Need a bit of advice.Braid or mono for tarpon? i figured mono cause the stretch would be good for when it jumps. Am I wrong? What kind of leader for bottom rig and how long. Last year i hooked a huge one(my first) on a 10 inch live croker but it landed on the line when it jumped and broke it. I had 50 lb mono then and dont remember what type leader. any other tips or advice would be very helpful as well. I never have caught a tarpon but really want to and always have.I was and still am thrilled just to have had one on! Thanks guys!
I’d rather be a free man in my grave than living as a puppet or a slave.
I caught 1 near Edisto and hooked another 2 years ago. Braid or Mono? Everyone has their own opinion. I would say you want a lot of strong line no matter which kind you go with. Also depends on the size Tarpon you hook. They can vastly range in weight. Maybe, 50# main line with a 2 to 3 ft. 80# leader. Good Luck! I’m trying to find a good spot to hook one in charleston now that I live here?
-There are two types of fisherman those who fish for sport and those who fish for fish.
Tarpon are trash eaters soooo… you don’t need to get too sophisticated. 20# line and 80 (or 100 lb) leader, 7 feet long. Your choice; baid or mono. Circle hook and lock the rod down.
I would say 50-80lb. braid would be great. As far as rigs some people use 100lb. mono with a big circle hook. Others use 60lb. flouro with 5-6/0 gamikatsu circle hooks. With the smaller rig you WILL HAVE TO chase the tarpon BUT a heak of a better fight. All in all just try a bunch of different rigs and see what works out but no matter what make sure you have a strong hook!
Light travel’s faster than sound. This is why some people appear smart until you hear them speak.
I’m gonna put 80# mono backing, 80# braid mainline, 50yds of 100# mono topshot high viz yellow, then 8’ of 120# mono leader to a 7/0 hook.[/
Way overkill. 20-30# main line (mono or braid), 100# mono leader, 6-7 feet long, circle hook. Also it’s a good idea to attach your sinker to a fishfinder sleeve with a piece of copper rigging wire; when the tarpon jumps he’ll sling the weight off which will reduce the chances of the tarpon throwing the hook.
As iFly posted, put the rod in the holder & leave it locked down (in gear). Don’t touch the rod until you hear the drag screaming-which will usually happen within seconds of the hit. Also, be sure to “bow to the silver king” when he jumps, to prevent the fish falling on your line & breaking it as happened to you.
Cut or live LARGE mullet or menhaden are the best baits, fished on the bottom. Good idea to also fish one under a float or free-lined.
A couple of other things-tie a buoy to your anchor rope so that you can quickly toss the rope overboard to chase the fish-this is very important.
Also-when the fish runs, let him go. But when he is not pulling out line, keep the pressure on-if you’re resting then he is too & these fish have stamina like you won’t believe. If you’re gaining line, keep pumping & winding.
The whole reason for using heavy leader (#80 or better) is because, of the sharks. A normal tarpon catching ratio for me is 5 sharks to every 1 tarpon. Tarpon and sharks go hand and hand. So, use heavy leader OR bring a BIG spool of lighter leader.
“Tarpon cookie” = large bunker/menhaden soaked overnight in zesty italian dressing in a ziploc. Owner 10/0 circle hook snelled with 80# flourocarbon. Fish it on the bottom and hang on. Thought this was a joke when my guide buddies in the Pamlico sound told me about this. Nope, no BS in this recipe. Go figure… I can’t explain the logic but it flat out works.
PS… just be sure to take the menhaden out of the bag and throw the bag away, and put the hook thru the bait. Just sayin’ LOL…
Wanna kill fish, then let’s go! Always ready, always willing to teach the ways.
The whole reason for using heavy leader (#80 or better) is because, of the sharks. A normal tarpon catching ratio for me is 5 sharks to every 1 tarpon. Tarpon and sharks go hand and hand. So, use heavy leader OR bring a BIG spool of lighter leader.
I absolutely agree. If you aren’t catchin’ sharks you’re not in the right place! Also-using circle hooks greatly reduces cutoffs from sharks because they are usually hooked in the corner of the mouth. One time when I was tarpon fishing in Port Royal Sound I caught a 7-foot tiger shark on 100# mono with a circle hook-out of a 16 foot jon boat.
Needless to say I did not put that one in the boat…[:0]
The whole reason for using heavy leader (#80 or better) is because, of the sharks. A normal tarpon catching ratio for me is 5 sharks to every 1 tarpon. Tarpon and sharks go hand and hand. So, use heavy leader OR bring a BIG spool of lighter leader.
I wish i had that ratio haha we will go out there and catch about 15 sharks and never a tarpon. Only have caught one tarpon ever. Is this the ratio for everybody or am i having some issues?
