Thread: how to catch a Tarpon?

I've only ever seen one tarpon hooked in my life. Was wondering how to catch em on the pier???

Early morning and floating either an alewife or a crazyfish.

my pawpaw hooked a tarpon Last weekend, Like jeb Said on a float with an Ly. He wasn't no monster but he was a good sized one about 55-60 pounds he was one fun fight though.

[quote author=the original pier pest link=topic=1138.msg11169#msg11169 date=1337139335]
Early morning and floating either an alewife or a crazyfish.
[/quote]

Add to that list a live striped mullet--especially if you are hitting the ones on the Florida piers.

[quote author=Viking Guy link=topic=1138.msg11176#msg11176 date=1337169446]
[quote author=the original pier pest link=topic=1138.msg11169#msg11169 date=1337139335]
Early morning and floating either an alewife or a crazyfish.
[/quote]

Add to that list a live striped mullet--especially if you are hitting the ones on the Florida piers.
[/quote]

Does the mullet have to be striped?

[quote author=Bubba link=topic=1138.msg11182#msg11182 date=1337173061]
[quote author=Viking Guy link=topic=1138.msg11176#msg11176 date=1337169446]
[quote author=the original pier pest link=topic=1138.msg11169#msg11169 date=1337139335]
Early morning and floating either an alewife or a crazyfish.
[/quote]

Add to that list a live striped mullet--especially if you are hitting the ones on the Florida piers.
[/quote]

Does the mullet have to be striped?
[/quote]

Need to be a topwater mullet like you see swimming around in the schools during summer months.

Thanks for the input guys. Dont you have to have a tag or something to haul em over the rail?

According to Mike Peacher's book, Tarpon are worthless to eat and can't even be mounted well, so there is little reason to kill them. There is a 50 dollar tag that you must have before landing one, if I understand the regs correctly. Most are done like sharks, fought to the pier and then break the line.

All the fun and none of the mess and fifty bucks still in your pocket to help buy dinner.

Dont buy a tag or kill one. Simply land it, take your measurements, photos and release. Then have a replica mount made. Skin mounts on these are tough and expensive. Since eating them iisnt pleasant, no need to keep.

I think the most important part of catching or even hooking one from the pier is being lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time!

Dont bring one up onto the pier if you dont have a tag. Like others have noted though, its not worth killing one, and if you do bring it up on the pier, odds are, its a dead fish. Hooking up is enough to get bragging rights, photos and breaking off at the pier earns you hero-of-the-day status.