Winter Tarpon 01.06.08

[Supa Fly]

I've heard about the infamous winter time tarpon hole that holds juvnile tarpon this time of year, so I decided to check it out. Everyone says the fish are near impossible to catch, however I did have a friend catch one there last year. Launched the kayak around 7:30 and paddled to the spot. Sure enough, as soon as I rounded the bend to the hole, there were fish rolling everywhere. Upon further inspection, about half the surface commotion was gar slapping the water, but I had several positive ID's on tarpon in the 10 - 20 lb range. I had brought a spinning rod with some DOA shrimp, and some Gulp shrimp, as well as my 6 wt with a sink tip line. The guy I know that caught one last year just jigged a shrimp really slow across the bottom, so I started off with a mangrove critter and the 6 wt. Dredged the bottom for 30 minutes or so with no results, while all the time tarpon were hitting the surface 30 - 40 ft in front of me. Switched over to the spinning rod and tried the Gulp shrimp for another 30 minutes or so. Caught one catfish. Then tried the DOA, thinking that a slower presentation might do the trick - nada. While throwing the DOA, I noticed that this place was slammed full with thousands of mullet (which is probably why these fish are so hard to catch). I pulled the fly rod back out and tried a floating crease fly, and then a Puglisi minnow - still nothing. Tried the DOA one last time before finally giving up after about 3 hours. The fish are definitely hard to catch, but they're also definitely there. I couldn't manage to get a picture of one rolling with the point and shoot, but here's a little video where I caught one in the act.

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[Talltails]

I've made that same pilgrimage to that spot. My experience was similar to your's. I left not a changed man, but a wiser one.

[Chalk]

Nice to know there are some resident ones

[flounderpounder]

Alot of Gar in that hole, there tough to catch on a lure.

[Reel Cowboy]

Cool deal Supa

[Redfin]

good try supa

[Barhopr]

try,try again