Tarpon season is here, and big silverkings are showing up in increasing numbers from Clearwater to Sarasota.
Before last week, most of the tarpon catches were around the Sunshine Skyway bridge and other hot spots inside Tampa Bay, but the large migratory schools have shown up along the beaches.
The arrival of tarpon kicks off one of the most spectacular fisheries along the west coast of Florida. Each morning, schools of tarpon numbering from 10 to several hundred can be found milling on the surface or rolling on top along the beach.
There are several proven methods for catching beach tarpon. One of the best is casting live bait such as threadfin herring, pinfish or large scaled sardines into the fish's path. If it appears to be holding close to the surface, a float can be used to suspend the bait at a shallow depth. If the fish is swimming closer to the bottom, a free-lined bait with a small lead split shot might be needed to place your bait on the fish's level. Some tarpon anglers also fish fresh-dead baits such as menhaden directly on the bottom in the path of the fish.
When working the beach, it is important to be stealthy. Tarpon that bite the best usually are the ones that move the slowest and experience the least pressure. By avoiding the crowds and seeking undiscovered pods, you will increase your chances. Joining a large group of boats that are chasing a single school seldom results in a hookup, regardless of how big the school may be.
Once you find an untouched school of tarpon, slowly idle the boat around to a position ahead of the fish, cut the engine and wait for them to come to you. Trolling motors are also helpful in moving the boat closer to the fish without spooking them. Never run on plane when trying to get around a school of tarpon, even at a distance. The high-pitched sound of an outboard engine at high RPMs carries far underwater, scaring the fish and making them less likely to bite. Be patient and take the time to line up just the right cast.
The pioneers of beach tarpon fishing used large revolving spool reels and 9-foot fiberglass rods. Since the leaders were between 4 and 7 feet and were difficult to cast on conventional gear, they developed the "cracker cast," which involved whipping the rig in a circle above the head to launch the bait. Many of today's veteran tarpon anglers still practice this technique with great success.
The advent of sturdier spinning reels and small-diameter, high-strength, superbraid lines has made the spinning rod the gear of choice. They are easy to cast and can hold more than 500 yards of 65-pound line. Fiberglass rods still are preferred to graphite for their sheer strength. When placing maximum pressure on big tarpon at the side of the boat, graphite rods have been known to shatter.
Fluorocarbon leader material also has helped change the basic tarpon fishing setup. Years ago 100- to 125-pound test monofilament was the most commonly used leader material. Eighty-pound fluorocarbon, however, has greater abrasion resistance, is less visible and has a smaller diameter.
There are some things that never change. Regardless of the gear or techniques, when a live pinfish is left wiggling in front of a milling school of tarpon on a calm, summer morning, there is going to be a classic battle waged. It is the same thrilling encounter that has drawn generations of fishermen to the Suncoast for years.
