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Catching Tarpon From A Paddle Craft |
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For other people, people like me; it is a different anticipation that overshadows our daily lives. It is keeping a vigil on the water temperature, waiting for that magical 75 degrees to become a steady reading of the Gulf’s shoreline waters. Taking the time to visit old haunts before and after work; hoping for a glimpse of silver. We spend hours surfing the Internet, scanning for reports, sightings, or successes. For us summer means tarpon, and tarpon means everything.
But what about the paddle fishermen? We too want to fight the tarpon. Is it a worthwhile proposition for us lowly folks, to invest our time and money (and maybe our sanity) in pursuit of the sabalo (as the South and Central Americans call this glistening acrobatic beast of the inshore waters)?
Where to start can be the most bewildering part of the equation. When I first asked people about catching tarpon from a canoe, I was greeted with many different reactions, from pity and derision to obvious concern for my sanity. I persevered and soon found some encouragement, people were already catching tarpon from paddle crafts, not many people, but it was being done. An article appeared in the Florida Sportsman entitled “The Sarasota Sleigh Ride”. It focused on two guys, who were fishing for tarpon from a tandem kayak off the beaches of Sarasota. They were having some significant successes too. This was all the encouragement I needed to seriously try to tackle a tarpon from my canoe. The first step in preparing yourself for battle with tarpon is having the correct tackle. There is no point in getting a tarpon to take your bait if your tackle will not withstand the fight. Of course different sized tarpon require different tackle. Generally speaking, tarpon up to 40lbs can be hooked and fought on flats tackle. However if you’re attempting to tangle with larger fish, your tackle will need to be a little more specialized.
The reel must have a silky smooth drag system, and be able to withstand those long screaming runs which are such an integral part of tarpon fishing. I use the Shimano Stradic 6000, but there are many suitable alternatives on the market. If you intend on throwing live or dead baits for your tarpon I would recommend investing in a “Baitrunner” style reel. The free-spool feature is invaluable for this type of fishing. however, these reels are not ideal if throwing artificial baits is your preferred technique. They are a lot heavier than a normal spinning reel and make repetitive casting an arduous task. On the other hand a normal spinning reel will suffice for bait fishing. By leaving the bale arm open after casting and holding the line between finger and thumb, you will be able to feel the hit and then give a tarpon enough free line so they can take and turn the bait without feeling any unnatural resistance. Another tip when fishing bait on a normal spinning reel is to wrap a small rubber band around the top of the rod handle. After casting out your bait, slide a loop of line (about 6 inches is fine) under the band, trapping it against the rod handle and leave the bale arm open. The bait shouldn’t be able to pull it free, but when the tarpon hits it will pull the loop of line free from under the band, allowing the line to flow freely from the spool and not spook the fish. Count to 10 and then set the hook! For my tarpon rod I chose a St. Croix, 8’ extra heavy, extra fast action. It has a light enough tip section to be able to throw lures and has enough power to cast a palm sized mullet as far as I need. A rod with plenty of back bone is a must, setting the hook home inside the granite-like maw of a tarpon is no easy task. Indeed it usually takes two or three good strong sharp pulls to implant the hook sure enough to last the battle. For my main line I use 30lb Power Pro, I tie a very long shock leader with a Bimini twist, five feet at least. This will double your line at the business end, helping to prevent crack offs on the cast and providing extra abrasion resistance whilst fighting the fish. Vic Dunaway’s “Bait, Rigs & Tackle” has excellent step by step instructions on tying this knot, accompanied with clear photographs. I tie my leader to my main line using a three turn surgeons knot. A very secure knot for joining two lines of greatly differing diameters. Many other anglers favor monofilament line, preferring the security offered by the lines ability to stretch and give during the fight. As I use mostly artificials, I feel the lack of stretch in the braided line is of greater benefit, giving me much improved bite detection and quicker more powerful hook sets on the strike. Leader material needs to be sturdy enough to last through the protracted battle of a tarpon and yet still fine enough not to deter bites. I use 80lb Fluorocarbon leader it has a lot higher abrasion resistance than mono and is supposedly less visible to the fish. At the business end I tie to either hook or lure using the “Capt. Mel Loop Knot”. This is an extremely easy knot to tie and very strong to boot. You can find a superb illustration on how to this knot at Captain Mel’s website by clicking this link: We have covered the fishing tackle but there other pieces of equipment which are also vitally important when tangling with tarpon from a paddle craft.
When attaching your drift chute to the boat remember that the longer the line you put out the greater the drag created by the chute. Too long a line can cause you problems when you finally manage to bring your adversary boat side. The last thing you want is an angry tarpon tangled in the drift line. I generally tie mine off at about 6 feet. A quick release anchor line is another must have. A large tarpon needs to be followed, or you will quickly empty your spool. If you’re anchored up when you hook your tarpon, you don’t want to be trying to pull in your anchor whilst hanging on to the fish. A crab trap buoy attached to your anchor line will allow you to release your anchor quickly and relocate it after you’ve landed your fish. A short handled gaff is another piece of equipment that is very handy to have with you. Once your tarpon is beat and laying boat side, the gaff will give you a secure grip on your trophy. When you use the gaff be sure to insert the point into the mouth and out through the lower jaw. This keeps the point on the outside and not inside the fish’s mouth where it can cause serious damage to the fish. The gaff also allows you to hold the fish secure while resuscitating him. Two-way radios are another valuable weapon in your arsenal. Keeping in touch with your buddy whilst on the water helps tremendously. Tipping each other off to fish sightings is easier and reduces the need for shouting. Calling for help, for you or with the fish becomes a simple task. It is also nice to be able to converse with your fishing partner while you wait for your shot at glory. If your using a kayak, then a paddle leash is another essential item, it allows you to discard the paddle whilst fighting a fish, without any fear of losing it. The last thing you need is a lost paddle when you’ve been dragged a mile from shore. Although, after the fight you may wish you had a motor on your boat, because paddling is hard to do with extremely tired arms.
