm in battle in 1967, Wiseman owns a collection of prosthetic arms. On this day, Wiseman was rigged with his custom arm made for fishing and kayaking. Not soon after captain Brian Hart positioned his boat among the hoards of migratory anglers during the middle of peak tarpon season, Wiseman took the lead chair on the bow of the vessel. Remembering the stories he heard of the powerful fish, Wiseman strapped himself in. Before he could get comfortable, he was watching his rod and reel skip across the pass, prosthetic limb attached.