There are tarpon on the grass flats, passes, mouths of rivers and creeks in the everglades. There are some smaller fish up to 20 pounds in the everglades backcountry bays but mostly in the small creeks. The waters are turning fresh but there is some salt to support fish there. You can have fun with these everglades tarpon on jigs, spoons, live crabs, bait, and crank lures. Some of these fish can be up to 150 pounds. Use light tackle such as a 5000 or 6000 series spin reels with 50 pound braid tied to about 42 inches of 30 pound mono and about 12 inches of 80 pound flouro. Seven foot medium heavy to heavy rods are all you need in tight quarter everglades fishing. These past few days we saw several fish on the flats in the 80 to 100 pound range while fishing for trout. We also fished for everglades tarpon in the creeks and had jumped numerous fish. Most were 50 to 80 pounds ( smaller fish). My anglers caught just a few. These fish have bony mouths and are hard to set a hook in.
I have been an everglades fishing guide for over 20 years and I can say everglades tarpon fishing is just as productive and just as many fish as 20 years ago. Some years there are more and some less but overall just as many fish. Many of our everglades tarpon have migrated north but there are more migrating from the south and some stay all summer long.
It very productive to fish in the everglades in that if you cannot find tarpon you can fish for everglades snook or redfish along some of the same territories you fish for tarpon. These fish don't need live or cut bait. Lures such as a spoon, Rip Tide jig, or, Mirrodines have produced more fish since plug casting allows you to fish more shorelines and when you find them anchor or powerpole down and catch fish. What a deal. Don't forget the trout on the flats.
Call this everglades fishing guide.
Capt. Tony Polizos
