In this week’s “How to Tie” video feature, Piscator Flies ties a classic tarpon pattern that every angler should be loading up their flats box with this week, the Black Death.
Learn About This Fly:
Difficulty: Easy
In the spirit of Tarpon Week, I figured it would only be right to choose a fly that tyers of any level could not only tie with ease, but master. There may be no sight that has drawn more anglers to saltwater fly fishing quite like a jumping tarpon. From their immense size to alien like features, they truly are a unique species that have ruined countless marriages and made lifelong memories. Sight fishing for tarpon in Florida is a way of life for many anglers and guides but it is also a rare resource that needs to be protected at all costs. Passion fuels protection and if you want to get more people rallying behind the cause, have them tie the Black Death and chase their first silver king.
For any tarpon fly, the most important aspect is having a hook that is both sharp and strong. Without these, you won’t stand a chance of landing one of these behemoths. A tarpon’s mouth is boney making a powerful hookset, paired with a sharp hook, imperative. From there, the strength of the hook will be tested by the personality of the fish, leaving you at the full mercy of however many jumps and runs they have in the tank. The Black Death has the strength to endure these fish, but you’ll have to make sure the proportions and presentation are good enough for them to eat in the first place.
When targeting tarpon, make sure your knots are strong because they will not show forgiveness once hooked. As the line shoots out of your guides, you’ll also need to make sure to clear it from wrapping around your toes, butt end of the rod, and any other small item that fly line is naturally drawn to. Sight fishing for this species is a privilege and something to be cherished, especially if you are one of the lucky ones that get to feel their power. Only tie the Black Death if you are ready to respect the tarpon and waters they live because there is no room for treating the silver king like anything but royalty anymore.
Some are born into tarpon fishing, and others find tarpon fishing along the way. Monte Burke falls into the latter. Burke is an author and angler who has written profiles on Nick Saban, George H.W. Bush, and other iconic figures. He was a reporter and journalist for 14 years at Forbes and continues to contribute to publications such as Forbes, Garden & Gun, TheNew York Times, and numerous other outlets. Burke has also authored multiple books and is a New York Times bestseller.
Monte Burke, author, angler, and tarpon obsessed.
It wasn’t until he went on an assignment with legendary guide Steve Huff that Burke discovered tarpon fishing and its rich history. He went on to write Lords of the Fly, exploring the early history of tarpon record fishing in Homosassa. Recently, we had the chance to catch up with Monte Burke and talk about tarpon fishing, Lords of the Fly, and his newest book, Rivers Always Reach the Sea. Check out the full interview below:
Flylords: When did you first get into fly fishing?
Monte Burke: My father was a fly fisherman, and more importantly, my grandfather was really into it. He had a little lake outside of Birmingham, Alabama, which he called Lake Tadpole, rather grandly. It was more of a pond, but he would take me out there, and he taught me how to cast with these old cane Orvis fly rods. We’d catch a bunch of little bream, but every once in a while, as I became a little bit better, we’d put on a bigger popper and catch some nice bass.
I was probably seven when I really started getting into it, and then we moved to North Carolina. We lived on a farm, and we had a pond in the back, and if I didn’t have sports after school, I’d go down there and try to catch big bass. Then I started trout fishing and followed the normal evolution into saltwater stuff, stripers, then bonefish and tarpon.
Flylords: When did you first start writing? Do you have any authors or outdoor writers who inspired you to start writing?
Monte Burke: I always wanted to be a writer, but after college, I thought I should be more responsible, so I applied to business school and got in. I was writing a bunch of essays for the application, which is an interesting thing to do at 25 years old, because you take stock of where you’ve been, where you are, and where you want to go. It was during the writing of those essays that I realized I did not want to go to business school and would, instead, try this writing thing out.
At the time, I lived in D.C. and became infatuated with the Letort Spring Run and its glory days with people like Vince Marinaro and Charlie Fox, some of the early innovators in the fly fishing game. I mean, Vince almost single-handedly pioneered fishing with terrestrials on that creek. So, I wrote a 3,000-word story on spec for the Letort and sold it to a magazine for $200. From that point on I said screw business school, I’m gonna do this.
