Tarpon season basically starts mid-April, May, June, July, and August. May and June are the optimal times for Tarpon. Remember that Tarpon are primarily a nocturnal feeder, so the best times to catch them are very early in the morning or at night. We always book up fast during these times for our Tarpon Charters, so book early.
A flash of silver, a tug on the line, then the sound of the reel spinning away. Tarpon fishing is the most exciting light tackle fishing around. Tarpon are considered by many to be the worlds most exciting gamefish. Once it knows its hooked it starts a display of aquatic acrobatics, leaping and thrashing trying to throw the hook. One important thing to remember when fishing for the "Silver King" is to always show him your respect. When he shows himself off by leaping out of the water, always bow to the king or he will throw your hook and swim away laughing.
Here are some intersting facts about Tarpon that I got from the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute.
- Fossil research shows that tarpon have been swimming in our oceans since prehistoric times.
- Tarpon can reach sizes up to 8 feet and can weigh up to 280 pounds.
- The life span of a tarpon can be in excess of 50 years. The oldest tarpon in captivity lived to be 63 years old.
- Due to its majestic appearance of size and color, the tarpon is nicknamed "silver king."
- Tarpon are primarily found in shallow coastal waters and estuaries, but they are also found in open marine waters, around coral reefs, and in some freshwater lakes and rivers.
- Tarpon range from Virginia to central Brazil in the western Atlantic, along the coast of Africa in the eastern Atlantic, and all through the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.
- Because of its strength, stamina, and fighting ability, the tarpon is one of Florida's premier game fish.
- Tarpon have a special ability to gulp air at the surface when they are in a habitat that doesn't provide enough oxygen.
- In their larval stage, tarpon are transparent, have a ribbonlike body and prominent fanglike teeth, and are less than an inch long.
- Tarpon can only be fished recreationally in Florida. The majority of recreational anglers practice catch and release since the fish is not considered to be of any food value.
