The last time I went Tarpon fishing was 25 years ago and my friends older brother decided to teach his younger brother a “Life lesson” while we were fishing in Boca Raton Florida,he whooped his ass while we were fishing.In the boat. Haven’t tried it but once since and know nothing about targeting in the surf its my understanding that its rare.Not looking for anyones spots but generally what conditions do you look for in the surf and what bait,tackle,line do folks use. Any advice appreciated.
Haven’t ever heard much about Tarpon in the surf around here so either its a very small niche or to taboo to talk about.
Thanks for the reply, I figured the board wasnt going to blow up due to the reasons you stated. Its been mighty quit lately and I thought Id try to learn something as it has been slow. I do have one buddy who I red fish with who landed a huge one a few years back that took two people to hold for a photo. It was incredible, he landed it fishing for bulls I believe. I also figured the odds of me landing one ,one day are about 0, but Im sure he wasnt expecting to get that one either. I was thinking you basically used a heavy duty bull red set up with an ton of line and a shi-load of luck and then you had to be in the right place at the right time, wishful thinking I suppose.
Hooked 1 or 2 a year fishing off Folly Pier while red fishing.
Yeah I’m gonna kite and balloon fish the light house inlet end of folly for what ever will bite large live baits. I’ve heard stories and seen boats fishing the area around jetties and folly light house inlet. If people catch them at dynamite hole and the jetties it seems reasonable to think they would be around some of the big bars, drop offs and rips in the inlet.
good luck
I always throw the heavy rod in the boat when I take wife to Morris to shell. Typically soak some bait with expectation for a shark to pass the time. However, there is the slight glimmer of hope that I’ll hit one of those right place, right time scenarios for a tarpon.
We were on Tybee during the mullet run two years ago and they were rolling 30 yards off the beach. The folks around us thought they were dolphins. If a baited mullet was in the right spot that day, the beach would have been really exciting. Obviously, right spot/right time kind of thing.
BG
Im heading out sat to see whats hitting and Ive caught wind that people were fishing for them not to far from where I surf fish. I know my spot holds reds and decent sharks and was wondering if it was even worth while trying with all the sharks out seeing how the sharks would bite through the mono. It seems every time I put out a mono liter trying to pick up a summer red I always hook a shark , never fails, then I loose the shark, at that point I kick myself in the a** and say what the hell were you thinking you know better, but I keep doing it anyway hoping to land a nice red. It is possible to land a big bull red in august isnt it?
Do tarpon hit wire liters or only mono:question:
I would think you should have an opportunity in the Lighthouse inlet. We caught one off of Morris island fishing from the beach 30+ years ago. I still remember it like it was yesterday. Spent many years out there fishing and that is the only one we ever caught or hooked. I saw some come by in the surf about 2 years ago, but could not reach them with my cast. This was in during a heavy mullet run they were knocking them out of the water crashing them. We went last night and caught plenty of sharks, but no luck on the silver king.
Not trying to bump my post but needed to say thank you for the advice gentleman.