Looking for the Highly-Prized yet Elusive Tarpon
Being a class of giants, the tarpon is a very hardy game fish species that can survive brackish
waters as well as waters of varying pH. They can thrive where no other fish can because of their
unique swim bladders, giving them the advantage of inhabiting waters that have low
concentrations of dissolved oxygen. Tarpons can grow up to 8 feet long and weigh in at a
staggering 280 pounds, a characteristic that they put into good use whenever they have to fight
a line reeling them in. You can expect them to jump four times several feet high up above water
when hooked. Its unique behavior on and off water makes it a very prized game fish.
As a prized game fish, the tarpon puts up a pretty good fight when hooked and with all that
weight being thrown around like a jumping shrimp fresh off the boat you will be in for the fight
of your life in no time at all. Their sheer size makes perfect shots to be hung on a wall in your
home. All around the world, especially in the US, tournaments are hosted just to reel in the
biggest and baddest tarpon ever.
This is why in order to win the fight against these marine giants you need to be equipped with
the right knowledge on how and where to hook the best tarpon of your life – the one that will
be forever etched in your memory.
The Dos and Don’ts of Finding Tarpons
Tarpons have been through fishing battles countless times. It may have encountered all of the
different baits and lures that have been used giving it the unique advantage of knowing which is
prey and which is bait. They can live several decades continuously learning and exposing the
flaws of human fishing techniques. And they are fast learner, too.
The experiences they have had with humans have already taught them how best to avoid baits
and lure that look like their natural prey. They know how to give one hell of a fight when they
feel the pull of a hook right in their mouths. They even know the acoustic signature of an
outboard motor or even an electric trolling motor so they are easily alerted to the presence of
humans in their area. They know the distinct sound of a scraping push pole working its way
through the debris field of shells buried in the mud. They can sense faint unnatural water
vibrations that can be caused definitely not by aquatic species but invaders. They know these
disturbances or unnaturalness are all a sign of impending danger. No matter how well you cast
your bait, they simply will refuse to eat. Not even a live crab will satiate their appetite into
grabbing a quick bite on the end of the hook.
Take it Nice and Slow
Approaching the areas where tarpons are known to thrive and frequent requires an almost
stealthy approach. You simply do not want to spook the tarpon into scramming away for good.
As tarpons have a distinct outline and can be readily seen as a school threading through the
warm waters, keep a safe distance well beyond the reach of your cast. You need to take a close
look at the general direction of where they are headed as well as their relative speed. Make an
accurate estimate or projection of where they will proceed to next. Slowly and maneuver your
boat to where you anticipate them to go to. Make sure to shut off your outboard motor and
use a push pole to steer your boat into position. Remember, the less noise you make the better
are your chances of reeling that big fat tarpon in the water.
Lead the Tarpon In
When the school of tarpons is already moving within casting range of your boat cast towards
the leading edge of the school. Remember to keep a safe distance between you and the
tarpons and gently entice lead one of them towards you. Your best chance of landing that
prized tarpon is to get one of them interested enough to attempt to break off from the rest of
the group. It is often tricky but with soft hands you can make your bait swim more like a natural
prey.
Let your Bait be as Convincingly Real as Possible
This is the tricky part. You need to glide your bait slowly and carefully so that it mimics the
action and behavior of natural fish prey. The action of your bait must be realistic and convincing
enough for the tarpon to give it a quick bite. You have to understand that any wrong move, a
slight deviation in the normal characteristic pattern of swimming fishes, is enough to snap the
tarpon out of its enchantment with your bait. And, you can kiss your sorry behind goodbye.
Enticing the Tarpon to Take a Bite
While there is no rocket science to making a fish bite on a bait, Bill Bishop of the book ‘High
Rollers’, recommends absolute patience and the ability to stay perfectly still with no sudden
movements that can send off an alarm to the very suspicious tarpon. Bishop made an analogy
of baiting a tarpon to that of playing with a cat in the living room. As cats are naturally curious,
they will tend to explore something that is naturally dangling from the ceiling. If this
‘naturalness’ gets disturbed by any means the cat gets spooked and automatically runs off. In
like manner, enticing your tarpon will require understanding of the behavior of its natural prey.
Looking for Tarpon in the Backcountry
Capt Bob Lemay has a few tips for individuals who may want to look for tarpons in the
Everglades. Tarpons come to the Everglades to find respite in the many calm lagoons that dot
the area as well as feed on the bountiful mullets and crabs that thrive.
Tarpons love to stay in areas where there are long corridors made of sandy bottoms and
blanketed with eel-grass flats. These corridors are highways for the tarpons and other
big fishes to move along. They are also specifically fond of the natural protection
afforded by neighboring islands as well as oyster bars or protruding sands.
Tarpons love to stay in areas where there is no current yet close enough to one in order
to grab a quick bite. Your best bet will be on river bends, a river fork, or a small creek
that joins a larger river. Position your boat about 100 or 200 yards away from these
areas.
Look for subtle signs of fish such as slime trails or a rolling fish. Slime trails occur when
the tarpon surfaces for a gulp of air. It is usually a sign that the tarpon is in that location
just a few seconds ago. Rolling fish will give you an idea of the general direction of
where the tarpon is going as well as the speed at which it is travelling, often based on
the bubbles that burst in the surface. Casting upstream and letting it drift towards you
might as well land right in the tarpon’s mouth.
Once you have established the presence of tarpons on a particular section of the Glades,
move in ever so carefully and stealthily if at all possible, and then work your wonders.
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