Want to Catch a Tarpon? What You Need to Know

If you haven’t heard about the Tarpon Fishing in Key West, then you are in a treat. It’s a majestic fish that will give you a run for your money. In this article, you’ll learn about the tarpon, the best time to catch them, the best spots, lures, and more.

Tarpon Basics

Tarpon is also known as the Silver King. It can grow up to 7ft and can weigh over 300lbs. It’s a fish that is often found near the shore. Thus, it’s one of the biggest fish you can catch without a boat and heading into deeper water.

Tarpon is one of those fishes that can both live in salt and freshwater. This is because the said fish can directly gulp air. The scales are very large, which you can make as a souvenir before you release them. It’s also a fish that is not very popular as a culinary dish because the flesh is very bony.

The tarpon’s mouth is very hard, which makes it difficult to hook. But once you do succeed in hooking them, be prepared for a contest. During the fight, the fish may repeatedly jump over the water and thrash around wildly.

It’s one of the reasons why a tarpon is an excellent game fish. They are challenging to hook, and it’s easy to lose the hook due to the fish’s leaping and thrashing. Furthermore, if you just apply steady pressure, the tarpon is smart enough to conserve energy, making the fight go for a long time.

Best Time to Go Tarpon Fishing

If you want to increase your chances of catching a Tarpon, then your best bet is to fish when the migration happens. Generally, you’d want to fish when the water temperature is above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. This may mean as early as mid-March up to most of June.

Best Place to Fish for Tarpon

If you want to increase your chances of catching a Tarpon, then your best bet is to pick the right water spot and condition. Generally, the best places are water inlets. Since tarpons also love to hunt for prey at night, you can further increase your chance by fishing after the sun goes down.

Tarpon Tackle

A super-heavy tackle is not necessarily needed to fish a Tarpon. In fact, you can even catch a 100-pounder using an 8lb line. However, that’s not advisable unless you are just looking for a difficult challenge. Generally, a 30lb test line should be challenging enough while not being too heavy that it will tire the fish too quickly.

A braided filament can be used. However, the monofilament is better at absorbing the shocks with all the jumping and thrashing around. Of course, you have to scale down if you are planning to target the juvenile ones.

Tarpon Lure

Tarpon will bite on a variety of hooks such as jigs, soft plastics, and poppers. However, it would be best if you used something with a single hook because it doesn’t give the tarpon leverage to shake it off.

Wrapping It All Up

Tarpon is an excellent game fish to target. Dive into the world of tarpon fishing in Key West with Looney Tunes Charter Fishing. They are mostly found in rivers and estuaries, but an inlet is where you want to be if you want to catch them. If you can, you’ll have better chances at night. Lastly, it’s best to use a lure with a single hook so it won’t come off easily.

MORE ABOUT TARPON

World record: 286-pounds, 9 ounces myfwc.com

Scientific name: Megalops

Family: Megalopidae; D. S. Jordan, 1923

Higher classification: Tarpons

Order: Elopiformes

Rank: Genus

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Can You Not Eat Tarpon?

Tarpon actually is an edible fish however there are a few reasons that they are not commonly eaten. Although they are large fish Tarpons are filled with small bones. This makes them very difficult to clean and eat. The biggest reason that they are not eaten though is that they just do not taste very good.

Can Tarpon Bite You?

Tarpon can bite you but it is uncommon. On top of this Tarpon do not have teeth like many fish instead they have hard sandpaper-like mouths that grind their food up. This means that their bite is unlikely to be as bad as other fish. however, it is always important to be careful around fish and try to avoid being bitten.

Where Are Tarpons Found?

Tarpons are found mainly in the Atlantic in lots of the warmer areas. They are found along much of the easter coast of the Americas from Virginia to Brazil. They are commonly found in the Gulf of Mexico and all around the Caribbean Sea. This makes them a very popular game fish in Florida.

Is Tarpon Hard to Catch?

Tarpons are well known for being hard to catch. Tarpons are large fish with very hard mouths. This makes hooking them very difficult. Once you do have one on the line they are very strong and will put up a fight. They are known to jump and thrash around. This is why they are prized game fish.