Tarpon migrations to southwest Florida reach a pinnacle in May that lead to mindful addictions that can last a lifetime – Specifically Tarpon Fever. The silver king is aptly named because few fish have the fighting power and stamina that a tarpon does. Add to that searing runs with reel drags that can get smoked and acrobatic leaps that will stay with you forever! Luckily for us, Charlotte Harbor and Boca Grande Pass are part of a seasonal migration that brings thousands of fish our way. You can fish them in shallow water with a fly rod, mid depth with live bait or in deep water such as Boca Grande Pass.
Recently a good friend of mine visited with me for several days of tarpon fishing. Brian has had tarpon fever now for about 3 years. It started first on a visit where the focus was redfish and snook. After a day of fishing we finished up with drifting a whole ladyfish in the harbor and as luck would have it a huge tarpon slurped the offering and jumped skyward with a sunset background. This image was burned in Brian’s head as he headed back to Baltimore and subsequent fishing trips to the area were met with at least one brief encounter but no landed tarpon. On this adventure, our first afternoon on the water was immediately after a cold front and both tarpon and threadfins were pretty much non-existent. Only days before the harbor was lite up with bait with plenty of tarpon around. On day two, I figured the only sure place tarpon would be passing through would be at Boca Grande Pass. Fishing in 40-60 feet of water is not typically what one thinks of tarpon territory buy in late April, May and June there will be plenty of fish around in the pass.
The day started with bait catching duties which proved difficult. Threadfins were scarce but we managed a handful and bought a dozen small crabs to guarantee success. Arriving at the pass, tarpon were rolling, dipping and jumping. An incredible sight for a man that has tarpon fever! I myself have suffered from the affliction for over 20 years and in short order my heart was literally pounding. Tarpon rolling around the boat and lines cast out, it seemed that a hook up was guaranteed. Four hours later without a hook up proved that hundreds of tarpon around the boat does not guarantee a bite. With a comfortable 30 boats fishing a ½ mile stretch of the pass and occasional fish was hooked and lost, with a few smaller 75 pound fish coming to boat side.
Persistence, repetitive casting and constant maneuvers of the boat eventually led to a big tarpon inhaling the small blue crab that hung on Brian’s line. The huge fish began ripping line off the reel as we navigated around boats working our way outside the boating traffic. Without the first jump we wondered if this was a monster tarpon or shark but the crab was eaten at the surface so a big tarpon seemed likely. Twenty minutes of battle and the fighting belt was strapped on. Still not a jump which this fish is so famous for kept the mystery intact. A slight tightening of the drag on my part forced more pressure on the fish and a 150 pound silver king came into the air! The rod was buckling like a cow rustler’s lariat, line singing and boats peeling away to create a path for this monster to run through. With a feeling of exuberance, both of us suddenly felt like this fish could be landed until the line went limp. Our hearts sank as the line was reeled in only to find the hook broke in half. An expensive high tech hook could not hold up to this fish!
Two days of tarpon fishing and still a celebratory scale (a fish scale removed from the fish for a keepsake) was not to be had. Such things will perpetuate tarpon fever perhaps more than catching tarpon with regularity but the end result will be the same either way.Fishing Boca Grande Pass on this day was a pleasure. Every fisherman, male and female had a common cause. To hook and land a fish, work together with other fisherman to help make the dream come true for each other and release the king to fight again. Every type of boat, fishing rod, lure and bait was seen. Enjoying the occasional yell of someone hooked up or the shrill of ” high 5’s” after leadering a fish created a party like atmosphere.
The key to tarpon fishing is remembering you are always on tarpon time. Tarpon bite when they want to with no rhyme or reason. You can fish for 8 hours and head for home just as they begin to bite and just as easily you can have one on your first cast and then blank the rest of the day. If you do everything right, cast perfectly to the tarpon, set the hook with swiftness and power you may just have a chance. Likely about 1 in 5 which is sure to give you tarpon fever.
