Thank you! Yeah, waiting until March will definitely give him the best chance of catching that dream fish. I’m 75 this is the year! Capt. Let us know in the comments below! Jack Bank (near Marathon) and Buchanan Bank (near Islamorada Key) are good places, as well. It may also be a good idea to contact the captain to talk through your plans and preferences (scroll down to the “about the captain” section and hit the “message captain” button). Wow, that must’ve been some fight. Any preference.. Other fly rod flies and spin rod lures for tarpon? Replied on September 7, 2016 Fishermen who hope to reel in a tarpon can have the opportunity to try for almost half of the year in Florida! Most captains there do evening trips that let you escape the heat and get some good fishing. Fly-fishing secrets for locating and fooling tarpon. More How To. I hope you have better luck with the next big one you hook. Cat. Go out on a falling tide. Many thanks! Catching juvenile Tarpon around that time isn’t unheard of, but chances are pretty slim. I have my own boat and will be going after Tarpon this year on my own. Just curious if Tarpon have been studied from this perspective. Best Tarpon Fishing in the World. Approximately 125lbs. We catch our juvenile tarpon on light tackle all year … Boats. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Replied on February 22, 2016 Let us know how your trip went and good luck with landing a Silver King! If you are anchored, hook the baitfish on the top lip and behind the head. Pirate for Hire Charters – if you would like to try night fishing for Tarpon, Captain Ron is your go to guy. You could well be in luck. Would i need a charter ? When fishing canals and rivers connected to salt water, use small Rapalas, Rebels, and round-headed crappie jigs about 1/8 oz. Both the Everglades and Biscayne Bay are great for Tarpon, so it really comes down to your personal preference. Expert tips for the Florida tarpon fishing season. You may not be like Brandon and land seven tarpon in one trip, but you can still try to be a legend to your friends and attempt an amazing story like this one. Here are some recommendations: Double the end of your line at about 6′ with a Bimini Twist and attach about 8′ of 100 lb mono with a swivel. Our fishery has an incredibly diverse set of environments to target Tarpon; everything from shallow grass flats to white sandy beaches. You can head out or Tampa, Bradenton, or St. Petersburg and explore the waters north of Anna Maria Island. Starting sometime in May, lasting through the middle of July is the best month to focus on the bridges that hold Tarpon. Brandon didn’t even realize his luck. See lots of tarpon but can’t get them to eat. How To. Cole convinced him to try his hand at tarpon fishing. He told Brandon all about presentation of bait, and how to set the hook into the tarpon’s hard mouth. I guess we will wait until March— bummer but I do want his best chances! If you’re not set on Florida, Puerto Rico has some of the best winter Tarpon fishing in the world, just a stone’s throw from downtown San Juan. We would really like to catch some tarpon and are flexible to stay in the area that would be best for tarpon fishing at that time of year. This is the time of year that the best tarpon fishing is done by sight fishing, which makes for prime fly fishing opportunities. Thanks. Boats. Also if January works, where should we go (assuming keys) and do you recommend a charter or guide? There’s a year-round population of them here, but if you want to catch a big one, you’d be best off coming in May or early June. There is no holding a large Tarpon and no “horsing” it in, either. I’m coming to Florida an would like to know good place’s to fish for Tarpon. I suggest you go fishing the Tampa Bay (either out of Tampa or Bradenton) and work the waters north of the island of Anna Maria, right off Bean Point. As far as guides as concerned, please take a look at Savage Sportfishing Florida Keys and FinnAddict Sportfishing. options for chasing them at that time of year? I’ve seen Tarpon rollind in the barge canal in May and June some of them I estimate over a hundred pounds. Believe or not, by the end of the day Brandon – first time tarpon angler, didn’t know anything about tarpon fishing before setting out – landed SEVEN tarpon in that one six-hour trip. i want to fish for big Tarpon You’ll be able to see the fish from far off, but will need to rely on your push pole/trolling motor to get anywhere near the fish without spooking them. Your best bet would be to explore spots like Saint Joseph Sound with an experienced flats fishing charter. Live pinfish and mullet are also to be considered. You’ll have a great chance of catching some residential Tarpon on the Gulf side as well, in places like Tampa Bay and Boca Grande. ‘Don’t see anything on line. Another option is to fish out of Fort Myers – you will find a lot of Tarpon there in shallow waters. If you have some more questions, I’d be more than glad to help. Do you have any advice on which area to fish? When Tarpon are sighted feeding on mullet, 7”-9” white flies with dark stripes are good. We fish world famous Boca Grande, Charlotte Harbor, the big Pass, and Pine Island Sound in pursuit of these enormous tarpon. I am planning to take my son tarpon fishing around the end of June. Ok, thanks! Here’s to countless more memories like that one. Boca Grande, Bradenton, Sarasota. I don’t know if obsessed even covers it…..:). Boats. Thanks for letting us know. Thanks for the article, my friends and I were looking at taking a trip to either Islamorada or Marathon Key in the first or second week of August before we head back to school. They have the gear and know-how for all the techniques you’re interested in and run a dedicated 6 hour Tarpon trip. On the other hand, you can still catch plenty of Redfish, which is not a bad consolation prize. Tarpon are also called Silver King, Silver Sides or Sabalo (Spanish). Any thoughts on tarpon fishing out of Islamorada late June to early July? What Cole didn’t realize, was that Brandon seemed to have the magic touch. I