Where to find tarpon
The bridges and channels (Channel Two, Channel Five, Long Key, Whale Harbor) on the outgoing tide at night; the oceanside flats and the edges of the channels by day during the migration; the backcountry basins and creek mouths of Florida Bay year-round; Robbie's dock if you only want to look.
- Whale Harbor Channel · Bridges
- Snake Creek · Bridges
- Tavernier Creek · Bridges
- Channel Two · Bridges
- Channel Five · Bridges
- Lignumvitae Key flats · Flats
- Florida Bay backcountry · Backcountry
- Channel Two fishing bridge · Piers & catwalks
- Channel Five fishing bridge · Piers & catwalks
- Long Key Viaduct fishing bridge · Piers & catwalks
- Indian Key Fill shoreline & kayak flats · Shore & parks
- Sea Oats Beach wade flats · Shore & parks
When to go
April to June is peak; the migration starts in March and the bridge fishing runs into August, with resident fish in the backcountry through the autumn. The outgoing tide after dark is the bridge window; dawn and dusk on a moving tide for the flats; the palolo worm hatch on the June full moons is the famous event.
Best window on the day: The outgoing tide on the oceanside after dark. Today's window and score are on the conditions page.
How to catch them
At the bridges, drift live crabs, mullet or pinfish down the shadow line on heavy spinning tackle and circle hooks, or fish a dead mullet on the bottom. On the flats, stake out ahead of a string of rolling fish and cast a live bait, a swimbait or a fly ahead of them. Bow when they jump, keep the fish in the water and never lift a big one.
Bridges & channels
- Bait
- Live blue crabs (silver-dollar size), mullet or pinfish drifted along the shadow line; a dead mullet on the bottom
- Lures
- Large soft swimbaits and bucktail jigs, best around slack tide
- Tackle
- 7 ft heavy spinning rod with an 8000–10000 reel and 50–65 lb braid, or a 30–50 lb conventional
- Rig
- 4–6 ft of 60–80 lb fluorocarbon; 6/0–8/0 in-line circle hook; a small float keeps a crab near the surface
blue crabmulletpinfishsoft swimbaitbucktail jigTackle setup →
Flats & backcountry
- Bait
- Live pinfish, mullet or crabs cast ahead of rolling fish; cut mullet on the bottom in the basins
- Lures
- Tarpon toads and bunny or feather flies; soft-plastic swimbaits and jerkbaits on spin
- Tackle
- 11–12 wt fly rod with a floating or intermediate line; or a 7 ft medium-heavy spinning rod with 30–40 lb braid
- Rig
- Fly: 16–20 lb class tippet with a 60–80 lb bite tippet, 1/0–3/0 hook. Spin: 4 ft of 50–60 lb fluorocarbon, 5/0–7/0 circle hook
Tips for your level
- Hire a guide for the migration; the fish are easy to see and hard to feed without local knowledge.
- When a tarpon jumps, drop the rod tip ("bow to the king") so the line goes slack and the hook holds.
- A tarpon over 40 inches must stay in the water; photos are taken boat-side with the fish supported.
Release them well
Tarpon are catch-and-release only in Florida. Keep the fight short on heavy tackle, revive the fish boat-side with the boat idling into the current, support it under the belly and let it go when it kicks. A fish over 40 inches never leaves the water.
Questions anglers ask
- When is tarpon season in Islamorada?
- The spring migration from March to June is peak, with fish at the bridges into summer and resident fish in the backcountry all year.
- Can I fish for tarpon from the bridges?
- Yes, from the old Channel Two, Channel Five and Long Key spans that are designated fishing bridges. Night outgoing tides are best; bring heavy spinning tackle and live crabs or mullet.
- Can I keep a tarpon?
- No. Tarpon are catch-and-release in Florida; the only exception is a tarpon tag for a record attempt. The rule card has the details.