Fishing for Tarpon

Florida Tarpon

Fishing for tarpon in Florida is probably one of the ultimate tarpon fishing adventures anyone could ever undertake. Florida sports some of the most pristine water conditions and just happens to be home to some of the absolute best tarpon fishing around during certain times of the year.


May, June and July are simply spectacular along the coast for fishing for tarpon in Florida. This special time of the year see's the coastline simply filled to the brim with huge tarpon nearing their destination for the annual tarpon migration. Culminating at the tip of Florida and throughout the Key West, these giant beasts flock in outrageous numbers to continue their species and mate. You'd better make sure and buy boat insurance before you tackle some of these beasts.


Expect a wonderful angling temptation when chasing these tarpon during their annual migration.

Shimano / OuterBanks Outfitters TLD20 7' Combo

When you start talking fishing reels for catching tarpon you first need to understand what type of fishing you plan on doing. Is it going to be in the backcountry, around bridges or out at the passes? If you are going to be fishing the flats or the backcountry, you could utilize a good light tackle spinning gear or fly outfit. This is the type that I like the best. Light tackle tarpon is some fun stuff. If you are going to do some bridge work you might need something like a 20-30 pound spinning outfit or baitcasting outfit. One of the better ones that you could have onboard in my opinion is the Shimano TLD20 with a stout 7 foot rod for better control of the fish.

There are really only 3 main fishing tips for tarpon to understand when you chase after these animals in the waters they call home. Check the drag, set the hook and let it run.

Fishing tips for tarpon #1: Check the drag. A good rule of thumb is to only set the drag on your reel to a maximum of 25% of the pound test of the line. Chances are that if you keep getting broken off your drag is way too tight. An easy way to check this and fortunately most of us vain fisherman have one of these is a hand weight scale used for weighing those bruisers of fish that we happen to get boat side for bragging rights later. Simply tie a loop to the end of your line and pull on it to see that the drag is set to (at a maximum) 25% of the line weight that you are currently using.

Fishing tips for tarpon #2: Set the hook. This is where most people run into a problem. I can't tell you how many times I've seen somebody set a hook like they were throwing a knockout punch in a one round fight. You don't need to do that! Yes tarpon have a hard mouth but that doesn't mean you need to smack it like it's never going to come back to you. Sometimes the best way for those over anxious anglers is to simply let the tarpon hook itself. Leave the rod in a rod holder and don't touch it till it starts stripping line. If you simply gotta hold it, either point the rod down or put the tip of it in the water and just reel, really fast. More often than not that'll set the hook just like you want it right in the soft corners of the tarpons mouth.You don't need to set the hook hard with tarpon. Because of the tarpon's hard mouth the best approach with most types of live bait hooks is to drop back about 10 feet of line and let the line tighten up or just leave the rod in the rod holder until the tarpon is stripping line off your reel. Another trick is to put the rod tip in the water and reel fast! All of these tarpon hook setting techniques allow the hook to hit one of the three soft spots in a tarpons mouth, the corners on either side or the button in the middle. This is probably by far the best fishing tip for tarpon that anyone can tell you.

Fishing tips for tarpon #3: Let'em run. Don't be surprised if when a tarpon gets on your line that they decide to head for the farthest reaches of the ocean. Be ready, sit back and let them do their thing. Tarpon are strong and you are more than likely not going to stop it or make it decide to change directions when they first get on. This is what you went tarpon fishing for in the first place wasn't it. To have the tarpon story to end all tarpon stories. No need to apply pressure right off the bat. Let them wear themselves down some and then show them who's boss.