In southwest Florida, April through June is the prime season for Tarpon fishing. In Fort Myers, Tarpon Season fishing varies moderately throughout the year. However, the high tarpon season is May to July as they migrate to the North towards Boca Grande Pass, where they feed before they head offshore to spawn.

When can you catch tarpon in Florida?

The best time to fish for large migratory tarpon in the Florida Keys is when the water temperatures reach and stay above seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. That can be as early as mid-March, but usually equates to late March to as late as early April. May is all safe as well as most of June.

What time of year is best to catch tarpon?

The best time for fishing is May to June, and that's when people from throughout the world come and catch Tarpon. The flats that surround Crystal River and Homosassa Bay are packed full of huge Tarpon. Another good place to fish during June and summer is Apalachicola Bay.

Where is the best place to catch tarpon?

• Boca Grande, Florida. Located at the mouth of Charlotte Harbor near Fort Myers, Boca Grande has the largest known concentration of tarpon in the world. ...
• St. Simons Island, Georgia. ...
• Marathon/Islamorada, Florida Keys. ...
• St.

How do you get a tarpon in SW Florida?

Use the Proper Tarpon Tackle and Hooks

Thirty-pound test line should be used to catch tarpon in place of the standard 8-pound test line. Monofilament line also absorbs the shock of a tarpon's violent thrashing better than braided line. Circle hooks give you the best chance of landing a tarpon.

MONSTER Florida Tarpon Fishing | Southwest Florida

Is tarpon good eating fish?

Are Tarpon Fish Good to Eat? Tarpon are rarely eaten because their flesh is filled with small, hard to clean bones. In the United States, the tarpon usually is caught for sport — and then released. As a bony, strong-smelling saltwater fish, it may be more trouble than pleasure to eat.

What is the best tarpon bait?

Best Live Bait for Tarpon

Some of tarpon fishing bait are shrimp, pinfish, mullet and crabs. Stake out above areas that hold tarpon and drift your live bait down to the fish. Hook crabs in the corner of the shell and baitfish through the mouth.

Will tarpon eat dead bait?

Most predators like tarpon will readily take a dead bait over lures and live baits. There are some days that the tarpon are feeding so voraciously that they will hit just about anything but those days are rare. ... It might not necessarily be the best meal but it is an easy one that doesn't take any effort so they eat it.

Where is the tarpon Capital of the world?

Boca Grande Pass, which sits at the mouth of Charlotte Harbor, is an approximately 2,200-foot waterway separating Gasparilla and Cayo Costa Islands.

What lures do tarpon like?

The best baits for tarpon are chunks of ladyfish or mullet on the bottom or a live mullet or pin fish during under a popping cork during the first two hours after sunrise. The best lures for tarpon are 5 to 8 inch white paddle tails with 1/2 to one ounce jig heads or DOA Big One Terror Eyz.

What is the best tarpon fishing in the world?

• Tarpon Fishing in Boca Grande, Florida.
• Tarpon Fishing in Manzanillo, Costa Rica.
• Tarpon Fishing in Carrabelle, Florida.
• Tarpon Fishing in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
• Tarpon Fishing in Rio Colorado, Costa Rica.
• Tarpon Fishing in Jardines de la Reina, Cuba.

Can you catch tarpon in December?

DECEMBER – It's still possible to catch small tarpon in the rivers and back water canals. Occasionally someone may catch a mid size tarpon in one of the power plants as well, but all in all it's best to find something else to fish for.

What is the world record tarpon?

The all-tackle world record (additionally certified as the 80-pound class record) for a giant tarpon is 286-pounds, 9-ounces caught by Max Domecq in Rubane, Guinea-Bissau, Africa on March 20, 2003.

Is there a season for tarpon?

The peak season lasts from March to July, and most fish are found during the receding tide. Florida's West Coast from the Everglades to the Panhandle is famous for its first-class Tarpon action. The best months are May and June when people from all over the world come down to land a trophy.

Can you catch tarpon in February?

February - Cold fronts continue in February and some years keep the water temperature too low for really good tarpon fishing. On a good (warm) year, February can produce the finest tarpon fishing of the year with big fish all over the backcountry and Everglades.

Can you catch tarpon from shore?

Tarpon can be found running the beaches in search of prey items. They are sometimes within a few feet of the shore when the tide is high. They are very fun to target early and late in the day using a large 8 inch paddle tail or large pencil popping hard baits and a large casting rod.

Where can I find tarpon in Boca Grande?

Charlotte Harbor, Boca Grande, Matlatcha, Pine Island Sound, and the Myakka and Peace Rivers are all homes to late and early season Tarpon as well as some year-round residents. These fish are usually found in loose groups or small pods rather than the massive schools you see during the spawn.

What is Tarpon Capital in Florida?

As most know, Boca Grande is known internationally for being the tarpon capital of the world.

How old is a 100 pound tarpon?

An average 100 pound tarpon is about 13 to 16 years old.

Why do tarpon roll on the surface?

The short answer is that tarpon roll to breathe oxygen. They use their swimbladder to augment the oxygen they get through their gills and often roll near the surface when the water conditions have low oxygen levels.

How do you chum a tarpon?

The process of chumming is taking these fish from the bye catch bushel (gets messy) and cut them into pieces. The pieces are tossed into the water to drift back and attract tarpon and whatever else likes them.

Do tarpon eat grunts?

Tarpon do most of their feeding on baitfish—pilchards, pinfish, grunts, mutton minnows, threadfin herring—the list goes on. ... The key is to use what the tarpon are naturally eating.

What size hooks for tarpon?

A 5/0 hook is the best size hook for catching tarpon. That hook size is perfect for hooking all of the tarpon's favorites like finger mullet or large threadfin herring, ladyfish, pin fish, crabs or silver and striped mullet without affecting their swimming abilities too much.

Can you troll for tarpon?

Trolling for tarpon is relatively uncommon outside of the northern Gulf of Mexico, but can be very effective at locating scattered fish in open water. ... The device and technique may seem a little farfetched, but with a little practice it can become a productive method to employ for scattered fish in deep water.