Feeding the tarpon at Robbie’s in Islamorada. Kneel on the dock.
Where do you feed the tarpon?
-
The dock at Robbie’s Marina in the
florida keys
, where visitors gather to feed the tarpon. ( . - Sign at Robbie’s Marina, where you feed the tarpon. ( .
- You can feed the tarpon at Robbie’s Marina by tossing fish to them.
What is the best month to fish tarpon in Florida?
The
best time
to fish for large migratory tarpon in the Florida Keys is when the water temperatures reach and stay above seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. That can be as early as mid-March, but usually equates to late March to as late as early April. May is all safe as well as most of June.
Does feeding tarpon hurt?
What is this? 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.
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.
Can you fish at Robbie’s?
It’s a sight to behold! Maybe the “Silver Kings” just come here to see the humans, but toss a bait fish among them and the water churns as these monsters vie for the snack, causing quite a spectacle. Admission to the dock is $2.50 per person (once per day) Each bucket of fish is $4.50 (5-8 fish per bucket).
What do tarpon fish eat?
Florida tarpon primary feed on sardines, shrimp, crabs, mullet, pinfish, catfish, needlefish , and will also scavenge the bottom for smaller dead fish. Tarpon are also special because they are one of the few fish in the world that have a
swim bladder
.
How big does a tarpon fish get?
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.”.
How do you get a tarpon in Key West?
For your
smaller baits
and crabs usually something around a 5/0 hook. For your bigger baits such as mullet somewhere around a 8/0 up to a 10/0 hook will be needed The majority of captains down here use circle hooks. It hooks nicely in the corner of the fish’s mouth and is easy to get out for a safe release.
What is the best bait to catch tarpon?
The best baits for tarpon are chunks of ladyfish or mullet on the bottom or a live mullet or pin fish during under a popping cork during the first two hours after sunrise The best lures for tarpon are 5 to 8 inch white paddle tails with 1/2 to one ounce jig heads or DOA Big One Terror Eyz.
What is the best time of day to catch tarpon?
What is the best time of day to catch tarpon? The best time of day to catch tarpon, according to many tarpon anglers, is early morning and late afternoon during the spring, summer, and early fall months Tarpon will bite at night but live bait or fresh dead bait is preferred over lures.
Where is the best tarpon fishing in Florida?
Islamorada. 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.
How long is a 100 pound tarpon?
That fish measured 8 feet 2 inches long. Typically, a six-foot tarpon weighs about 100 pounds. A seven-footer goes about 200 pounds and a 300-pounder measures eight feet or more.
Is it legal to keep tarpon in Florida?
Gulf and Atlantic State Waters Keep tarpon, especially the gills, in as much water as is safely possible Daily Bag Limit: Tarpon is a catch-and-release only fishery. One tarpon tag per person per year may be purchased when in pursuit of a Florida state or world record.
Are tarpon scales sharp?
Tarpon are powerful and have
hard rough mouths
, sharp gill plates and abrasive scales They have extremely tough mouths that are hard and boney and it takes special skill to successfully stick the big ones and get a good hook set.
Does tarpon breathe air?
It was mentioned that gills are the major respiratory organ for tarpon, but a tarpon can also breathe air It uses a swim bladder (see image) that has a direct connection from the specialized bladder to its esophagus (throat) so a tarpon can come to the surface and gulp air to fill this swim bladder.
What mile marker is Robbies in Islamorada?
Anyone familiar with Islamorada knows of Robbie’s Marina. Located bayside at Mile Marker 77 , Robbie’s Marina is World Famous for “Feeding the Tarpon” If you have not had the chance to experience this spectacle, we highly recommend giving it a try.
Where can you feed tarpon in Miami?
BAYSIDE MARINA (Miami) If you’re in Downtown Miami, make sure to stop Captain Jimmy’s Tarpon Feeding Experience inside the Bayside Marina. Here, you’ll find lots of hungry Tarpon and a comfortable feeding environment that utilizes a padded wall and pole-mounted bait.
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 the tarpon Capital of the world?
As most know, Boca Grande is known internationally for being the tarpon capital of the world.
Where are the tarpon right now?