I did everything I could to make myself a better writer. I read everything I could get my hands on, but I never really loved the old school Hook and Bullet style of pounding your chest type of writing. But I did love the people who wrote about fishing in almost a literary fashion; someone like McGuane comes to mind most there. McGuane was a huge influence, and still is. Whether it was bonefishing, tarpon fishing, permit fishing, or trout fishing, he took that writing just as seriously as he did his novels and short stories, and that kind of opened my eyes a little bit to what could be done.
Flylords: Can you tell us about when you first started tarpon fishing?
Monte Burke: I first discovered tarpon fishing after an assignment for Garden & Gun, in which I profiled Steve Huff. I call him the DiMaggio of fishing guides, I mean, he’s a hero to everyone who’s a guide. We spent three days together chasing snook and redfish and had a blast. A few years later, I found myself on Steve’s boat again, working on a story about Carl Hiaasen.
Monte Burke fishing with Steve Huff.
Steve was notorious for not taking on new clients. He even turned down George H.W. Bush. But I boldly called him one day and said, “Hey, if you got an open week, man, I would jump on it.” Steve said to come on down. On my first day of tarpon fishing, I was a nervous wreck, blowing casts at giant laid-up fish. The next day, I calmed down and made a good enough cast to a humongous 140-pound tarpon who took the fly. I fought that fish for way longer than I would today, and after I landed it, I thought I was gonna barf from dehydration, my hand was stuck like a vice grip, and my back hurt. But I couldn’t wait to do this thing again. It was so awesome, and from that point on, I’ve just been a junkie.
Flylords: In your words, what keeps you coming back to tarpon fishing?
Monte Burke: There’s an interesting feeling I have every morning before I go out for big tarpon. The possibility is there that I might look at and cast to a 120 to 150-pound fish. I have a weird combination of feelings; I’m totally pumped, but also wary because I know what it’s going to take out of me and the fish if I hook one. To me, they’re the coolest thing because they are the only thing that we hunt or fish that actually fights back, like, really fights back. You realize you pull as hard as you can; it’s a really physical act. I’ve always loved that.
I love where they live, too, especially in the Everglades. I mean, the Keys and oceanside fish are great. It’s very cool to see them, but they feel like a jungle fish back in the Everglades. I’ve read everything about tarpon, and I’ve never seen a perfect description of what it feels like to hook a giant tarpon. I mean it’s truly an otherworldly thing. Richard Brautigan, the poet, probably got it best or closest anyway. He called it “immediate unreality,” which is my favorite description of that moment of the take.
Flylords: Your book, Lords of the Fly, follows the history of early tarpon record fishing in Homosassa. When did you first discover this story and decide this was the story that needed to be told?
Monte Burke: I first heard about the story when I was fishing with Steve Huff. He’d tell me about his client, Tom Evans, and a place called Homosassa. I didn’t even know where it was, but I loved its cool, poetic Native American name. Steve told me these stories about guys spending all their time there in the late 1970s, chasing fish that were 20 to 30% larger than the ones they’d seen anywhere else.
Lords of the Fly tells the story of tarpon record fishing in Homosassa.
It wasn’t until I did a story on Andy Mill that things started to come together. Andy was insistent that someone needed to tell the story of Homosassa. The guys were getting older, and some had already passed. So Andy gave me Tom Evans’ number, and I drove up to his place in Vermont for a couple of days. Tom is this big, cantankerous guy, and he sat there and told me all these stories, and I remember driving home in a snowstorm, thinking, ‘This is a book.’ It had every big name in saltwater fly fishing, but more importantly, it was about becoming obsessed with something other people really don’t care about, but to these guys, was everything. I love writing about people like that.
Flylords: What was the process like in creating Lords of the Fly?
Monte Burke: For two straight years, I spent a few weeks in May with Tim Evans, who was in his 80s at this point, in Homosassa. I also interviewed Steve, but the exciting thing about the whole process was that it gave me an excuse to talk to other icons. I met with Chico Fernandez, Flip Pallot, and Stu Apte. I’ll never forget knocking on Stu Apte’s door, and we had this great long interview. In fact, the interview went on so long that he took a nap in the middle of it; we had sort of a halftime.