tried with a guide last year in the Keys and probably cast to 1000 tarpon but none of them were hungry. Hope this helps. I have caught most every species they are accept Tarpon and Cobia. Aug 23, 2019. In Marathon, Florida our fishing vessels reach depths of 250ft only 10 miles offshore. Plan your visit during May and June; these are the best months to fish for tarpon in the Florida Keys. It’s well known for its acrobatics on the end of a line and capable of jumping up to ten feet out of the water while rattling its gills like an angry diamondback snake. We have tried all sort of tactic with jigs ,bare hooks , on floats or drifting it back. These lures have been proven to be effective: Artificial lures are best used on the flats. Thanks very much. As for a guide, you can check out Captain Eric Scobble Black Water Charters. Hi Clay, thanks for your comment! And can you catch any tarpon off Fort Myers beach (primarily) or other beaches around the area? Fish of all sizes converge on menhaden and other baitfish up the St. Lucie River. Tarpon are still worth chasing until the water dips below a sustained 70 degree temperature. Either way, you’re sure to get some great fishing whichever destination you choose! The best bet is to go with an experienced guide who can take you away from the crowds and where the best fishing spots. You basically can’t go wrong with fishing for them any time of the year, but, of course, summer will be the most productive. The tarpon action really starts when the waters warm up a bit in April. That is when we get our big push of migrational tarpon here in the Florida Keys. I can recommend Captain Caleb of Bout Time Charters, he accommodates fly fishermen as well. coming to sarasota “2 0f us” to golf and fish 2016 Any suggestions for where to go tarpon fishing 3rd week of July (22-26th)? Avoid fly fishing for Tarpon around bridges. Captain Brian David is our most trusted guide in the area and we proudly recommend him. Lucky you! Don’t wait until the day or even a week before your trip to reserve your charter; the best guides in the area will be booked up at least a month in advance. You can find Tarpon in the Intracoastal Waterway all along Southeast Florida. The Sandy Key and Rabbit Key Basins along with the canals at Lake Ingraham and river mouths of Lostman’s and Harney rivers. Tight lines, Catherine. period. Avoid using floats because they make it difficult for the shrimp to swim naturally. I have fished for Tarpon in Cuba and Boca Paula Mexico with success but am looking to catch bigger Tarpon on the fly. And finally, in terms of lures, you can get good results with crab or pinfish, while a lot of locals swear by larger soft plastics such as DOA Bait Busters. That’s what has anglers coming back time & time again. There are a couple of Tarpon fishing guides in the area that you might find interesting. Where to go? Any suggestions what area in the Keys would be best for that time? However, the best place to try for one is Biscayne Bay near Miami. For a wedding present I would like to arrange for s 2-3 surprise fishing trip May/June 2020. More Travel. The Florida Keys and the Florida Gulf Coast top the list when anglers talk about places to target record class tarpon. The flats that surround Crystal River and Homosassa Bay are packed full of huge Tarpon. Most islands in the Florida Keys have access to a wide variety of fish species with much less travel time compared to other parts of the country. This is the the most consistent Tarpon fishery in Lee County – the Florida Power & Light plant makes these waters warmer than the surrounding ones, so huge numbers of Tarpon hole up here for the winter. Tarpon fishing is the best way Captain Tom describes the month of May. Please note that most charter operators depart from Apalachicola. My top bet for great Tarpon fishing at the time of your trip would be Boca Grande, the Tarpon Capital of the World :). We Go Where The FloridaFishing For Giant Tarpon Is Absolute Best Each MonthOf The Season. For more recommendations, please feel free to contact our Customer Service Team. Yes, you do have a great service here! All rights reserved. Caution: Lifting a large fish by a lip gaff can injure it severely, so do not attempt to lift them out of the water. Most captains only take 2-4 guests on Tarpon trips, so you will probably need to hire a couple of captains. You and your son will have the biggest chances of landing a fish if you explore the waters that stretch between the Everglades and the Keys, as well as the fisheries around Miami. Boca Grande Tarpon fishing charters are available 9 months of the year, but the best time for fly fishing is May thru July, during the peak migration. Where would you fish for tarpon in early August near Tampa or would you go elsewhere in Florida . We want 80+ size but don’t want to deal with all the people like in Boca. You can check out our guide to Tarpon fishing in Miami and find information on the charters operating in the area here. Instead, cast nearby where they can notice it but not get startled. The best months for fishing are May and June, when people from all over the world come to catch Tarpon. Need to catch a reasonably large tarpon bigger than 60 lb. Plan your visit during May and June; these are the best months to fish for tarpon in the Florida Keys. Retrieve your fly slowly in 6”-12” segments. Success rates have been all over the board. The larger schools will be further north – we’d recommend having a look at St Ausutine on the east coast or Boca Grande on the Gulf side. Hi Rod, Boca Grande is the most famous Tarpon fishing location in the world. 17ft Silver Shadow Grand Slam Flats boat. Winds have usually subsided and are often in the 10 mph or lower range. November is not really an ideal time to go for Tarpon, I’m afraid. It’s always great to target the species at night or in the late afternoon, and the best place to fish for them at that time of year is around the Government Cut. May’s a great time to target Tarpon and we feel you on wanting to avoid the Boca rush. 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