Skip to main content

Tarpon Season Etiquette

Boat traffic is inevitable when fishing passes or other channels. Fellow anglers, one hopes, will give you some breathing room.


When the tarpon are migrating through the Keys and up both of Florida's coasts, anglers can't get enough of the hard-fighting, acrobatic, prehistoric fish. The passion anglers have for the species is incredible, but it seems that etiquette is often forgotten when chasing tarpon.

Speaking with three guides who fish almost every day during tarpon season, I picked up a few things anglers can do to make for a better fishing experience for all. Fishing the passes throughout the west coast of Florida is very popular among tarpon fishermen. These deepwater channels that connect the inshore waters to the ocean are a great area for tarpon to congregate, with plenty of forage flushing out from the bays to feed on.

Captain Jay Withers of Silver Lining Charters (captjay.com) has been fishing Boca Grande Pass and surrounding areas for 14 years and has seen his fair share of tarpon action. Drift fishing is the most popular tactic in Boca Grande, covering a lot of water. Once making your drift, and looking to set back up for another, swing wide, going around the group of boats and stage upcurrent of them. Avoid going through the middle of the “pack.”

“A big, traditional Boca Grande boat will drift a lot slower than an 18-foot flats boat,” said Withers. This is something to consider. You want to leave plenty of room when drifting upcurrent of a boat that drifts slower than yours. If not, you will find yourself on their stern, potentially getting in their lines and having a problem that could've been avoided.

Observing how people fish the pass can really help. “Sit and watch for 15 minutes if you're not familiar,” said Withers. This allows you to see how the pack of boats is drifting and how everybody is set up. Running directly into the pack of boats and setting up shop is frowned upon and most of the time won't get you a bite.

These fish don't hang in the passes forever, though, often flushing out and continuing their migration along the coast. Chances are you won't be the only one looking for fish when targeting these pods on the beach. Common courtesy goes a long way.

Captain Jason Stock of JM Snooky Charters (jmsnookykayakcharters.com) suggested a few tips to help catch more fish and not be “that guy,” when beach tarpon fishing. Always give the boat that was on the school first the priority. Don't run in on someone casting and try to line yourself up. Instead, stay off of them and observe what the school of fish is doing. What direction are they heading? Are they stay- ing on the surface? Are they hanging low? Often times doing this, the first boat will hook up, then the school is yours for the taking.

Position yourself where you think they will be heading, cut the motor and wait for your shot. “A lot of times people won't pay attention to what the fish are doing and will cast behind them, and wonder why they didn't hook up,” says Stock. If you come up on a pod getting worked by four boats already, chances are these fish aren't happy and you're better off continuing down the beach looking for a fresh school.

Once hooked up, be sure to put some pressure on the fish, at least for the first few minutes. Doing this will pull the fish out of the school, allowing other anglers an opportunity at hooking up.

Captain Jamie Connell of Flying Fish Charters (flyingfishkw.com) out of Key West fishes for tarpon along the oceanside and backcountry flats a good bit of the year.

Although obvious, when someone is staked out along an edge or flat, give them room. “I like to give at least 100 yards,” says Connell. Running by another boat within close proximity may disrupt the pattern of fish working their way and ultimately ruin their shot. How would you like it if someone did that to you? Albeit there are times when this is unavoidable, such as when fishing an edge or a tight navigation channel. If this is the case, come down off plane and idle by.

Common courtesy on the water can go a long way. We are all out to accomplish the same goal—catch more fish and have fun. FS




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Videos

Hyper-Versatile K-Craft Paddle & Powerskiff!

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Videos

Cover Up With Sun-Protective Clothing

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Videos

Inflation We Can Live With! Mustang Convertible PFD

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Videos

Converting and Re-Arming Mustang Inflatable A/M PFD

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Videos

YakAttack Rod Management Systems Set the Bar for Kayak Anglers

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Videos

YakAttack Kayak Carts Will Get You There

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Videos

YakAttack Tackle Storage Just Got WAY BETTER

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Videos

Take Gear and Tackle Storage to NEW HEIGHTS with Outdoor Crates

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Gear

‘Magnetic Tethered' Kayak Rods

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Gear

Plano Soft Sided Tackle Bags

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Gear

NuCanoe Unlimited U10

Hardy unveils the Averon series of premium-grade freshwater fly reels. Learn about counter-weighting options for Euro-ny...
Gear

What's New in Fly Reels: Hardy

Florida Sportsman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

Preview This Month's Issue

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Florida Sportsman App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Florida Sportsman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Florida Sportsman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Florida Sportsman stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use