HELP! with Tarpon fishing.
 

One thing I've always wanted to do,and know very little about,is Tarpon fishing.I can catch all the King salmon and trout species I want,I can also be in RI, Ma. and Ct. shores in an hour to striper fish, but I've always wanted to catch a Tarpon,and to a lesser degree Snook and Bonefish.I'm a very capable fisherman,but a rookie at best when it comes to any of the glamour Florida fish.
My question to you southern boys is where do I start?what part of Florida?what time of year?.best charter/guide?.Should I bring my own rods and reels? etc.etc.This would be in 2013

I'm going to be retiring next year,( Jan 2013) and god willing will still be in good health.I'm trying to line up one or two friends to go along,but I don't want more than that,and I'd prefer only two of us.
It would have to be spinning or conventional tackle,and I don't mind live bait or artificials,I'm not interested,( nor am I any good at) in fly fishing.Im not any kind of purist,I just want to be able to hopefully fight and catch a few tarpon and other fish.Naturally as all of us fishermen are,I would love to catch large fish,but I'll be as happy catching small fish as well.

I'd like to be able to do this as economically as possible,I'm not a cheapskate,but I don't have thousands and thousands of disposable dollars sticking out of my pockets either.
I don't mind roughing it,I don't care about fancy or famous resorts.I don't care if Ernest Hemingway,Zane Gray,or for that matter Jennifer Gray stayed there.None of that interests me.A cheap motel is good enough.
Watching fishing shows with Tom Brokaw or Michael Keaton fishing the flats does nothing for me.I'm much more of a regular guy,and prefer to watch pro's like Blair Wiggins,maybe it's an act,but he seems much more like a good ol boy.

What interests me is being able to at least hook and possibly get to the boat a nice tarpon of any size.As I said I have zero experience with these species so I could use your help as to any info you can spare.I guess most importantly the best time of year,and the best location,(back country,flats,ocean,etc.) and the most reasonable rates.
Thanks all

They typically show in Chas. SC about August. I've tried several times catching sharks and rays but no tarpon. I'll go back late summer if you're able come on.

Tarpon
 

I'm a pass and structure type of tarpon fisherman. I like fishing around inlets and bridges and the florida keys. The Sunshine Skyway (Tampa Bay) out through the pass around Egmont Key is awesome around the the hill tides in June. I drift the pass with crabs south of Egmount Key. Around Layton (Long Key) in the Florida Keys is my favorite spot. Channel 5 on the east side of the island to the Long Key viaduct on the west side (I typically fish the ocean side). Spring time there is when it get's rolling with May being my target month. The wind can really howl then so planning way out front can hurt you if you only tie it to one particular week.
The fish are on the spawn and you can have them within 20' of the boat typacally 20-50 in a school daisy chaining. Thats single file and some times swimming in circles while working their way to the next bridge all the way down hawk's channel into florida bay. You can expect to see a couple hundred fish a day and get quite a few shots at them.
For someone who hasn't tried it start out with a quality 20lb spin outfit with a 5-6 ft 60lb-80lb florocarbon leader (important). Cast in front of them at an angle and not over or across them or the school! Use live crabs with an 8/0 circle hook and do not use swivels (minimize all hardware). Use a bimini twist or a double on the 20 and a double overhand knot to your leader. Picking your spot is easy, when your driving over the bridges you'll see the guides anchored up on the edge of the channels. Idle through these zones so not to spook the fish or anger the guys trying to make a living. Give everybody lots of room and adjust each trip. At night drift through the bridges or anchor up and add a few live baits to the arsonal on top and on the bottom (floats,sinkers and freelining). Plan on being there around the tide changes.
Very relaxing & Very exciting.
Wild Bill

John,

WildBill did a great job with his reply. Just three things to remember. Patience is #1 when tarpon fishing!! Oh yeah #2 is also patience. Take a guess on #3.

Congrats on the upcoming retirement!!

Come on John......
Area 442 is located 4 miles from the world famous Mosquito Lagoon..
Snook, Trout, Redfish, Tarpon, Flounder, Grouper, you name it..
I will be more then happy to take you out and catch 100lb ++ Tarpon. :cool:
After about your third one, you will say OK, what can we catch that
we can EAT!!!! Nowwww, that is what I'm talking about!
Tarpon for some are a trophy.. To me they are a true pain in the butt!!
If I hook a Tarpon while Snook fishing, I will drop the rod tip in hopes that it comes off!! :eek::confused:... Tarpon are fun to catch, but it wears off real quick!
Tarpon tags are required to keep one to have mounted these days
here in Florida. I think it is still around $50 bucks for the tag...
I have several mounts from years ago that are not even hanging anywhere
here..
Rest assured any of the regular gang here in Florida would be willing to show you a good time.. SeaCraft style of course...:):D

