| Florida Keys Tarpon are perhaps the most highly | | | | rod with fifteen pound monofilament line, added a thirty |
| sought after fish in the United States. To catch Tarpon | | | | pound clear fluorocarbon leader and after baiting the |
| consistently you need to have a thorough | | | | hook was instantly hooked up with the large Tarpon. |
| understanding of their behavior patterns. | | | | Lesson learned is keeping the tackle as light as |
| You can and will encounter Tarpon in all different kinds | | | | possible. |
| of habitats. I have seen Tarpon in excess of one | | | | I recommend a medium to heavy action rod of high |
| hundred pounds basking in the sun in water about one | | | | quality. You need enough backbone to set the hook |
| foot deep within ten yards of the shore. Later in the | | | | but more importantly you need a rod that will put |
| day you may encounter the same fish in much deeper | | | | pressure on the fish and tire him out. |
| water near a bridge. | | | | The reel is perhaps the most important piece of |
| The seven mile bridge that connects Marathon Key to | | | | equipment. The initial run a Tarpon will make is to say |
| the lower keys is perhaps the most fished area of | | | | the least very impressive. You need a reel that will |
| water in the country for large Tarpon. | | | | hold at least two hundred yards of line, preferably |
| Let's start first with equipment. When you fish for | | | | more. |
| Tarpon you are seeking a fish that can be anywhere | | | | If you are lucky enough to latch onto a very large |
| from twenty to two hundred pounds. The problem you | | | | Tarpon you will often have to chase him with your |
| have is that you cannot use tackle that is too heavy. | | | | boat to prevent him from spooling your reel. A well |
| Tarpon are a very wary fish that will instantly ignore a | | | | oiled top of the line drag is a must on your reel. |
| presentation that does not seem natural. | | | | Anything less will not be sufficient to land a large |
| An example of their wariness took place several | | | | Tarpon. |
| years ago on my first visit to the Florida Keys. We just | | | | If you are live bait fishing you also need to select the |
| got in from a successful day of fishing I noticed a large | | | | proper hook. In the Florida Keys there are restrictions |
| Tarpon of about forty pounds suspending close to | | | | on hook design in certain areas. If fishing on the gulf |
| shore. I threw a shrimp into the water and it inhaled it | | | | side in a boat you must use circle hooks. |
| immediately. My son took a rod we were using to fish | | | | When fishing on the Atlantic side you can use the |
| for shark and putting a smaller hook on it tried to offer | | | | standard "J" style hooks which are much more |
| the Tarpon a shrimp on the hook. | | | | efficient at hooking fish of any species. Whatever the |
| No matter how close he put the offering the fish | | | | case do not cut corners, but high quality hooks and |
| would have nothing to do with it. I then took a Snapper | | | | keep them sharp as you can. |