September 15, 2026
FIVE TEAMS. FIVE DAYS. ONE LEGENDARY FISH.
The Sabalo Cup Invitational is the most prestigious tarpon fly-fishing tournament in the world, attracting an unforgettable collection of obsessives, oddballs, and glory-chasers to the sun-scorched backcountry and turquoise ocean of the Tequesta Isles. For five brutal days, elite guides and determined anglers battle giant tarpon, sharks, weather, rivals, aging bodies, and their own stubborn ambitions in pursuit of victory.
The competitors are as colorful as the waters they fish. A burned-out lawyer chasing one last shot at glory. A French magnate who somehow arrives at every tournament start looking like he never went to bed. A retired exotic-dancer-turned-psychologist battling self-doubt as fiercely as the fish themselves. Together, they plunge into a world where carefully crafted plans unravel with spectacular efficiency.
Naked Frenchmen. Jet ski disasters. Crocodile encounters. Midnight rescue missions. And somewhere amid the chaos swims the fish of a lifetime.
Funny, fiercely competitive, and unexpectedly moving, Poontown takes readers inside the obsessive world of elite tarpon fishing, where reputations are made one cast at a time and the pursuit of glory can become a way of life.
Drawing on author L. M. Weeks’s decades of experience in the world of competitive tarpon fishing, Poontown brings to life the rivalries, friendships, traditions, triumphs, and absurdities of a sporting culture few outsiders see. It’s a story about competition and obsession but also about aging, friendship, second chances, and knowing when—or whether—to walk away.
For readers of character-driven adventure fiction and anyone drawn to stories of people pursuing an elusive prize at the edge of their abilities, Poontown offers a rare glimpse inside a world where one fish, one cast, or one decision can change everything.
Adventure is only a cast away.
"On the surface, L.M. Weeks’s delightful POONTOWN is a thrilling look at the zaniness that goes into the preparation for, and participation in, a high stakes fishing tournament, and all that is lost and all that is gained along the way. What lies beneath, however, is something more powerful: a portrait of human nature in a world in which the tipping point for our fisheries and ecology is nigh." —Monte Burke, Author of Saban, Lords of the Fly & Men of Troy
Acclaim
Praise for Poontown...
"Whether you fish or not, you will be hooked. This is an adult storybook that only an experienced tournament angler and articulate author could write. POONTOWN is a well-crafted delight that will fascinate, enlighten, and entertain."
"L. M. Weeks’s thrilling book, POONTOWN, dives into the fury of people who chase prehistoric fish, compete in tournaments, and battle the unrelenting ocean itself. A gripping exploration of obsession and passion, on and off the water."
"A comic, lively, and highly entertaining novel that captures the irrational obsession of one of the world's greatest sports."
"Witty, fast-paced, and wildly entertaining, Poontown captures the obsession, rivalries, and larger-than-life personalities of the tarpon tournament world."
"The REAL HOUSEWIVES have nothing on tarpon anglers—and L. M. Weeks proves it in POONTOWN, a sharp, funny, and deeply authentic novel that captures the obsession, rivalries, and exhilaration of elite tarpon fishing."
"L. M. Weeks POONTOWN envelops you in the world of tournament tarpon fishing, a crazed sport to which only the strong, obsessed, and passionate need apply. For a rollicking, fun romp in pursuit of the 'poon,' this is an essential read."
"Drawing from years of tournament competition alongside some of tarpon fishing's best, L. M. Weeks delivers an entertaining and insightful portrait of the obsession, strategy, personalities, and camaraderie behind the pursuit of one of sportfishing's most iconic gamefish. A great read!"
"The best insight into the mental aspects of the game I have seen in print. Your love of the game is apparent."
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