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Tarpon/ Megalops Atlanticus
Hundreds
of thousands of tarpon migrate through the Charlotte Harbor area from mid-April
to mid-July. These giant tarpon range from 80 - 200 pounds. On an average day
during our tarpon fishing charters in Boca Grande, Florida, you can expect to
see thousands of tarpon. These fish will entertain you with an acrobatic display
throughout the day. What a sight that is to see! A
day of fishing in Boca Grande averages 8 to 12 hookups with some days up to
20 hookups.
- Other Names Silver King
- World Record 283 Pounds 4 Ounces
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The Tampa,
Clearwater, Boca Grande areas of Florida are some of the best areas in the
world to catch tarpon. Tarpon are one of the largest gamefish that roam
the shallow flats. The fish (also known as the "silverking") are
one of the most powerful fish, pound for pound, in the world.
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Not only are they powerful,
they make spectacular jumps. On just about every hook-up there will be a
display of acrobatical jumps.There is nothing like it when bright silver
"SILVERKING" weighing anywhere from 100 to 200 pounds clears
the water by six feet.
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We catch these mighty silverkings
in several different areas along the West Coast. The large tarpon show up
in the mouth of Tampa Bay in March. These fish move throughout Tampa Bay
all summer long, leaving sometime in October. On our charters, we catch
these fish several different ways. These techniques include sight fishing
with artificial lures to live bait fishing with threadfins and blue crabs.
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For anglers trying to beat
Florida's hot summer days, our night tarpon fishing charters around local
bridges is a great alternative while fighting your trophy silverking.
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During cooler months, juvenile
tarpon can be caught in local rivers and residential canals. These fish
range from 10 to 40 pounds. When using 8 to 10 pound test tackle these fish
are real tackle busters.
 Ever
since the first one was caught on rod and reel in Florida around 1885,
the tarpon has been one of the most sought after game fish in the world.
For years prior to that catch it was considered impossible to land a tarpon,
many have tried and failed. The 93-pound tarpon caught by H.H. Wood of
New York City made world news in the sporting industry. The race began
then to catch more tarpon and even larger tarpon.
In 1898 Edward Hofe , a noted fishing reel manufacturer, caught a 210
pound tarpon in southwest Florida. He proved that very large tarpon could
indeed be caught. The tarpon fever became an epidemic and it appears that
there is no cure in sight.
Now over 100 years later fisherman still flock to the well known areas
where tarpon congregate on a seasonal basis. Fisherman still want to experience
the unique trill tarpon provide. Tarpon fishing has turned into an obsession
with anglers who plan their whole year's schedule around the tarpon season
and tarpon runs.
It is easy to see why tarpon fishing is so addictive. Tarpon grow very
large and are plentiful. Tarpon take a wide variety of baits, lures and
flies. The fight of a hooked tarpon is one truly awesome experience in
the world of sport fishing.
Tarpon are known for their initial jumps and powerful runs. Even with
modern gear tarpon are strong adversaries and are not easily taken. They
are legendary for their ability to throw hooks because of their bony mouths
make hook setting difficult. Hooking a tarpon is like trying to penetrate
steel. Combine this with violent head thrashing jumps some as high as
10 feet. It becomes very clear why tarpon are able to not only throw hooks
but break lines and leaders. A technique which is a lean toward the tarpon
when it is ready to break surface known as "a bow to the king"
creates a slack in the line to help keep the tarpon from throwing the
hook. In spite of the many challenging traits tarpon have catching a world
class tarpon still remains a highlight of many anglers.
Where to
find Tarpon
Tarpon range in warmer saltwater areas from Virginia to South
America. They have a year round presence the center portion of this range, most
notable in Florida. Tarpon in the upper and lower extremes of their range tend
to migrate to reach preferred water temperatures. This explains why tarpon are
often caught along well-established migration routes. Tarpon are long-lived
species that can grow incredibly large. Many tarpon are over 200 pounds. With
the current all tackle world record standing at 283 pounds, 4 ounces. There
have been a number of fish seen that would easily top the 300 pound mark. The
300 pound tarpon is one of the Holy Grail of salt-water fishing. It is still
sought by a number of fanatical sportsmen.
Small tarpon are found just about anywhere that warm water and brackish estuaries
exist. Small tarpon are occasionally found in land locked lakes such as those
found in south Florida. The fish are limited in size due to the lack of food
available. It is not known how the fish got to those areas.
The Tamiami Trail in south Florida is a good example of prime habitat. The "Trail"
as it is called locally was built in the early part of the century by a crew
that dug a ditch from Miami to what would years later become Marco Island. The
spoil from the ditch was piled next to the dredge to form the roadbed. The ditch
from this project still exists today and is full of small tarpon. This is a
great place for those who like to cast from shore and try their luck at tarpon
fishing. Similarly the numerous creed and bays of the Everglades National Park
have miles of mangrove shorelines and are prime spots to search for your small
tarpon.
As tarpon mature they move out onto open water flats and often congregate in
large schools. Bays inlets and intracoastal waterways in Florida are all areas
that have a good number of schooling fish. These mid-sized fish are numerous
along many coastal bays on the shorelines of the Gulf of Mexico.
GROUND ZERO for tarpon fishing is Boca Grande Pass on the West coast of Florida.
This deep water pass is the primary opening into Charlotte Harbor and lies between
the southern point of Gasparilla Island and the northern shore of Cayo Costa
Island. Large amounts of water flow in and out of this pass and carry with it
huge amount of food for the tarpon that arrive by the thousands. The fish begin
to show up in early April and congregate in the 80-foot deep hole just off the
tip of Gasparilla Island. Tarpon continue showing up in the pass feeding on
the thousands of small crab that flow out to the Gulf from Charlotte Harbor.
With the arrival of the tarpon comes the arrival of the tarpon fishermen eager
to tangle with one of the great silverkings.
Boca Grande has become a very popular place to fish during this time. Each year
seems to get more popular. It is a very exciting place during the tarpon season
due to the number of fish in the pass. Schools containing hundred of tarpon
will roll beside your boat. The atmosphere in the pass is electric when the
bite is on with as many as 20 fish being fought at the same time. Boca Grande
offers the best opportunities for anglers to catch a giant tarpon.
Click on pictures below to
enlarge.
  
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TARPON-Tarpon Fishing Charters-Captain Mike
Manning of Action Fishing Adventrues
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