Tarpon

Tarpon are native to the Florida Keys. The resident tarpon range in size from forty or fifty pounds down to small fry and are caught all year long. The giant tarpon is a migratory fish weighing from about fifty pounds to well over two hundred. They migrate into the Keys waters as part of a mating ritual that is to this day not fully understood. One thing for sure is that they return to the same places every year on a predictable schedule. The first schools of giants appear along the coasts around the middle of February. The population increases to fishable numbers by the middle of April and tapers off by the end of June. These migrating giants feed best at night but are not going to turn down a fly presented properly or a live mullet during the day.

I have been guiding night fishing tarpon charters with live bait for over twenty years. I guarantee you a tarpon hook up during peak season when fishing my early morning live bait tarpon trip. These fish average around one hundred pounds and we release a few close to two hundred pounds every year.

Be sure that you are ready for a fight. Most fish are released within thirty minutes but some may be tenacious and fight for a couple of hours. Are you ready for the fight of your life?