Tarpon anyone?

[polo-dog]

I just got back from a trip to SW Florida and had a great time trying to figure out the fishery down there. I met a good friend of my sis-in-law that showed me how and where to catch tarpon this time of year. We had 7 or 8 takes in the few hours that we fished but the circle hooks didn't catch or they wrapped us in the bridge pilings and broke us off. We fished the Cape Coral/Ft. Myers area and it was lots of fun. I had to spool up with 60lb Power Pro, 8/0 circle hooks and 80lb bite leader. We fished with 18-24 inch Ladyfish that we caught and put in the live well. If anyone is planning a trip down there in the near future I could give up the specifics. I think that the fish are still mainly in the river as I didn't see or hear of any fish outside the mouth of the river. Let me know if anyone is interested.

These fish are the resident fish and usually run between 80 and 120 lbs. Later in the "Big Boys" come to town and are in the 150-200 lb class. We cranked our drag down as tight as possible, I could barely pull out any line against the drag it was so tight. When the fish took the bait they pulled so hard with the rod in the rod holders that I really thought that my rod was going to break. They pulled like a freight train!!!!! We never got to see one but the night before they had one that was 100lbs or better to the boat and 2 or 3 others jumped in the few hours that they were out. These are major fish with major pulling power. I was a bit hesitant to pull the rod from the holder for fear that I would be following EricM into the water.

 

[EricM]

Hey! I heard that!
I have gone to Florida for tarpon, too. I was near Punta Gorda and hooked the bottom and it started swimming away. We went twice around the bay and I never got it off of the bottom. After and hour and a half I snapped the rod, and it was a BIG rod. Got a picture of me just as it happened and I'm leaning back in the chair with my feet in the air and holding 12" of rod (fishing rod!). We figured I had hooked a 500 lb or so goliath grouper. Not only do I always have witnesses to my misfortunes, but sometines they get pictures! emoRedface

 

[polo-dog]

It sounds like your fish was a Goliath Grouper, formerly known as Jewfish. They tend not to take off like the tarpon do. I could hardly believe the speed of the fish that we hooked and the power to peel line off the spool even when it was cranked down as tight as I could get it. It was almost scarrrrrry!

 

[EricM]

About like what you would expect from a 120 lb skipjack?emoEek

 

[foodsaver]

I use big bait now but thats a whole other category!

 

[rsimms]

A big tarpon is still on my list of "dream fish." I had one chance to catch one once on a redfish trip. Didn't have bait/tackle to handle tarpon when we ran across them. I had a "pickup" but never came close to getting a hook set. Someday I'm going go make them the "primary target." Sounds like you may have found a good place to start if I want to "go it alone."

 

[Liveliner]

How did you like the Ladyfish fishing? Did you use Gotcha lures for the Ladies? Those nasty things are super aggressive for their size..
FYI - To anyone who wants to go to Florida for Tarpon needs to get familar with the FL laws as it applies to Tarpon fishing. All nonresidents must have a nonresident License to fish in saltwater with the exception that if you are fishing from a pay-to-fish pier you are covered by the pier owners permit. If you plan to target Tarpon, all fisherpersons are required to purchase a $50.00 Tarpon tag. The tag allows you to bring the fish onto a boat, pier or shore and kill the fish if you desire to do so.. If you catch a Tarpon and do not have the tag you are forbidden by law to remove the Tarpon from the water. You may pull it to the side of the boat, remove the hook and revive the fish as long as you do not pull it from the water. FWC officers and other fishermen get real hostal if you are seen pulling them up onto the boat and holding them for a picture. If you will notice on fishing shows filmed in FL you will see the practice of keeping them in the water on most all of them.