Fly Fishing - Steelhead/Trout guy wants to catch some baby tarpon.

RickW · Location: Syracuse, NY

Hey all,
We're leaving NY in a couple of days for our annual trip to Key Largo. Last year we stayed in a place with a private marina, (going to the same place this year). At night there would be about 4 to 6 tarpon in the 30-40" range swimming around under the lights. I had a 7 wt rod and some clousers and EP hair flies. Each night on my first cast one of them would eat the fly and I would pull it out of his mouth on the hook set. After that it was game over and even though they would stay around they wouldn't eat again. This year I'll also be taking a 9 wt rig and a better selection of flies.
I'm looking for any suggestions to improve my game. I know there must be someone here who can offer some advice.

Thanks,
Rick

RickW · Location: Syracuse, NY

65 looks and no help? Come on guys!!!

markw3 · Location: alaska

I'm probably not the most authoritative source, but since no one else seems to be giving any advice, I'll donate my .02
I have fished tarpon only three times, and the first time I had the same experience you are having... I jumped 5 and that's all I got out of em' before they spit the clouser. What I found out is that you need to exaggerate the strip set (you're strip setting right?)... You need to max out the breaking strength of your leader with the hook set because their mouths are incredible hard. In fact, a couple times I would check my fly and the very point wouldbe bent like I set it into a rock, but it wasn't a rock, it was the roof of a tarpon's mouth! And don't even think about raising your rod to set the hook - the bend in the rod will act as a shock absorber, which you don't want when setting the hook on a Tarpon. Basically, it takes a combination of some luck and skill. You have to give them a serious strip set, but you also have to get lucky and hook them in a penetrable location of their mouth... good luck

RickW · Location: Syracuse, NY

Thanks for thr reply. I did finally figure out the strip set, so I think im on the right track. What you're telling me makes me think I just have to be persistant. This year I have 2 weeks, while last year there were only a few evenings left when I discovered the tarpon.

Thanks!