World-Class Everglades Fishing: 6-Hour Adventure

Crevalle Jack

Crevalle jacks are the bulldogs of the flats, usually 2-3 feet long and 10-20 pounds of pure muscle. You'll spot them cruising in schools near the surface, often in channels or along beach edges. These guys are here year-round but really fire up when bait schools are thick in summer and fall. Jacks are all about the fight - they hit hard and run like freight trains. Pound-for-pound, they're some of the strongest fish you'll tangle with inshore. To hook up, watch for birds diving or bait getting nervous. Then fire a topwater plug or bucktail jig into the fray. Once hooked, hang on tight and be ready to chase 'em down. These fish will test your gear and your stamina.

Great Barracuda

Great barracuda are the torpedoes of our waters, typically 3-4 feet long and 10-30 pounds of pure muscle and teeth. You'll find them around reefs, wrecks, and channel edges, often hovering motionless near the surface. They're here year-round but seem most active in warmer months. Anglers target 'cuda for their savage strikes and acrobatic fights. They'll skyrocket on topwater lures and make blistering runs. To hook one, try trolling a flashy spoon or tube lure around structure. Here's a local trick: when you see one following your bait, speed up your retrieve – that often triggers the strike. Just be careful handling these toothy critters at the boat. And while they're not prized eating, they sure are fun to catch and release.

Grey Snapper

Grey snapper, or mangrove snapper, are crafty little fighters usually running 12-20 inches and 1-3 pounds. You'll find them around any structure - reefs, wrecks, docks, you name it. They're here year-round but really stack up on nearshore reefs in summer. Anglers love targeting these guys for their non-stop action and excellent eating. They may be small, but they'll give you a good tussle on light tackle. To catch 'em, use small live baits or shrimp on a light fluorocarbon leader. Here's a tip: when you find a good spot, anchor up and chum. Once you get them fired up, it can be non-stop action. Just watch out for their teeth when unhooking!

Red Grouper

Red grouper are the bulldogs of the reef, typically 18-24 inches and 5-15 pounds inshore. You'll find them holding tight to structure in 30-200 feet of water. They're here year-round, but cooler months often see them move shallower. Anglers love grouper for their hard-pulling fights and top-notch table fare. Once hooked, they'll try to dive back into their rocky lairs. To land one, drop a live pinfish or squid near the bottom around reefs or ledges. Here's a local trick: when you feel the bite, reel fast and pull hard to get them away from structure. If you let them run, you'll often lose the battle. And trust me, you don't want to lose these tasty creatures.

Redfish

Redfish are a prized catch in the Everglades, typically running 20-30 inches and 5-15 pounds. You'll find them in shallow flats, around mangroves, and near oyster bars. These copper-colored bruisers love structure and often give themselves away by "tailing" in skinny water. Fall and spring are prime seasons, but you can catch them year-round. Anglers love redfish for their hard-fighting nature and excellent table fare. When hooked, they'll make strong runs and even pull drag in shallow water. To land one, try sight-casting with a gold spoon or live shrimp on a circle hook. My go-to trick is to look for their tell-tale V-wake in calm water, then make a quiet cast ahead of their path.

Sea Trout

Spotted seatrout, or "specks," are a staple of our inshore waters. They usually run 15-20 inches and 1-3 pounds, though gator trout over 5 pounds aren't uncommon. You'll find them over grass flats, around oyster bars, and in deeper holes. They're here year-round, but fall and spring see the best action. Anglers love specks for their willingness to hit lures and their delicate flavor. They're not hard fighters, but they make up for it in numbers. To catch 'em, try drifting grass flats with a popping cork and live shrimp. Here's a tip: focus on potholes in the grass – trout love to ambush bait from these sandy patches. And don't be afraid to experiment with lure colors; some days they can be picky.

Snook

Snook are the rockstars of our backwaters, usually running 24-34 inches and 5-15 pounds. You'll find them lurking around mangroves, docks, and bridge pilings, especially where there's good current. Spring and fall are prime, but summer nights can be magic too. Anglers love snook for their acrobatics and crafty fights. They'll smash topwaters, then dive for cover to try and break you off. Their white meat is also top-notch table fare when in season. To land one, try working a soft plastic jerk bait or live pilchard along mangrove shorelines. Here's a local tip: focus on points and creek mouths on outgoing tides. That's when snook set up to ambush bait getting flushed out of the backcountry.