Tarpon in the Keys in late spring are abundant and there many good guides. Clean mom & pop motels are available. Lots of good info online. A tip, show up midweek and just ask for a discount rate. You can usually get a better deal that way.
Boca Grande on the West coast during their season (early summer?) has piles of fish and plenty of guides but I suspect a little pricey during the run.
Jax and St.Augustine have plenty of Big fish early summer and several good guides that are probably a little more reasonably priced. Plenty of reasonable places to stay.
Take Ken up on his offer, you can keep the Tarpon from interferring with his table(meat) fishing. Tight lines, Dave

Around `93 I became a pier rat in Boynton. One magical morning, I happened to witness the spring run offshore for spawning. Only 4 to 6 wide hugging the north jetty. I could only see down to about 7 or 8 stacks of breeders. It ended in about 20 minuites. Many hundreds per minuite that day.

A big ole Mullet head on an offset circle with a long heavy leader. Leave it on the bottom.

Wind against the drag and did the rod tip when they jump. Watch for sharks. They are fun. Crabs, shrimp and big ladyfish are also great baits.

Wow!
I can't Thank you all enough for the info and most generous offers.I would offer the same to anyone wishing to King salmon,or Steelhead fish the great lakes.

Living in the north country,Tarpon are exotic to me,maybe the closest for me would be offshore steelhead fishing in the summer.They are extremely acrobatic,and we commonly boat them in the high teens with a few approaching 20lbs,but would pale in comparison to a tarpon.
I guess it's not so much that I only want to catch a tarpon,but I would like the experience.I'm not looking for a trophy,just the chance to see what it's really like.

(No Bones),In a similar way I know what you mean about catching fish to eat.Newcomers to salmon fishing get hooked on the screaming runs and great fight,and can't understand how I sometimes would rather walleye fish saying they fight like an old boot.That's true,but they sure are good eating.
I love to catch fish of all kinds and especially good eating ones.
Without a doubt I would like nothing more than to also catch some good eating species,in addition to some spectacular fighting species.A nice mix between the two would be great.

We catch a lot of salmon,and on many days we can clean and fillet 150-200lbs of them.Unfortunately,I don't care for the taste of them.They're ok but nothing like other freshwater fish like walleye,perch,etc.or saltwater fish like tuna, swordfish,snapper etc.Great lakes Pacific salmon feed mostly on alewives and can be a bit strong tasting,in comparison to wild pacific salmon that feed on lots of other fish.

I'm definitely going to give it a try next year at some point and may very well look up some of you fellow seacraft guys.Not only would it be great to meet some of you and a lot of fun to fish with,but what could be better than fishing and talking about common interests like "SEACRAFTS!!!

In the meantime,I 'm going to read up on Southern (Florida )fishing and plan something for next year. Again,thanks so much for all the replies,and nice offers.

I was out Tarpon fishin the other night out on biscayne bay near one of the many bridges in the area. Let me tell you it was my first time hookn one and it was the strongest fight I have had in a long time. He came out of the water slapped the surface and snapped my line........ Wanted to hook another one asap after that lol

Tarpon "that's what they look like"
 

Before all the "Crusaders" go crazy I used to get caught up in the MET tourney down there in Miami each year. (Metropolitan Miami Fishing Tournament) The Tarpon I'm holding in the back of my truck is in '86 or '87 and you could keep them then (got mounted). I finished 2cd overall in the plug division for tarpon that year. I was using a custom plug rod and 5500c ambassador and get this 8lb test and casting a bucktail in government cut one night (2 hr battle and a real jumper). I lost out the last week of the tourney to Jim Anson (you miami boyz should remember him) Those were the end of the day's we kept those awesome fish and went strickly to catch and release soon there after. The fish also made the IGFA 10/1 club.
The other tarpon shots are where I was describing in the earlier post, ocean side out front of the long key state park.

Tight lines Wild Bill

Tarpon, snook and bonefish ey? Can't help you with the bones but theres plenty of tarpon and snook around here late April and early May; even more in June but by then they have been chased around so much their a little shy. We could sight fish the outside of the barrier islands in the early months if you so choose or hit the pass on the June hill tides. Boca Grande gets a little crazy at times but its something all you "Experienced" yankee fisherman should try..

There's more than tarpon, snook and bones in sunny south Florida. Ever had your shoulder dang near dislocated by a big mangrove snapper? How about being pinned to the gunnel by a big grouper? Let us know when your ready, us crackers will hook ya up!

I would like to get on one of those big schools of stripers I've seen in some of ya'lls posts. That could be one of the best situations for non stop top water plug strikes. That just has to be fun.

[QUOTE=76Red18;200216] Let us know when your ready, us crackers will hook ya up!QUOTE]

I was just refered to as a "trailer trash cracker"....:eek::rolleyes::cool:

The "sisters" tried to butt in line at the local ABC package store..:mad:

I let them know right off the bat that it is a double wide!!;):D

We un's crackers know how to dance now...:p

Some "Sistas" calling you a trailer trash cracker??!!?? I bet the double wide was their ass!!!

