Tarpon Fishing Tips and Techniques

Atlantic Tarpon

 

The Atlantic tarpon (Tarpon atlanticus) is a large, silver colored saltwater game fish found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America, the Caribbean Sea, and other regions.

In the USA, tarpon are most common in Florida, although they are sometimes caught as far north as Maryland.

Occasionally reaching weights of 100 pounds or more, many anglers consider tarpon to be the catch of a lifetime.

The Atlantic tarpon was designated the state fish of Alabama in 1955. In 1975 the designation was changed to "state saltwater fish."

Tarpon are often called "the silver king."

Tarpon Fishing Techniques

Tarpon fishermen use a variety of gear, depending on the situation. Experienced anglers employ high quality tackle as these fish have a reputation for destroying cheap gear.

For casting live baits or lures, most anglers use a spinning or bait casting outfit in the 20-30 lb range. Other situations such as fishing near obstructions require heavier conventional reels. Tarpon anglers usually choose reels with smooth drags and fish with high quality lines.

Anglers fish for tarpon with live baits such as spot, croaker, perch, pinfish, menhaden, striped mullet, eels, and large shrimp. Top baits vary with season, location, availability, and personal preference. Some anglers obtain live baits in local tackle shops while others choose to catch their own with cast nets, hook and line, seines, or traps.

Some anglers prefer lures for tarpon fishing. Popular lures for tarpon include soft bodied jigs, swimming plugs, poppers and other lifelike lures. The action and presentation of lures can be critical, as tarpon can be very wary. As with rods and reels, lures and terminal tackle need to be sturdy built to handle the stresses of these brutal fish.

Saltwater fly fishing gear is popular among tarpon anglers. Fly casters seek out fish cruising the flats or around inlets, jetties, wrecks, reefs, bridges, and other structures. Fly rods and reels must be high quality saltwater versions, capable of withstanding powerful runs. Large saltwater flies that mimic local baitfish are often used.

Albemarle-Roanoke Striped Bass Stock Classified to Concern Status

The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries’ 2014 Stock Status Report reclassifies the Albemarle/Roanoke striped bass stock from “viable” to “concern,” due to biological factors associated with a declining population.

The division annually grades the status of important marine finfish, shellfish, shrimp and crabs as viable, recovering, concern, depleted or unknown. The grades serve as a barometer of the overall health of the state’s fishery resources, and they are used to prioritize development of fishery management plans.

While a 2010 stock assessment concludes the stock is not overfished, several population trends have prompted concern about the status of striped bass fishery. Since 2002, the number of young fish entering the population has declined, causing a steady decrease in landings from the peak harvest in 2004. A new Albemarle/Roanoke striped bass stock assessment is scheduled to be approved in August, and reductions in harvest limits likely will be necessary.

Striped bass in North Carolina are managed by the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission, and data collected by both agencies are used to assess the status of the stocks. Amendment 1 to the N.C. Estuarine Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan was approved by both commissions in 2013.      

Stocks exhibiting declining landings may be classified as “concern” even if they have an approved stock assessment and fishery management plan, as is the case with the Albemarle/Roanoke striped bass stock.

The stock status of all other species remained the same as the 2013 report.

The complete 2014 Stock Status Report can be found at the Division of Marine Fisheries’ website at: http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/stock-status-reports.

For more information on the 2014 Stock Status Report, contact Lee Paramore at 252-473-5734, ext. 222 or Lee.Paramore@ncdenr.gov.

source: N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources