It’s officially tarpon season in the Florida Keys. Overall, it’s been a productive month for tarpon, bonefish and permit. Warm water temperatures have led to tarpon migration all over Florida Bay, as they stack up in the channels and begin to venture out onto the flats.
Bonefishing has been best during rising tides. We’re seeing fish moving in the shallowest water possible. We’re getting a lot of shots and catching fish moving solo and in pairs. Solo fish can be much harder to fool but are often larger fish.
Permit seem to be all over the place and eating a lot in preparation for a spawning event. If you’ve been tarpon fishing you have most likely seen them swimming together. It’s been a windy month, so those with a proficient double haul fly cast are getting tight. When it comes to tarpon, especially adults, the wind is your friend. Especially those breezier days using 12-weight fly rods, taking water over the bow and pulling on dinosaurs. Let’s go, March.
FISH FACT
Due to its majestic appearance of size and color, the tarpon is nicknamed “silver king.”
FISH TIP
If targeting large tarpon, use 10- to 12-weight class rods and line with a break section of 15- to 25-pound test in the leader. Use a break section in your leader in case sharks show up. The break section is a portion of your leader that is weaker than the rest of your leader and the core of the fly line.
