Tarpon are powerful, explosive and acrobatic fighters that have great stamina, making them one of Florida’s most challenging and exciting nearshore sport fish. Tarpon can be caught on flies, streamers, floating and diving lures, jigs, live bait and dead bait. The tackle to be used depends largely on the type of bait used, the location and the size of fish being targeted. While tarpon are not a toothy predator, a long, heavy monofilament leader is very important to protect your line from being cut by the gill plate or tail. Tarpon have poor food value and are almost exclusively a catch and release fishery. If you intend to keep a tarpon, you must purchase a tarpon tag in advance and you may only do so in pursuit of a Florida state record. 

Florida state record is 243 lb, caught near Key West