Upper Keys: There is a large population of Tarpon around the Channel Bridges, Tom’s Harbor, Seven Mile Bridge, and Long Key Also, look for them on the flats. Jack Bank (near Marathon) and Buchanan Bank (near Islamorada Key) are good places as well.
Are Tarpons aggressive?
Though tarpon usually spook easily and show extreme wariness when around humans, they occasionally, and usually accidentally, injure humans Most injuries occur when anglers try to release tarpon after a fight, whereby tarpon have reportedly killed the angler in its violent thrashing.
Can you catch tarpon by hand?
Most of the time, the tarpon only grasp the baitfish from between your fingers, but it is not uncommon for the tarpon to latch onto a tourist’s hand Tourist pay $1 for admission to the dock, and then they will buy a bucket of baitfish for $3 to feed the many tarpon that frequent at the end of the dock.
How do you catch a tarpon in Florida?
All Tarpon will take dead baits, such as a Mullet head or half Mullet, fished patiently on bottom For trolling or surfcasting with heavier gear, large jigs, spoons and lipped plugs get the call. Generally, casters enjoy the most success with swimming plugs, jerk plugs and surface plugs.
Why do we not eat tarpon?
Are Tarpon Fish Good to Eat? 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 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 saltwater fish to eat?
- Grouper. I know what some of you are thinking: grouper isn’t an inshore species
- Flounder. Flounder is a close second to grouper
- Pompano. Pompano is highly valued by chefs because of its unique flavor and its firm, cream-colored flesh
- Mangrove Snapper
- Sheepshead
- Spotted Seatrout
- Redfish
- Whiting.
Who owns Robbie’s Islamorada?
Son Michael and daughter-in-law Annie officially bought Robbie’s Marina in Islamorada in 1997. The business now has one party boat, one offshore boat and a recently acquired snorkel boat.
What is Islamorada known for?
Known as the Sport Fishing Capital of the World , Islamorada is a popular vacation destination enjoyed for its up-scale small-town atmosphere, scenic bay and ocean views, sunshine, boating, fishing, locally owned restaurants, quaint shops and galleries.
How do you get tarpon in Islamorada?
Preferred locations in Islamorada include the Channel 2 and Channel 5 bridges In the Marathon area, try the Seven-Mile and Bahia Honda bridges. Most anglers use live crabs around bridges and channels early in the morning and in the evening. During the day, the majority fish with live silver mullet.
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.
Do Tarpons eat live shrimp?
Some of the biggest tarpon ever landed were caught on small shrimp. One great thing about the shrimp, is that they are easy to get and everything loves eating them – Easy to keep alive before and after your fishing trip.
Do Tarpons eat catfish?
They make excellent baits for tarpon, cobia and probably more.
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.
Can you swim with tarpon?
Swimming with Tarpon is a popular non-diving activity you can indulge in while exploring the wonders of the sea during a snorkeling adventure. Dive in and maximize your chances of seeing these incredible creatures in their complete glory.
Are Tarpons freshwater or saltwater?
Habitat of the Tarpon They occupy primarily saltwater, but also range into freshwater The Indo-Pacific species in particular lives in freshwater more frequently than the Atlantic species. Some of the different habitats that they live in include bays, coastal regions, open ocean, estuaries, lagoons, and more.
What is the best time to fish the Florida Keys?
While most tourists flock to the Florida Keys in Spring, the best fishing is actually from January through May Good fishing with lesser crowds can be also be found June through October for various species of gamefish.
Will tarpon eat dead bait?
The best bait for tarpon is dead bait like a chunk of ladyfish or mullet You will find that most of the big tarpon that are caught around the world every year are caught with dead bait on the bottom. They would much rather scavenge for a meal than use up valuable energy to chase down their food.
What size hooks for tarpon?
A 5/0 hook is the best size hook for catching tarpon. That hook size is perfect for hooking all of the tarpon’s favorites like finger mullet or large threadfin herring, ladyfish, pin fish, crabs or silver and striped mullet without affecting their swimming abilities too much.
Sources
Robbie’s Tarpon Feeding | Fish Feeding Fails in the Florida Keys