What’s cool about these projects is that they give you license or, really, an excuse to go down rabbit holes that you might not otherwise go down. Sometimes you come up with just dirt in your face and nothing to show for it, but other times you come up with a guy like Bobby Erra, a gangster who was intimately involved in the Homosassa world record-chasing scene and helped found Abel Reels. These crazy characters, that I had never heard of and would not have heard of had I not kept digging, were fascinating. I think I spent about a year researching it, and then another year or so writing it.
Flylords: This book covers many great icons, like Steve Huff. Were there any anglers or guides that really stood out to you, and why?
Monte Burke: It’s hard to narrow down. I mean, what’s interesting about this book is that there are a lot of ways to tell this story. I could have told it through Billy Pate’s eyes. Al Pflueger was still around. And I could have told the story through someone like Stu Apte’s eyes.
I felt like Tom Evans was the most intriguing character because he was the only one really still going down there, all these years later. But also, Tom was the least well-known of everyone there. Billy Pate dedicated his life to record angling, and Al Pflueger, Lefty Kreh, and Stu Apte were professional fishermen at that point. Tom was just an unknown guy from the Northeast who was obsessed with Tarpon. So, to me, he was the most interesting way to tell this story. But meeting all these guys in person and hearing their stories was incredible. I suppose I didn’t really answer your question; it’s like trying to choose which of your children is your favorite – you can’t. You love them all, for different reasons.
Flylords: We noticed on your social media that there are various images of dogs, cats, and even a pig reading Lords of the Fly. Where did this idea come from?
Monte Burke: That was completely out of left field. A friend of mine actually sent a picture of his golden retriever wearing glasses and reading the book. I just posted it because I thought it was funny. Then I put up a picture of my new puppy chewing on the book. Next thing I know, I started getting close to 30 people a week sending me pictures of their animals, whatever they would be, “reading the book.” There was a huge hog, if I remember correctly, and there was a one-eyed hedgehog, and there was a goldfish. In a good way, it got out of control after a while, but I’m not great with social media, and I am uncomfortable with the promotional aspect of the book process. This was a sideways way to help promoteLords of the Fly, which was a little more enjoyable.
Flylords: You’re currently getting ready to publish your newest book, Rivers Always Reach the Sea. Can you give us some insight into what to expect from this book?
Monte Burke’s newest book, Rivers Always Reach the Sea.
Monte Burke: The book contains 31 stories collected from various magazines where I have worked, including Garden & Gun, The Drake, and Forbes. It’s a mixture of profiles and short stories. I was fortunate enough to do a profile on Lefty and spend a couple of days with him. Nathaniel Linville, Andy Mill, Steve Huff, and George H.W. Bush’s profiles are also included. I also share essays from different fishing excursions I’ve been on. There’s a story from a trip to Russia and Labrador. It’s basically as if I took my journal of observations from a fishing life and turned it into a book.
Fly fishing for tarpon means battling the sun, the wind, and the fish. Combine all three and you’ve got a pursuit that can test even the most dedicated anglers. Fortunately, for us, advancements in modern gear can help minimize the strain of standing on a casting platform waiting for tarpon to show themselves. Whether you’re new to tarpon fly fishing or simply want to upgrade some of your tarpon gear, we put together an all-inclusive list of essentials. Check out our full tarpon fly fishing gear guide, and get ready with us for chasing the Silver King.
All products featured on Flylords are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
At the core of every tarpon fishing mission is a rod. The Hardy Marksman Z is our go-to for targeting large tarpon. Its lightweight feel, impressive backbone, and best-in-class durability scream tarpon fishing. This rod can cut through headwinds, deliver accurate casts, and can tangle with the biggest migratory poons. The 9-foot 11-weight is an excellent all-around tarpon stick, and the 8′ 10″ 11-weight one-piece may just be the best tarpon rod we’ve ever thrown.