Spanish Mackerel

Spanish mackerel are the speedsters of our nearshore waters, usually 2-3 pounds and 20-28 inches long. You'll find them in open water, often skyrocketing on bait schools. They show up in spring and fall, following bait migrations. Anglers love Spanish macks for their blistering runs and tasty fillets. They hit fast and fight hard, often jumping and tail-walking across the surface. To catch 'em, try trolling small spoons or jigs behind planers. Here's a tip: when you see birds diving, run over and cast small, flashy lures into the fray. Work them fast – these fish love the chase. Just watch out for their razor-sharp teeth when unhooking. And if you're keeping some for dinner, get them on ice quick to preserve that delicate flavor.

Tarpon

Tarpon (Megalops Atlanticus)

A giant 6-foot Tarpon jumping several feet out of the water is a sight few anglers will ever forget! This bucket list game fish migrates between the Florida Keys, Costa Rica and the Florida Panhandle. The Florida Keys is widely thought of as the tarpon fishing capital of the world.

Florida Bay is a prime location, particularly in the deeper moats around some of the smaller keys and the channels that cut through the mud and grass flats. Tarpon frequent the Atlantic and Gulf "strips," the edges of flats around Islamorada, Marathon, and Key West. The same can be said for Key West Harbor.

Tarpons are classified into two species: M. atlanticus (Atlantic Ocean tarpon) and M. atlanticus cyprinoides (Indo-Pacific tarpon). Atlantic Tarpon can be found along the western Atlantic coast from Virginia to Brazil, as well as in the Caribbean and along the Gulf of Mexico coast.

Tarpon Description and Typical Size

Tarpon have thin bodies covered with large flat scales. One of its more recognizable characteristics is its large lower jaw and mouth points upward. They are shimmery silver with blue-grey or greenish backs and dark fins and tails. The scales on top of the Tarpon body are darker than that underneath. This color makes it difficult for predators to see the fish when viewed from above or below. The tail has a deep fork, and the dorsal fin is elongated and thin.

Adult Tarpon can grow up to about 8 feet long and weigh up to 280 pounds, but the more common size is 4 feet and 80 - 100 pounds. Their lifespan can be up to 50 years or more.

Interesting Facts

• Tarpon are known for their acrobatics and can jump 10 feet out of the water and swim up to 35 mph.
• They are close relatives of Skipjack and Ladyfish.
• Although edible, people rarely eat them because of their small, hard-to-clean bones.
• Tarpon has been around for a long time - 125 million years kind of time!
• Tarpon are capable of filling themselves with air. This gives it a predatory advantage when oxygen levels in the water are low.

Diet

Tarpon are strictly carnivorous; they hunt mid-water bait fish, both small fish and larger fish they swallow whole.

Spawning

Tarpon spawn offshore in warm, secluded areas, usually in late spring to late summer and with a full moon or new moon cycle.

The sperm and egg are all released into the water in a process referred to as broadcast spawning. The female tarpons will release up to 12 million eggs at a time. Once the eggs are fertilized, they float on top of the water. The eggs look like transparent ribbons, which make it difficult for predators to notice. The eggs will absorb the nutrients in the water through the skin.

After hatching, they enter the juvenile stage, remaining in the shallow water until they have developed into an adult.

Where to Find Tarpon Fish?

Tarpon live in a variety of habitats. They mainly occupy saltwater but also range in the brackish water of rivers like Crystal River. They are primarily found in shallow coastal waters and estuaries, but not unusual if they appear in the open ocean close to coral reefs.

Tarpon can gulp air at the surface when they are in an environment that doesn't provide enough oxygen.

You will find them as far north as New England and occasionally in Nova Scotia, Canada in the summer months. Being migratory fish, you will find them in Southern Florida or Central America in the winter months. Their largest concentration is in South Florida and the Gulf of Mexico.

Some of the best places to find Tarpon include the Florida Keys, especially Islamorada, Marathon, Key West and the Everglades National Park. Miami is another great spot, especially Key Biscayne, Biscayne Bay, and Biscayne National Park. There are a number of other great places such as Boca Grande near Fort Myers and North thru Tampa Bay to Tarpon Springs and Crystal River. Don't forget Florida's Atlantic Ocean side with St. Augustine, Florida, St. Simons Island in Georgia, and San Juan Puerto Rico.

