What size fly rod for tarpon?
A 10-weight is not only a great tarpon rod, but works well for permit, roosterfish, milkfish, and most larger tropical species as well as a host of coldwater gamefish like pike and stripers.
Where is the
best tarpon fishing
?
The Florida Keys remain the most popular tarpon-fishing destination on the planet, and Islamorada is the fishery’s epicenter. Anglers target giant tarpon around the bridges with live bait and conventional tackle.
fly fishermen
stalk the flats and shallow “lakes” sight-fishing for giant fish.
Is tarpon
good eating
?
Tarpon is edible but people rarely eat them because their meat contains a lot of small bones and it’s reported that they don’t taste very good.
Are tarpon hard to catch?
I hope that you were helped by this article about how to catch a tarpon fishing in Florida. They are very hard to catch because their bony mouths are hard to get a hook in They are also very good at spitting the hook with their vicious head shakes. They are the best fish to catch, in my opinion.
What is a 12 wt fly rod good for?
If you’re tarpon fishing somewhere you’ll be making a lot of casts, ie you fish rolling tarpon, or laid up fish, think about going with an 11 weight. If you spend a lot of time waiting with your rod in hand and letting the fish come to you , go with a 12 weight.
What is a 10 weight fly rod good for?
10-weight Fly Rods These are good choices when fishing for extremely heavy Freshwater applications 10-weight fly rods are also used for medium to heavy Saltwater applications such as tarpon, salmon, roosterfish, and permit, where fishermen are casting very heavy or large flies – typically with
extreme wind situations
.
How much backing does a tarpon need?
The more backing the better, but being that you’ll most likely be fighting the fish from a boat in relatively shallow water you don’t need to go crazy with backing. 200 yards of #30 is usually sufficient.
How long does it take to reel in a tarpon?
The average fight with a 100lb tarpon is between 20 minutes and 30 minutes but I’ve seen some fights go as long as an hour. We try to land fish as fast as possible to ensure the fish can be quickly revived (and also that you don’t get worn slap out).
Why can you not eat tarpon?
Tarpon are rarely eaten because their flesh is filled with small, hard to clean bones In the United States, the tarpon usually is caught for sport, and then released. As a bony, strong-smelling saltwater fish, it may be more trouble than pleasure to eat.
What is the best time of year for tarpon fishing?
The best time for fishing is May to June , and that’s when people from throughout the world come and catch Tarpon. The flats that surround Crystal River and Homosassa Bay are packed full of huge Tarpon. Another good place to fish during June and summer is Apalachicola Bay.
What is the tarpon Capital of the world?
As most know, Boca Grande is known internationally for being the tarpon capital of the world.
How far do I need to cast for tarpon?
Now that tarpon season is here it’s time to think about your casting distance with a fly. A lot of “experts” will tell you that you need to be able to make at least an 80 foot cast in order to catch anything on the flats. You’ll occasionally read this in magazines and often hear it from many guides.
What weight fly rod for small tarpon?
Fly rods from 6- to 9-weight are ideal for baby tarpon, just let the size of both the flies and the fish you’ll be targeting dictate the tackle selection.
What is a 8 weight fly rod good for?
These rods can handle all kinds of lines, wind, and flies ranging up to larger patterns like
bass bugs
and saltwater streamers The amount of power in an 8 weight also means it can take on some bigger, stronger species, yet more average-sized specimens remain enjoyable because it’s not too much rod.
What is the most versatile fly rod weight?
Virtually all fly fishing guides agree that a 9′ rod for 5-weight line is the most versatile trout rod in the world. If you’re likely to fish a mix of lakes, creeks and rivers, a 9′ 5-weight is a no brainer first rod. If you have no idea where you are going to fish, buy a 9′ 5-weight.
Is tarpon a good fighting fish?
The hardest fighting fishing pound-for-pound are billfish, tuna, grouper, mahi mahi, and tarpon in saltwater, striped bass, steelhead, and salmon in intercoastal waters, and carp and northern pike in freshwater. Saltwater fish are generally much harder on gear and stronger fighters than freshwater fish.
Do tarpon fish have teeth?
Despite having an enormous mouth, often exaggerated by anglers or others as being the size of a five-gallon bucket, tarpon have extremely small villiform (i.e., fine densely packed) teeth on their jaws , vomer, palatines, pterygoids, tongue, and skull base.
How much does it cost to go tarpon fishing?
Inshore fishing trip prices $436 is the average price for a 4-hour inshore fishing trip and 2 people An extra angler fee is $50. Captains can accommodate 4-6 persons depending on the capacity of the vessel. The most affordable rates start at $200 for a 2-hour inshore fishing trip near Tarpon Springs.
What’s the best bait for tarpon?
Best Live Bait for Tarpon Some of tarpon fishing bait are shrimp, pinfish, mullet and crabs Stake out above areas that hold tarpon and drift your live bait down to the fish. Hook crabs in the corner of the shell and baitfish through the mouth.
Are tarpon bottom feeders?
Most anglers have a bit less familiarity with tarpon as bottom feeders of dead bait In south Florida, it’s not uncommon for tarpon to congregate around charter boat docks from Miami to Key West to regularly feed on dressed-out fish carcasses.
