[Fishigan]

I am able to get away for a few days next year to go to Florida on a fishing trip. I would want to get into a Tarpon. What do I need to do to make it happen once I get there? This will be a "dream trip" for me so I have to plan well.
I need to know tackle specifics, months to go, destinations, flies to bring, etc.. cost of a permit, I can look that up unless someone knows off hand. Who is around there from here I could maybe hook up with for a day or two?
I'd love to go for other species too, but the Tarpon is one that is high on my fish wish list.
At this point it is unknown as to fly or drive.
This has been a long time in the works and it's getting closer to happening.
I would appreciate any help.

[Fishigan]

I know they are in the Keys from around March thru July and a 12 wt is most likely the rod I need. But aside from reading articles off of the net and out of mags, I'd like the input of some of the guys from here that have actually been engaged in a fight with a Tarpon. When is it a really good time to come down and fish? I'd rather get hooked up with someone from here too, compared to hire a guide.

[TroutBum]

The best time of year is from the end of April thru the end of June. The best advice I can give you is to hire a guide for a couple of days. There isn't any other way to insure that you'll get the opportunities and results without one. Tarpon are like most other saltwater fish, here today, somewhere else tomorrow. Guides are the pepole who know all of the likely places they'll turn up.

Although Tarpon are found all over Florida, the Keys and the Southwest Coast of FL are the best places to find big fish. From Homossassa south to the Keys are the hot spots. Bayport (the Homossassa flats) has the biggest fish, it's the place where all the records have come from over the last 30 years. But, fishing up there can be hit or miss, but some days are spectacular. Most of the guides I know recommend that you book at least 3 days because if wind, weather and tide aren't right you won't have any shots. During the Tarpon run, guides up there charge $500 per day. It isn't cheap but there isn't any other way to improve your odds.

Boca Grand and the Charlotte harbor area has TONS of tarpon, but most of it is bait fishing. You can fly fish, but there are so many boats in the area it won't be easy and it won't be much fun. There can be as many as 1000 boats concentrated around Boca Grande pass during the run, and it is just plain nuts. I avoid the the place and so do most of my friends.

The Keys will give you a good shot at fish but again, you're going to need a guide to get to the fish. You can rent a boat down there, but knowing where the fish are, and how to get to them is the problem. Keys guides will cost about the same as the others, $500 bucks a day, but you may be able to get it done in one day, but plan on two. I'd concentrate on the Islamorada area, which is about 80 miles north of Key West. That way if you can't find any Tarpon, you can always go Bonefishing.

I hate to sound negative, but Tarpon fishing isn't an easy endeavor. It requires time and money if you want one. I've been chasing them for 25 years and in that time I've caught about 50 fish and I go out more than 2 or 3 days a year. I don't own a boat, so I either get invited out with a friend or I pay $500 like everyone else.

[Fishigan]

Thanks for the info Troutbum. I like the cold hard truth. Better to know now than later. Well, I guess I'll have to save for a guide. In doing a search I found that most guides will provide the tackle. Which after spending the last hour and a half searching it looks like it might be cheaper to do the guide and use thier stuff. I mean most reels that seem like they will hold up to that abuse are $400+. Then a 12wt rod and line and backing and leaders and flies and tags and travel and good freaking grief..... I'm over a grand and haven't even left my chair yet.
I see some deals that provide lodging and such too. Might not be a bad idea. $$$$.00 though.
But I hate thinking of spending nearly a grand on tackle I might use what, a few days. Then who knows how long before I would use it again. Then if the reel gets smoked it's a loss.
Well, can you maybe rec. a guide down that way? This is why I am planning waaaaaay ahead. I figured it would be a costly trip.
But, for me this might be a once in a lifetime chance.
I really should have moved to Naples when I had the chance.

[TroutBum]

Most guides will insist that you use their tackle, they would just hate it if you used your own and lost a fish because you tied a crappy knot. I'll e-mail you the names of guides who fish Homossassa, Boca Grande and Islamorda tomorrow. I have all that info in my office. Fishing Homossassa will probably be your most economical option, Boca Grande the most fish, and the Keys will be the most expensive. If you could plan your trip for the full moon in June, you would hit the Palolo worm hatch in the keys and the bay crabs in Boca Grande. The tarpon go stupid and will hit anything that moves, you'd be fishing at night which is weird for some people but is alot cooler than during the day.

I'll be in touch.

[Fishigan]

Thanks a lot Troutbum. I really appreciate the help.
I love night fishing. Spent a lot of nights from midnight to 6am bass fishing with jigs.
I look forward to hearing more. I keep reading stuff but it is better to get first hand info.

