Because we operate out of the Florida Keys/Key West Area we always receive a lot of questions about the best time, place and technique to catch a tarpon.
Tarpon are the ultimate gamefish. They were nicknamed the Silver King and it stuck for several reasons:
They fight super hard
They can be caught from every style boat
They can be caught on every type of tackle
They jump out of the water and often attack your fly, lure or bait in a very visual manner
Tarpon can be caught every day of the year in the Florida Keys, but there are some times that are more interesting to certain anglers than others. Tarpon migrate through the Florida Keys at a certain time of the year but resident fish remain all year round. Here is a schedule of tarpon movement and availability:
January - January may be the worst month of the year to target tarpon. On a typical year, cold fronts have the water temperature low enough that tarpon are simply not found in shallow water very often. Even the small resident fish (5-20 lbs) will move out of their regular spots and stay in deeper water. If it is a warm January, however, the baby tarpon are more plentiful and the biggest fish of the year start to show up at the bridges, harbors and in the backcountry. This is a tough meteorologic condition to plan a vacation around. Locals, guides and the luckiest anglers usually take advantage of these rare and warm January days.
February - Cold fronts continue in February and some years keep the water temperature too low for really good tarpon fishing. On a good (warm) year, February can produce the finest tarpon fishing of the year with big fish all over the backcountry and Everglades. More fish start to show up in the Harbors and bridges and fishing starts to become consistent, weather depending, for the biggest fish of the year. Fish are being caught on bait, lures, fly and chum. Early February is a crap shoot but as the month progresses, the weather and fishing becomes more consistent.
March - As the cold fronts slow down a bit and become less extreme, the water temperatures start to climb between fronts making March an ideal month for tarpon in every situation. Bridges, Harbors, Channels, Backcountry, Everglades and Oceanside all have fish consistently and they are being caught with every method.
April - June - The months of April through June are the migration months for tarpon and the most consistent for the big fish (70-150 lbs) These tarpon are moving on the ocean and there is no doubt that there are more tarpon around than at other times of the year. These are the prime months for the large migratory tarpon that are in such high demand. If you are planning a trip in these months, it is crucial that you book as far ahead as possible. Good guides will be booked a year in advance with return customers.
July - There are still plenty of big fish around, but the smaller tarpon 5-50 lbs become more consistent and available on all types of tackle in a wide variety of situations. Migratory fish have usually thinned out and overall numbers of fish are much lower, however, many fish are still being caught. The number of anglers on the water declines quickly.
August, September and October - With the exception of the lobster season openers, there are probably fewer anglers and guides on the water than any other time of the year. A big fish can be caught every now and then, but early mornings are great for smaller tarpon. There are tarpon in all the spots that they are expected and they are great targets for all types of tackle.
November - Cold fronts return to the Florida Keys. While the temperature moderates, it seems like the tarpon prefer it warm and hot. Tarpon become a little less consistent but still quite available. Nice weather days will produce tarpon for those who look for them.
December - Cold fronts occur regularly and the water temperature is on a decline. Tarpon become harder to find, but it is still possible to catch them.
I hope that helps! Send us a picture of the big fish you catch!
-Tom Rowland
Tarpon are the ultimate gamefish. They are big and athletic, they jump when hooked and make insane drag screaming runs. People from all over the world descend on the Florida Keys to try to catch them. They are called the Silver King and that name stuck for a reason. They are the King of the gamefish found in the Florida Keys for several reasons:
I do have a simple way to tie a Bonefish leader. I wish I had come up with it but I can't take credit. Lefty Kreh made the 50% rule for leaders and I use it all the time...
There are tarpon in the Florida Keys every single day of the year and it is possible to catch one of any size on any day, however, there are certainly better times than others to be here...
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Flyfishing for permit is difficult not because the fish are terribly difficult to catch rather that our flies and techniques do not accurately represent what they want to eat. Permit look at a dead crab the same as they look at a fly. The profile is interesting but not really what they had in mind. Flies need to have action resembling the real crabs and until they do, it is my opinion that they will remain exceptionally difficult to catch on fly.
There are many ways and methods that we can use to catch permit. In order to be successful in catching permit under all conditions anglers need to have mastered many skills with different types of tackle...
The Lower Florida Keys are one of the very best places in the world to catch Permit on the flats. In order for Permit to be plentiful, they need the right...
The Clinch knot is definitely a knot you need to know. I know a lot of knots and still find myself tying a good, old fashioned Clinch Knot in many situations. The real key to making sure you tie it correctly is to inspect it and make sure that the barrels are stacked, not hopping over one another.
To properly cinch down 80 pound mono, you are definitely going to need pliers. I really dont know if I could cinch down an 80 pound 4 turn uni with my bare hands and would probably not get it quite right with gloves on either.
The Bimini Twist one of the more difficult knots, but is commonly over complicated by many anglers. Hopefully this video will help you learn how to tie it...
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Need a simple loop knot for heavy leaders? The Homer Rhode is a great choice for this application.
I also use the Home Rhode as a loop knot for braided, coated wire...
![How To Tie The Bimini Twist [VIDEO]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/547dd399e4b036ff1df2f4b0/1450122545708-D911L7ZKAGN7BBLH45ON/image-asset.png)
Tom Rowland gives step by step instructions for tying the Bimini Twist, which is designed to double the line over so that another knot can be tied with two strands of line rather than with just one.
![How To Tie The Sheet Bend Knot [VIDEO]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/547dd399e4b036ff1df2f4b0/1482254636781-VGFT7BXYJQ6N0LYHZNTO/Screen+Shot+2016-12-20+at+12.23.32+PM.png)
Whether it is towing, or simply needing to tie 2 lines together, the Sheet Bend is an excellentknot to be able to handle significant stress but also be able to untie after the load has been put on the lines.
The Palomar knot is an excellent knot to attach a hook, swivel or lure to the end of the line. Bass fishermen have used this knot for a very long time and saltwater fishermen have also taken note...
![How To Tie The TR Knot for Braid to Fluorocarbon [VIDEO]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/547dd399e4b036ff1df2f4b0/1447344936181-HCZD31CQI6RKGGTPTZ61/image-asset.jpeg)
The TR knot is a hybrid knot that takes the best qualities of the FG/Sebile/Delph knot and combines them with the Uni Knot. I came up with this knot because I really liked the FG/Sebile/Delph knot, but it would not work well with some brands of braid combined with some brands of fluorocarbon. When the FG knot is able to grab, it is the strongest connection, in my opinion, but I experienced some frustration with a few brands and finishes.
The Haywire can be tied to the hook and also at the top of the leader to a swivel if your fishing situation requires it. I often use a swivel when shark fishing with dead bait because it sometimes spins in the current...
However, there is one knot that can take you from Bluegill to Blue Marlin and handle just about every situation easily....
To catch the most tarpon it is important to pay attention to the details. Having a knot that makes the fly swim unnaturally can result in less bites and getting fewer tarpon to the boat. Let's take a look at three of the most commonly used loop knots for tarpon.
I really use about 6 knots to attach braid to either Fluorocarbon or Monofiliment leaders. Here are my favorites:
#1 The J Knot- This is my Go-To knot for most quick leader ties. I have a lot of confidence in this one.
Here are my top 3 braided line to fluorocarbon or monofiliment knots. They are all easily tied and you can learn them in just a couple of minutes.
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