With lengths of over 8 feet long and weights of more than 280 pounds, it is easy to see why Tarpon are one of the most sought after saltwater gamefish in the world. June means Tarpon time. Anglers come to Florida from all over the world to try to hook up with one of these jumbo-size “sardines.” If you’re looking for heart-stopping action Tarpon is the ticket. These chrome-plated acrobatic fish are sure to get your attention in a real hurry as they explode out of the water, putting on an arial show of a lifetime. Patience is needed while stalking schools of Tarpon on the beaches. A Tarpon’s fighting ability is what truly sets the “King” apart from all others. To be hooked into a hundred-plus pound fish that clears the water usually over twice its body length is enough to get any angler’s adrenaline pumping. You will spot Tarpon doing what is known as daisy chaining, which is said to be a pre-spawning ritual. Tarpon will swim slowly head-to-tail in a tight circle, sometimes barely moving in any direction. These schools are usually the first fish of the day to show. They have not been bothered and are happy fish.

Tarpon are the only fish that have an air bladder. This allows them to absord oxygen and live in water with low oxygen levels. You will spot Tarpon coming to the surface to gulp air on a regular basis. When you encounter a school of Tarpon daisy chaining and milling along the beach you will start to feel a weakness in your knees about then, and understand why Tarpon fishing is so exciting. For some reason, the intimidation factor of hooking into these silver submarines never seems to go away. Even seasoned veteran Tarpon anglers still feel a slight bit uneasy with each Tarpon they hook into. There is something quite humbling about being hooked up with a fish that could, and sometimes does, weigh as much or more as the angler at the other end of the line.

Sight casting to schools of Tarpon on the beaches here will have you surrounded by pods of Tarpon rolling everywhere. But there will be days that they hit nothing you throw at them, and other days they will appear to be on a feeding frenzy and eat every bait you cast to them. Live baits of choice on the beach are crabs, as well as large threadfins, pinfish, pumpkin seeds, and other baitfish. Another live bait anglers love is mullet. Fly casters also love to sight fish Tarpon on the beach. The challenge of picking out the perfect fly to use and then the stealth of casting that fly is sometimes the trick to hooking up. You need to make sure your first cast is a good one. Try not to cast directly into the school of Tarpon. Cast ahead, and just outside the pod of fish, in the direction the fish tend to be moving. Sometimes you will see the Tarpon roll over on your bait and literally run into the bait and keep going. But there will be a hungry fish that slurps your bait into its large bucket-shaped mouth and you will immediately feel dead weight. For such a huge fish, they take the bait gently at times so you need to be ready at all times for their strike. At this point you need to set the hook. Remember, you’re not setting the hook for a small Bass or Trout, so really set it, making sure the hook penetrates the Tarpon’s hard bony mouth. Usually, when Tarpon finally realizes it is hooked, it will take immediately to the air. Then you quickly learn why a good reel with a good drag system is needed as your hooked Tarpon makes a hard run towards Mexico, and all you can do, at first, is let him and hang on.

Remember to always bow the rod towards the water when your Tarpon takes to the air. This releases the tension in the line, and helps keep your prize gamefish from throwing the hook. As soon as the Tarpon hits the water, come up reeling and get your line tight again. Sight casting to schools of these shimmering beauties is as up-close and personal as you can get with the Tarpon. Not only can you see the fish, some Tarpon will take the bait right before your eyes at the surface. If you have never caught a Tarpon using this sight casting method, you should. It’s time to catch Tarpon fever and once you do, you too will be addicted.