Well gang, it’s finally happening…. The tarpon are showing up along the beaches in good numbers. I am really happy that they have arrived and that there are plenty of baitfish to hold their attention, so that they don’t blow right through the Space Coast for points northward.

Tarpon can be caught while sight casting to them with live baits or artificial lures. Two of my favorites are the Rapala long cast hard plastic suspending lure and the saltwater assassin Artemis Shad. These look very similar to many of the baitfish that the tarpon likes to eat at this time of year. Most of the tarpon this week have been 70 to 120-pound class fish. This is a good overall average size for anglers to feel the power a tarpon possesses without the tarpon killing them if they aren’t experienced in fighting fish for up to 45-minutes or more.

The tarpon have no quit in them and you as an angler need to be sure that you are in good enough physical shape to be up to answering the questions that a tarpon can ask of you if you decide to pick a fight with one. Here are a few tips that I recommend to anyone who wants to poke that bear…

Do’s and Don’ts

– Do make sure that your grip, arm, and back strength are pretty good.
– Do make sure that you are hydrated and stay that way throughout the battle.
– Don’t drink alcohol the night before your fishing trip unless you want to get your butt kicked by the tarpon.
– Eat a quality breakfast with plenty of protein or fresh fruits and lots of water.
– Yes, this would exclude doughnuts and McDonald’s egg mcmuffins.
– Treat a tarpon trip like you are going to run a half marathon and you should do just fine.

I’m completely booked up for the next three weeks or so but mid July through early August are great times to go chase tarpon. You can book a trip with me right on my website’s reservation page (www.finelinefishingcharters.com) or give me a call (321-636-3728) if you have any additional questions about trying your luck at landing a Silver King this summer. Let’s go catch your next memory!!