Tarpon

Gear Overview

Flyrod

Juvenile:

9 ft. 8wt Medium-Fast Action

Migratory:

9ft 10-12wt Medium-Fast Action

(Our Pick) LOOP SW

Reel

Large arbor saltwater reel

(Our Pick) Hatch 9-11 Plus

Lines

Weight forward, warm water saltwater line

(Our Pick) SA Tarpon Taper

Leaders

9 ft. 20-30lb. fluorocarbon tarpon leaders w/ 50-80lb shock tippet

Leaders can be purchased pre-tied or you can build your own. 

Note: You'll typically only need to bring 3 leaders for a week's fishing

Tippet

50-80lb. fluorocarbon tippet spools

Note: You'll only need 1 spool each for a week's fishing

How to Fish Them:

The most important aspect to retrieving a tarpon fly properly is reading the mannerisms of the fish. You’re trying to match their speed of movement. A fish moving quickly requires a faster strip. A fish that is moving casually, or is laid up, requires a slower strip. Tarpon very rarely go out of their way to eat a fly. So your angle on the fish needs to be pretty precise. In some cases, a sink tip line is effective for deeper waters.

Where and When:

Juvenile tarpon can be found most of the year around mangrove islands. At low tides, you can find them on the flats that near channel mouths. There are some migratory tarpon that push during the spring and early summer months and can be targeted cruising edges and laid-up in basins.