Here is a 75lb tarpon that ate a live goggle eye slow trolled in the intracoastal near Boca Raton, FL!
Boca Raton is most well known for it’s luxurious resort and it’s reputation as the snootiest area in Florida, but for inshore anglers, the tarpon fishing is spectacular for most of the cooler months. The peak of the Winter tarpon fishing season in Boca Raton is in the late Winter to early Spring, particularly during Southerly winds and full moon periods that initiate decent shrimp runs. These Winter tarpon in Boca average 15-40 lbs, but there are plenty of 100+ lb fish mixed in with them, so heavy braid is needed to help stop these tarpon from breaking off around one of the areas many dock pilings.
We focus our tarpon fishing charters this time of year around the tides, with ougoing being the most ideal. This is not to say that these fish won’t be feeding on the incoming, but the dirtier water during the outgoing tends to trigger a stronger bite among these ‘poons. Night fishing is by far the best time to go tarpon fishing in Boca Raton, mainly due to the lack of boat traffic and the tarpon’s nocturnal feeding habits. These Winter time tarpon follow the shrimp run, so naturally the best bait to fool these silver kings is live shrimp. Jumbo shrimp make up the best bait while drifting these waters, mainly due to the fact that larger hooks are needed for the tarpon so the shrimp must be proportionate to the hook that is used. Live pinfish, goggle eyes, crabs, and sand perch also work while tarpon fishing Boca Raton, and these are also the most readily available species.
Here is the same 75 pound tarpon that wrapped us around a piling...We had to motor up to the piling to untangle it and we landed the fish!
On our Tarpon fishing charters at Delray Beach Fishing Charters, we usually focus our efforts on deeper channels where there is moving water and structure. I have caught tarpon while fishing every bridge in the area, focusing on the down current side of the bridge where the tarpon wait to ambush bait that swims by. We like to use 80 lb monofilament leader which will usually hold up against abrasion from the tarpon’s sandpaper-like mouth. Circle hooks will help prevent any tarpon from getting gut hooked, and we like to practice releasing the fish without removing it from the water. If a photo is desired before release, we may barely lift the tarpon’s head out of the water to get a shot with the angler along the side of the boat.
Tarpon fishing charters in Boca Raton will be red hot over the next few months, so give me a call to find the perfect day to book your tarpon fishing trip of a lifetime!
Capt. Chris Agardy
chris@bigfishtimes.com
561-451-7646
