Fishing for Tarpon in the Florida Keys and Everglades

Tarpon are considered by many anglers to be the ultimate fly rod target. It is as if they were made for fly anglers. Tarpon from juveniles or "babies" of 6 to 15 pounds and mature fish on up to 150 pounds can be found throughout our region. Tarpon are found just about everywhere in our area as they have the ability to tolerate just about any kind of water condition.

This includes land locked tarpon in golf course ponds, lakes, drainage ditches and rock pits to the large migratory tarpon found in tidal rivers, bays and the Atlantic and Gulf waters of the Keys and Everglades. They also range from Virginia to Brazil, along the coast of Africa in the eastern Atlantic, and in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean sea. Tarpon are able to gulp air, which allow them to travel in and through oxygen depleted areas, namely brackish and estuarine waters.

Small Tarpon

The juvenile tarpon is also considered by many anglers a favorite sport fish. Tarpon under twenty pounds are usually considered babies, but are thought of in many cases as more enjoyable to catch than the big boys.