Not everyone has the budget for a $1,000 tarpon rod, and that’s okay. Thankfully, advancements in blank technology have brought several great budget-friendly rods to the market. One of our favorites is the Redington Predator. At $350, it’s more than affordable and designed with big fish in mind. The Predator has ample backbone to battle tarpon and a fast action feel that saltwater anglers require.
Just as the Marksman Z is our favorite tarpon rod, the Hardy Fortuna Regent is our favorite tarpon reel. This large arbor reel is designed with tarpon fly fishing in mind. It features a single turn drag knob, meaning with one turn of the knob you can use the entire drag range. The Fortuna Regent is also fully sealed, as any good saltwater reel is, has no start-up inertia, and has ample line capacity to handle long runs. It also falls at the lower price end of premium tarpon reels.
Reels are not something you should skimp on when it comes to tarpon fly fishing. Luckily, Redington made the Grande, packed full of high-end features, and put it at a price affordable to all. The Redington Grande has one of the strongest drag systems of any reel we’ve fished and line capacity well above others in its class. Add to that the fully sealed drag, smooth operation, and exceptional styling, and this reel is a winner for any angler.
Baking in the sun all day can leave you dehydrated. That’s why it’s important to pack water and lots of it. YETI’s Rambler One Gallon jug is a double-wall vacuum-insulated beast made to keep your water, and lots of it, cold all day. In the hot Florida sun, this is what you want to stay hydrated for a long day of tarpon fishing. We also carry a YETI Yonder Bottle in the skiff. While not insulated, this lightweight water bottle pairs great with the One Gallon Jug, making it easy to top off and sip your water without the inconvenience of drinking from the larger jug.
Andy Mill, with the YETI Jug from our trip to the Keys.
To avoid spooking oceanside tarpon, a clear-tip fly line is essential. The Magnitude Textured Tarpon Clear Tip from Scientific Anglers features a 12-foot clear tip that, when combined with a leader, gives you the stealth needed to make casts to wary fish. This line also features an aggressive taper, perfect for punching through the wind and landing the fly where it needs to be. If the fish are extra spooky, SA offers a full-length clear line as well.
Any tarpon angler would be amiss not to have worm flies in their box. These flies are tarpon crack and work all season long, even when worms aren’t hatching. There are plenty of variations, but Chicone’s Peyote Palolo is a proven pattern. This small worm imitation features a foam tail and brush head that creates a life-like subsurface swimming pattern. Fish it with a two-handed retrieve for the best results.
If you’re looking for a lightweight fishing shirt with classic styling, then consider the Duck Camp Lightweight Fishing Shirt. This button-down technical fishing shirt features cooling technology to keep you comfortable even on those hot, stale days. The shirt is complete with back vents and two large chest pockets, keeping you ready for anything on the water.
Sun shirts definitely fall into the category of essential when it comes to any flats fishing. The Marshwear High Noon Tech Hoodie is one of the lightest we’ve worn to date. The combination of the lightweight knit fabric and exceptional breathability makes it comfortable to wear on hot days with no breeze. They are somewhat snug, so sizing up is recommended if you want a looser feel.
Free Fly may have created the perfect fishing pants with their new Topogrid pant. The fabric on these pants is incredibly light while maintaining impressive durability. But our favorite feature is the new pocket design. The near-perfect upright pockets keep your phone, wallet, and other essentials secure even on rough runs to and from spots.
Any angler fishing the flats is familiar with Buff. These breathable neck gaiters keep the sun off your face and neck, enabling you to fish in confidence, knowing you won’t have to deal with sunburn later. The CoolNet Buff has cooling technology to help stay comfortable in the hot sun. And it helps that this Buff features some sweet tarpon art.
The Costa Grand Catalina sunglasses are a redesign of the timeless classics worn by the likes of Flip Pallot, Stu Apte, and more. These glasses feature the same styling as the originals, but with modern features that anglers have come to expect. Some of our favorite features include built-in sweat channels and removable side shields. The Gold Mirror lenses also do a great job of making tarpon pop on the flats.
Protecting your valuables on the boat is important, especially when you factor in any camera equipment. The new Cayo backpack from YETI borrows the same bombproof design as the Panga backpack we’ve grown to love in a new, slimmer package. For flats skiff where room is limited, the 25L size fits in most hatches and has ample space for all your gear. Its multi-pocket design also gives you options to keep gear organized while staying dry.
