Catching Tarpon
A ‘game’ or ‘trophy’ fish, Tarpon can’t be removed from the water
Catching Tarpon
Size and weight: Juvenile Atlantic Tarpon range from 26″ and go up to 60″. They weigh from 10 lbs. to 165 lbs.
General Info
A ‘bucket list’ fish for experienced anglers, Atlantic Tarpon are an aggressive and exciting fish to catch. With an unusual physiology that includes taking gulps of air for a burst of energy, they can take up to an hour to boat-side the fish (not land into boat). This is a fish you can’t take out of the water, because it’s a monitored and well-controlled game fish. Touching can hurt them.
When/Where
Time of year: Active May through July.
Location: Tarpon like inlets, lots of running or moving water.
Time of Tide: Like to bite early morning until mid-day, particularly during a ‘hill tide’.
How
Bait: Fiddler crabs and cut bait – greenbacks, shrimp, lady fish.
Method: Reel and rod, with appropriate tackle.
Cooking Tarpon
Tarpon are a game fish, and should not be captured or killed or cooked.
