Tarpon, also known as the “silver king”, is targeted throughout the 10,000 Islands and Everglades National Park. During their spring migration, large tarpon up to 175 pounds regularly make a voyage up the West Coast of Florida including through SW Florida. Resident, smaller tarpon or “baby tarpon” ranging up to 50 pounds spend their time in the quiet backwaters of the mangroves. Once hooked and fighting, these baby tarpon seem to spend more time out of the water than in. Revered for their acrobatics and power, tarpon are high on everyone’s list of angling targets.

Casting artificial lures is an exciting way to fish for tarpon. Top waters, lipped plugs, jigs, and soft plastics all come in handy when targeting tarpon. The casts need to be accurate and quick but the constant activity of working the plugs is a type of fishing that every angler enjoys.

Tarpon are suckers for natural baits. A free lined scaled sardine or thread herring rarely gets turned down if the fish are active. These baits must be frisky but their large profile and flashy scales drive the tarpon wild. Big tarpon are constantly targeted in the spring time with cut bait also. Taking advantage of a tarpon’s acute sense of smell, we position the boat in their travel routes and let them come to us. A stout circle hook ensures a good hookup without fear of having the tarpon swallow the hook too deep for removal.

Fly fishing for tarpon is an addictive sport. Anglers come from all over the world to chase these fish with a fly rod. Fly fishing for tarpon in the 10,000 Islands and Everglades National Park is an exercise in patience and accuracy. Poling through shallow bays and coves, we hunt for tarpon to be lying motionless, often called “laid up.”  These fish will be lying still and can be taken with an accurate cast that brings the fly right past their nose.