[Fishigan]

I am still planning and dreaming. I have been reading this article today. It's some great info about Tarpon fishing down in the Keys. Very well written too. I just finished reading the section about casting and it was like I was there "bowing" myself. But, maybe it's just because I have a vivid imagination and a dream.
http://flyfisherman.com/florida/wjfloridatarpon/index.html

[TroutBum]

Hey Fred, here is another option for you as long as you're not too fussy about the size of the Tarpon you catch. The Tamiami Trail (US Rt. 41) cuts across the Everglades just south of Naples. There are canals that parallel and intersect the road and will hold anything from Bluegill to Tarpon. No fees except a fishing license (you'll need both a fresh and saltwater license) and a car to get you out there. There are some hazards though, cars and trucks wizzing by at 55 mph and some really big Gators.

The Tapron will be small, probably 20 to 30 lbs. max if you get lucky. But they are Tarpon, and a 7 or 8 wt. is all you'll need in the way of tackle.

[mcfly]

Big Gators are just a hazard??? Don't think I'd fish big Gator water I'd rather be the top of the food chain all of the time. Are there that many gator attacks?



BTW.. I think I saw a blue haired convoy heading down your way this morning TroutBum.

[TroutBum]

We've had a couple of fatal gator attacks in the last couple of years. The gators can be avoided, just stay out of the water where they are and you'll be fine. Actually, where you find Gators, you find fish.

[Fishigan]

When the wife and I were in Naples we took a ride down the Tamiami Trail. Nice scenic little ride. Lot's of traffic. I know the canals you are talking about.
We looked at some houses in gated communities along where the swamp butts up to Naples. I thought they were gated to keep the riff raff out, turns out it is more to keep the gators out, plus some riff raff too.
I saw my first Tarpon when we went to the company owners house down along the Gulf near Marco Island. The Tarpon were swimming buy his dock in the canal.
We were going to go out fishing with him the next day but then some monsoon set in and it nixed the fishing. Then we had 2 days of free time so we went looking for houses and walking for miles along the beaches. You can spend hours on those white beaches and it seems like only minutes.
I sware, if I could find a job around Naples for enough to support the family, I'd be there by nightfall.

[flygtr]

If you head down to Key West, you can hit the piers down near white street. I hooked a #150 in May at @ 2:30 am.

[Carlos Marti]

Fishigan!!!!

I'm new to the Forum but a veteran fly angler. I hail from Mexico City.
Not to change your probably already well laid plans, but... have you ever considered visiting Cancun?

Nice beaches, fabulous hotels, large and baby tarpon, bonefish, snook & permit available almost year round only a couple of hours away at Holbox Island and the Manatee Lagoon, a mangrove maze which is 30 mins. off Playa Blanca (a short half hour drive from Cancun's Hotel Zone).

Last Easter I had the opportunity to catch (and release) 9 tarpon ranging from 5 to 75 lb. on an orange Seaducer on a single afternoon.

[dafack01]

If you have a few days that you're not going to be hitting the salt, do a little research on the Canals. One time a couple years ago in the Ft. Lauderdale area, in one stretch of canal, we caught Peacock Bass (my friend caught one that was 6 pounds), Largemouth Bass (I had one shake loose at the bank that would've gone 8 pounds easy), and a buddy and I each had a 35+ pound Tarpon hit. He hooked his but it broke off (moron was using 8lb test) and I was so startled that I choked on the hookset on mine.

I'd SERIOUSLY recommend hooking into a few Peacocks while you're down there. Great thing about the fishing down there is that fish bite ALL DAY. Largemouth hit best morning and evening (though I lost the 8+ pounder at about 1:00pm), and Peacocks actually hit best midday. They're VERY territorial, so once you bust one up more often than not you can catch them eventually if you're persistent. If you hook one, HOLD ON!!! They're STRONG and MEAN. Unlike Largemouth and Smallmouth, they WILL NOT paralyze when lipped.

If you bring some smaller streamers you can catch some Oscars and Spotted Tilapia. I saw a TON of Tilapia when I was down there.

[AlG]

I just watched a Chasing Silver episode (Verses channel) and from the looks of it, tarpon are brutal and sinister!

These guys were experienced fisherman and would hook tarpon's, but after a few hook UPS every rod they took broke and they weren't cheapo's either.....all Sage with Tibor reels. Then they were spooling reels and nesting, knotting, and breaking lines!


I gotta try it!!!!!!!!!!