Keys baby tarpon DIY???

[johnmauser]

I'll be in the keys for a week in mid April. I know everyone who goes down there wants to chase bones on one of the roadside flats...but I'd really like to try for baby tarpon. What's the chance of catching small tarpon from the shore or wade spots. My plan would be to fish the mangrove areas, cuts, channels or any combo of these. How common are the baby tarpon in the upper and middle keys around the mangroves in April? Just wondering if this is a worthwhile endevor? To those of you who chase baby tarpon, what are your fav flies. Baitfish patterns, shrimp patterns, downsized tarpon patterns like toads?
Also if anyone has any recommended locations that I could try for some, I would greatly appreciate it. We're not sure where we'll be staying but it will be somewhere between islamorada and Bahia Honda.
Thanks
John

[Duke of Fluke]

a good fly for that is a yozuri :eek:

[Onshore]

If your hoofing it, you might want to check out: www.boatlessfishing.com (http://www.boatlessfishing.com) - especially the county reports for Miami-Date County.

[lemaymiami]

There's a great fishery down in the Keys for the baby (and not such babies) tarpon but it's a night time thing. There will be lots of tarpon in the shadows under every bridge down there that time of year. It is tough, trying them on foot, but it can be lots of fun. I'd look first at the smaller bridges in the shadows on the up-current side, particularly at the end of the bridge where you might be able to reach them from shore.... Anything that is the same size as a shrimp and moves like a shrimp is likely to get clobbered as it moves from light into dark. You'll probably break off nearly everything you hook but it will be fun.... You also might want to check out any dock that has a light at night if you can get access to it. A great example of what I'm talking about is the outside dining area at the Islamorada Fish Co.... You can watch the fish working the light as you have dinner. The fish will behave similarly at most docklights if there's a bit of current and a few shrimp or baitfish attracted by the light.

There's some great night fishing up my way, but it's strictly a boat affair. Good luck.

[johnmauser]

There's a great fishery down in the Keys for the baby (and not such babies) tarpon but it's a night time thing. There will be lots of tarpon in the shadows under every bridge down there that time of year. It is tough, trying them on foot, but it can be lots of fun. I'd look first at the smaller bridges in the shadows on the up-current side, particularly at the end of the bridge where you might be able to reach them from shore.... Anything that is the same size as a shrimp and moves like a shrimp is likely to get clobbered as it moves from light into dark. You'll probably break off nearly everything you hook but it will be fun.... You also might want to check out any dock that has a light at night if you can get access to it. A great example of what I'm talking about is the outside dining area at the Islamorada Fish Co.... You can watch the fish working the light as you have dinner. The fish will behave similarly at most docklights if there's a bit of current and a few shrimp or baitfish attracted by the light.

There's some great night fishing up my way, but it's strictly a boat affair. Good luck.


lemaymiami,
Thanks! That's very helpful info. Do the tarpon pick up better on dark colored flies at night?

[lemaymiami]

All I ever use is a medium small white tarpon fly that we call the Night Fly. It's been sticking fish now for years and years. I've had friends who've caught them on any color fishing with me but I like all white since it makes your job easier. You've got to see where the fly is in relation to the fish to be effective. Your fly should cross the shadow line within two or three feet of a cruising fish then cross in front of him with the current so that it looks just like a shrimp trying to hurry by a problem. Tarpon of any size will rarely turn around or go out of their way to eat shrimp, they're trying to feed with as little wasted motion as possible (at least that's what it always looks like to me as an observer...)

Here are two patterns that I use most of the time, the Night Fly on a 1/0 extra strong very sharp hook and a Crystal Schminnow on a #2 hook... The Crystal Schminnow is used when fish are on glass minnows and I'll tie it as small as needed to 'match the hatch' -- I've even gone down to a #8 (really small) when needed.

[johnmauser]

lemaymiami,
a big thank you!

[sa1280]

I am new to this game, but have gottena few tarpon down here, but what do you prefer for retrieving the fly for these tarpon? White is the standard color? (my first one was caught on a black bunny fly, but I've since been using white and have hooked a few more) Any other pointers? Thanks.

[lemaymiami]

The night fish will eat flies of any color, I choose white since it's helpful to be able to see exactly where your fly is in relation to the fish... As far as stripping the fly at night watch to see how shrimp actually move as they come into view, that's what you're trying to imitate. Remember, as well, that when you're fishing upcurrent the way you have to that the fly must be moving slightly faster than the current or it just drifts through like a piece of debris. My anglers usually have a tough time with this aspect. Any delay in starting stripping with the current quickly has your fly just drifting and not looking like a shrimp trying to pass through a dangerous area...