I have no problem with anyone who avails themselves of nature`s bounty. The native tribes had one rule of respect. Kill it. Use it. Enjoy it. Pretty simple really.

10/1 is impressive indeed. A member of the local club caught an 80# Cobia on 20. New club leader.

Find the fish, cook the fish, make friends come back for more.

There are those that will over harvest and those who enjoy a perfectly sauteed
slice of Cobia.

Sharing is better,
GFS

Crusaders are marine engines. Right?;)

All I know is they can get "Lock Jaw" really bad sometimes :)

strick

Red,stop! you're killing me,the anticipation is to much to bare.What the heck was I thinking when I thought about getting a trailer up in New York to be closer to my boat.Maybe I ought to look for one in Florida instead.Are there any hurricane proof ones???.
Goliath Grouper? I'm not sure I have the stamina to get one of those bulls to the boat.As I said I'm below even rookie status when it comes to catching the creatures swimming in your waters.
The only time I fished Florida waters was once at a trade show at Doral we got taken out on a sportfisher for Amberjack(we never caught any),and when I was a kid, a buddy and I drove to Miami in 1965 stayed at a cheap motel on Collins Ave,or is it blvd. (couldn't afford the Eden Roc,or Fountain Bleu).We really went to party but I brought a rod and reel and we fished the canals across the way.We caugt some fish that had blue stripes on them? are those Grunts?.

Any of you guys ever want to take a trip north to Niagara county NY,you're welcome to come aboard and fish the great lakes for King, Coho,and Atlantic salmon along with big Steelhead,Brown,and lake trout.
Sounds crazy but,the salmon fishing for chinooks is far better here than on the Pacific,and there is a pretty sold natural reproduction rate.Lake Ontario fish average in the twenties with thirty pound fish common and in some years forty pounders were abundant.The steelhead fishing in the summer offshore 10-20 miles out can be phenomenal.Weather unfortunately can be a spoiler for days in a row when the wind is N or NE.It's no fun sitting in the boat at the slip,hoping that it lays down.

Now that you guys have told me about the fish that might possibly await me,I'm thinking of nothing but fishing Florida.I'm the type of person who will obsess over this until it actually takes place. Unfortunately,it won't happen till next year,I'll just be like I was when I was a kid and dream about it until it happens.

This is such a great site and a great bunch of people.Lot's of my friends still don't get the whole Seacraft sickness,I feel sorry for them.

Look up Boca Grande for Tarpon. I want to say May if the correct month but I could be off.
Its hectic but its all part of the excitement.

If your coming in for short trip I would use a guide and he will wear all 3 of you out. Spring on the west coast is probably the most consistent for multiple hook ups when their in the passes - like 6 to 8 a day. Book early as tides are very important, they will know.

Heres 2 of the best, 1 in St Pete and the other is Boca Grande - since its next year you have time as both are at the top of the game and book early. Both have been TV stars too LOL


St Pete - Capt Tommy Z - Action Charters - also works at Betts Fishing Center I believe in the off season

Boca Grande - Capt Scott Hughes - http://www.blackwatercharters.com/ - don't get any better - Winner on Wal Mart Redfish Tour and the PTTS

both are good guys to fish with and Tommy is a hoot - tell them the ESD sent you they like that

I'll vouch for Capt. Scott Hughes. Scott really helped me out in producing some recreational fishing charts from Estero Bay up to Charlotte Harbor about 10 years ago. Boca Grande is to tarpon anglers what Bristol Bay is to commercial salmon guys - freakin' zoo when its on. Probably more firearms brandished in Bristol Bay:eek:

Gil funny you mentioned that. I commercial fished Bristol Bay for 9 seasons (drift net). One afternoon we got into it with a native. They tried to cork our set. My boss got into a shouting match with the other boat. They yelled at us to go back where we came from :) My boss (ex all American college middle line backer) told the native that he would show him where we came from :) then the native went into the cabin and came out with a rifle :) We said we have one of those too. Boss told me to go get it...and I did! Mexican stand off in Alaska! :) I have some fond memories of that place. I would loose 15-20 pounds in 4 weeks of HARD fishing. A beer never tasted so good after you picked 1500 Reds out of a net. The Sockeye run in Alaska is an amazing thing to see. How about 200 Beluga whales surrounding your boat on a flat calm day....unbelievable.

strick

Scott is the most badass Tarpon guide down there - if you can get him do it - you have plenty of time and even got me thinking about a B Day present for Egg Jr. I did a mortgage for him so got to know him a bit as it wasn't easy LOL, yes I met him in person.

he has great T shirts too

June 6-7 and 21-23 should have the best tides next season.