A Few Related Tarpon Fishing Articles:

Learn the Best Tarpon Fishing Spots 

Florida Tarpon Fishing 

Fishing Techniques - How to Catch Tarpon

Although Tarpon can reach up to 280 pounds, heavy tackle is not required. A 5000 to 7000-size spinning reel paired with a medium-weight rod is a high multi-purpose tackle for Tarpon fishing that will be sufficient. The reel should be corrosive-resistant and have a smooth and robust drag to tame the fish quickly. When fishing tarpon, shrimp, pinfish, mullet, and crabs are the best live bait. Stake out above tarpon-holding areas and drift your live bait down to the fish. Hook crabs in the shell's corner and baitfish through the mouth.

Fly fishing the shallow flats is exciting. Watching a school of the larger fish turn towards the boat, knowing you are one perfect cast from landing a giant tarpon, is exhilarating. An angler armed with a 10wt rod and a perfect cast leads the school of fish, stripping like mad to lure the large Tarpon. A few flies to try while fly fishing includes the Black Death, Purple People Eater, White Lightning, Tarpon Shrimp, Coker Smoker, and the Tarpon Toad.

Their athleticism is one of the most fantastic attractions of Tarpon fishing. When the fish is hooked, it will use its muscular build and incredible speed to jump out of the water. Be careful; often, these jumps help the fish remove the hook.

There is nothing like a successful and enjoyable tarpon fishing trip on a fishing charter. Fishing charters are the best way to ensure that you have a successful and enjoyable tarpon fishing trip. You'll have the chance to explore some of the most beautiful locations in the world not only because you will be able to access the best equipment and professional guidance, but also because you will have the latest fishing report, tarpon migration, and a guide to understand where the large fish are roaming.

Can you Eat Tarpon?

While Tarpon fish are thrilling to reel in, many people wonder if tarpon is good to eat. The short answer is that while you technically can eat tarpon, it's not recommended for several reasons. 
Firstly, tarpon has high levels of mercury, which can be harmful in large quantities. Secondly, their flesh tends to be tough and full of bones, making it challenging to prepare and enjoy as a meal. Additionally, most anglers practice catch-and-release with tarpon as they are highly sought after for sport rather than food. While it may be possible to eat tarpon fish if you choose to do so, it's not recommended due to the high levels of mercury present in their flesh and the difficulty in preparing them for consumption.

If you do want to test the waters and try eating tarpon, you will find a white, flaky texture with a mild taste and oily flavor. It is advised to only consume tarpon caught in clean waters to avoid any potential health risks. When preparing tarpon for consumption, it is best to bake or grill it and avoid consuming it raw. Ultimately, whether or not to eat tarpon is a personal choice, but those who choose to do so should ensure that it is properly cooked and comes from a safe source.

Tarpon History

A review of Tarpon history reveals that these prehistoric fish that have been around for over 100 million years have received much attention from scientists in Florida, especially over the last several years. To determine the survival rate after a long battle, researchers at the Florida Marine Research Institute track and release individual tarpon to determine how well they survive the battle.

There have been a few rare cases in which tarpon has been found in northern locations like Nova Scotia, Canada. Female tarpons can grow to over 300 pounds and can reach almost 8 feet in length. A female tarpon can live for over fifty years, and a smaller male can live for up to thirty years. In an aquarium, the oldest tarpon in captivity died at 63 years of age after living for over fifty years.

Tarpons are extremely slow growers. Juvenile tarpon does not reach sexual maturity until seven, and they can reach sexual maturity as late as thirteen years old. Most tarpon fishing is done right close to shore; the tarpon spawns offshore when the tides are at the highest on major moons when they are at their strongest. Tarpon spawns during the month of April through July. The significant moons are when other fish move into shallow waters while others are moving out to spawn.

For all these reasons, it is very easy to see why it is so important to release each and every tarpon as carefully as possible. For example, a 100-pound tarpon is between 13 and 16 years old. One female tarpon can lay as many as 12 million eggs.

About the Tarpon Population

Tarpons are one of the most sought-after fish in the world, and their population is dwindling.

Tarpons are a threatened species and are considered an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They're also popular game fish for sport fishing and commercial purposes.