Can tarpon bite you?
It’s relatively safe to feed tarpon by hand because unlike many large fish, Tarpon don’t have sharp teeth. Rather, their mouths are the consistency of sandpaper. Their bite hurts a bit – I got a good scrape from one massive “hit” which bled a little – but it didn’t stop me going back for more. How big are these Tarpon?.
What is the biggest tarpon ever caught?
The all-tackle world record (additionally certified as the 80-pound class record) for a giant tarpon is 286-pounds, 9-ounces caught by Max Domecq in Rubane, Guinea-Bissau, Africa on March 20, 2003.
What is the best tasting fish?
- Cod.
- Sea Bass.
- Halibut.
- Red Snapper.
- Salmon.
- Catfish.
- Swordfish.
How old is a 100 lb tarpon?
An average 100 pound tarpon is about 13 to 16 years old.
What is the hardest fish to catch?
- Sailfish. Sailfish are a gorgeous fish which are typically found in tropical and subtropical waters that are deeper than 9 metres
- Giant Trevally. The Giant Trevally, or GT as it is also called, is one tough fish
- Swordfish
- Yellowfin Tuna
- Atlantic Salmon
- Dorado
- Wahoo
- Barracuda.
How long is a 150 lb tarpon?
Their prize… a 6 foot long, 150 pound tarpon, one of the most fun sport fishes to catch in our area! These prehistoric monsters date back millions of years and they sure can provide a workout for any able-bodied fisherman.
Do heavier weight fly rods cast further?
You can go up or down a fly line weight from what the fly rods specify. Going up a weight in fly line will load the rod more to help you cast further and punch into the wind Going down a fly line loads fly rods a bit less, giving you less energy to control for accuracy and delicate presentations of your flies.
How big of a fish can a 7 wt fly rod handle?
By adding a 7 weight to the quiver, you’ll be able to cover just about everything from large trout, to bass and carp Don’t forget steelhead and a few inshore saltwater species. With most anglers already owning a 5 weight, the 7 weight is a perfect next rod to have.
How big of a fish can a 6 wt fly rod handle?
5) It Can Also Catch a Small-Sized Fish But it is very possible with a 6 weight to cast a size 4 dry and also cast a size 20 dry fly. Casting that tiny dry fly might not be as delicate of a presentation, but if you’ve hiked 2 miles and only have one fly rod to carry, the objective is to be versatile.
How many fly rods do you need?
I suggest two rods , a 5-weight and an 8-weight, both 4-piece, 9-foot graphite rods, can meet 90 percent of likely fishing situations. Fly rods are rated by the weight of the line they cast, the higher the number, the heavier the rod.
What is a 9 wt fly rod good for?
A 9wt fly rod is designed for fast-action performance with powerful swing rates This means you can easily launch big flies over considerable distances in bustling winds and yet remain precise. You could say that a 9 wt fly rod is somewhere in the middle of being a lightweight and heavy duty fly rod.
What is a 7 6 fly rod good for?
A shorter rod between 7′ 6” and 8′ 6” helps maximize short distance performance and fine dry fly presentation These shorter rods are also easier to fish in tight cover or brushy environments. If you’re backpacking or blue lining, a shorter rod packs down to fit nicely in a backpack or travel bag.
Does fly line backing color matter?
Color doesn’t matter If you are floating the line over them, on the surface of the water, things are worse. They now see the depression of the water’s surface as well as shadow and motion. Sure, they can see that a bright orange line is orange and a green line is green but they will find neither acceptable.
Can I use monofilament as fly line backing?
“The fly line is used like backing, it never comes off the reel. The thick monofilament butt section is so stiff and heavy you can cast it It essentially substitutes for fly line but it weighs a lot less. And that’s the key to why this works.”.
What can I use for fly line backing?
The most typically used backing is braided nylon in either 20lb or 30lb test strength For light duty saltwater and most freshwater fly fishing, 20 lb is fine. The heavier gauge 30 lb is generally reserved for tarpon and other larger saltwater fish.
What is the hardest fighting fish in the ocean?
- Blue Marlin.
- Black Marlin.
- Bluefin Tuna.
- Swordfish.
- Yellowfin Tuna.
What is the strongest fish in the ocean?
Josh Jorgensen, the presenter of YouTube’s largest saltwater fishing show, hosted three absolutely massive men off the coast of Florida to catch the world’s strongest fish, the Goliath Grouper Goliath Grouper are the largest member of the bass family in the Atlantic Ocean.
Why do you bow to tarpon?
Tarpon are masters of breaking lines and shaking the hooks free from their mouths. It is their mouths that cause so many problems for tarpon fishermen. It is their bony mouths that necessitate tarpon anglers to bow to them in order to actually catch them with any sort of regularity.
Citations
https://www.tridentflyfishing.com/blog/10-vs-11-vs-12-weight-how-to-choose-a-fly-rod-for-tarpon/
https://redsflyfishing.com/blogs/yakima-river-fishing-report/tarpon-101-how-to-fly-fish-for-tarpon-the-basics