First off buy yourself a chart of your local waters; you can use it to mark locations that tarpon frequent. Where do you start to look for these fish, surprisingly the first place to look is not on the water but on the internet. Find a website that has a localized message board and search for posts about tarpon. Mark down on your chart any locations that are mentioned as holding tarpon. Buy the local fishing magazines or ones with local fishing reports, read them thoroughly and mark down any locations mentioned on your chart. Buy Frank Sergeant’s “Secret Spots”, if it covers your area, reading through here you will see tarpon marked on many of the charts. Transfer theses onto your own chart. Now examine your tarpon chart closely, you should quickly see a pattern emerging of tarpon spots. Look for spots that will be conducive to paddle-fishing. Try to locate launches close by, and viewing areas so you can watch for fish. Visit the locations and try to get a feel for the venue, and most importantly be prepared to look and watch carefully. Luckily for us tarpon have a habit of revealing themselves, as they roll on the surface to gulp air you can clearly see them. If they are distant from you, you may only see a flash of silver, glinting in the sunlight. Once you have observed them and are confident there are enough fish present to warrant your attention, its time to try catching them. Tarpon are nobody’s fools, and although there are many accounts of them eating anything you can throw in front of them, this is the extreme and not the norm. Frank Sargeant’s “Tarpon” book is an invaluable resource. Read it and re-read it, you will gain a solid grounding in tarpon behavior, habitat and fishing. I am always referring back to it, picking out tips and hints that may help put a fish on the hook. As for baits, when tossing a Livie, mullet sure seems hard to beat, especially in backwaters .On the beaches crabs can make a tempting offering. For artificials, I favor the “DOA Baitbuster“, the Trolling model, it sinks quicker and has a much more substantial hook than the shallow running model. Big shad bodies on a good strong Jig head are another variation of soft plastic to try, as are the” Storm Wild Eye” paddle-tail shad with the built in weights. Try a medium to slow straight retrieve without any twitching or jigging. Tarpon like to follow the bait and engulf it from below. Too much action may deter them rather than attract them. Another very important thing when fishing for Tarpon is to have extremely SHARP hooks, take a small file to them and hone them to an ultra sharp point, even hooks straight out of the bag. The tarpon’s mouth is impenetrable to a dull hook. Tarpon can be such a frustrating fish, I have had days when large 80lb+ fish are rolling freely all around, but will not look at any bait. Neither live nor could artificial baits tempt them into making a mistake. Another point to bring your attention when chasing tarpon is etiquette. If you arrive at a spot and someone is already set up and working a pod of tarpon or waiting on fish to come to them. Be extremely quiet and give them as much space as possible, whether they are in paddle-craft or power boats. If you want to pass them, then always pass-by well to the rear and in a wide arc. Tarpon can be incredibly spooky fish; the splash of a paddle can be enough to send them down or off the feed. Nothing is more frustrating than having some else’s inconsiderate behavior close down the action for you. The patience that is required cannot be underestimated, I once had a guide make a very prophetic remark to me, concerning the tarpon I was targeting in a river. “Trying to catch those fish on a lure, is like buying a one-way ticket to insanity,” he said.
So be equipped, be patient, be committed, and most importantly be safe, then hopefully you will experience the biggest rush there is in paddle-fishing. But beware too, for success brings its own penance, you may become afflicted with the fever. It will be emblazoned so deep in your brain that you too will long for those long hot summer days. Your attention span will shorten considerably, that is unless you’re thinking about tarpon (which you will be constantly). You’ll think about asking your boss if he can introduce flexi-time so you can try to get a pre-work fix. All of your time will be spent reliving past glories and near misses. Paddling for Poons can be hazardous to your mental health! Good luck to you all; I may see you out there on the water. If you see a big guy being pulled in a green “Bell” canoe laughing wildly in an English accent, chances are it will be me. Do me favor and tow me back to shore. |
Countless
hours of sleep are lost due to this consuming infatuation with
Megalops Atlanticus, the largest member of the Herring family. This
prehistoric visitor to our waters, is a very sought after quarry.
People travel from all over the world in the hopes of encountering the
Silver King. A million dollar tournament is held yearly in honor of
this most spectacular sport fish. Captains and there clients crowd
Boca Grande pass in lavish boats all summer through trying to duel
with these mighty combatants. Indeed some local economies depend upon
the annual migration of the tarpon and its followers to survive.
Damn
straight it’s worthwhile! Without doubt, we have to overcome some
limitations but it is still a very attainable quest. It is not one to
be undertaken lightly though, both for your and the fish’s sakes. I
would strongly recommend only trying it with company, especially until
you have grown comfortable with the experience. With a very large
angry fish leaping wildly into the air and you in a small craft there
is a lot that can go wrong. Wearing your pfd is highly recommended.
So you’ve got all
the tackle you need, you’ve managed to find a fishing partner as
dedicated to the crusade as yourself, now all you need to do is find
the tarpon. A daunting task surely, but probably not near as hard as
you would imagine. 
He was so
right. I fished that spot 5 times without so much as a tap. I took my
best friend