Forget your forceps in saltwater, they won’t do much. Instead, a pair of pliers like the Orvis Mirage Pliers gives you the bigger jaws and reliability to be ready in the salt. The jaws feature a lower cutter that eats through mono, fluoro, and even braided lines. The package is complete with a leather sheath that can be secured on a belt, always keeping them an arm’s length away.
The perfect boat shoe should be comfortable, quick drying, and non-marking. The Columbia Castback Shoe fits that bill and more. With a thick, cushioned sole, you’re able to stand on the casting or poling platform all day with minimal fatigue. In addition, the sole is non-marking to avoid annoying scuff marks on the boat. Columbia rounds out this shoe with its Blood ‘n Guts fabric, which, in other words, means it dries fast and resists stains.
Boat Bonuses:
In addition to fishing essentials, these pieces of gear specific to skiffs make the day on the water much more enjoyable.
Line management is crucial in any big game fishing scenario, particularly tarpon fishing. The new stripping bucket from Strip and Feed is the best we’ve tried yet. These sturdy buckets are built to withstand the hard use of fishing and the sun’s damaging rays for years to come. The bucket also features a heavy base that keeps it firmly planted in rough seas. Inside, you’ll find four spikes that work in tandem to keep your fly line from tangling.
Poling a boat is a lot of work, so why make it harder with a sub-quality pole? The new Small Diameter Push Pole from Marquesa Marine is in the running for the best push pole out there. Made of 100% carbon fiber, it’s lightweight and strong. The small diameter also makes it easier to pole a boat all day with less fatigue. If you’re looking for one pole for everything, it’s hard to go wrong with the 24-foot pole.
If you don’t want a stripping bucket but still want line control, the Launch Pad is a great option. This small silicone mat features spikes made to keep your line from tangling, and in the boat. It’s also easy to move to make sure your line is consistently landing on top of the mat.
Our last piece of essential gear is a YETI Bucket. This is arguably one of the most versatile pieces of gear, serving as an anchor storage bucket, trash can, or extra storage. With a simple bungee cord, you can secure it to any poling platform, keeping it out of the way until you need it.
Be Prepared
Tarpon are some of the most powerful fish that fly anglers can target. Your gear has to be up to the blistering runs, somersaults, and harsh tropical elements. The tarpon fly fishing gear list we put together features tried and true gear that performs under pressure. We chose premium gear at all price points so any angler in the pursuit of the ultimate flats fish can be prepared.
Welcome back to the inaugural Tarpon Week! In this feature, we sat down with JoEllen Wilson, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s Juvenile Tarpon Habitat Program Manager. BTT is deeply engaged in improving bonefish, tarpon, and permit fisheries and habitat through science and advocacy. For a species like tarpon that has enjoyed a great deal of angler-led conservation here in the states, quality habitat is absolutely critical for a healthy population today and long into the future.
It’s no secret that tarpon habitats throughout Florida are under extreme stress from both climate-driven impacts, development, and pollution. That’s why BTT created the Juvenile Tarpon Habitat Initiative. These baby tarpon are the future of the population, but the mangrove habitats they rely on are disappearing at a concerning rate. This BTT initiative seeks to better understand that and turn the tide. Follow along for more on BTT and JoEllen’s critically important work.
Flylords: Introduce yourself! How did you get involved with BTT and fisheries science?
JoEllen: I started working for BTT in 2009 as the first Membership Administrator. Dr. Adams, the Director of BTT at the time, gave a presentation to my college ichthyology class about the need for volunteers. I volunteered with sampling for a few months and joined the organization once the position became available. After a few years as an MA, I was ready to go to graduate school to continue my scientific education, and the next BTT-funded project was juvenile tarpon habitat use. In 2014, upon graduating, BTT re-hired me as the Juvenile Tarpon Habitat Program Manager.
JoEllen Wilson, BTT, finding a baby Tarpon in Coral Creek. PC-FWC
Flylords: So you are leading BTT’s juvenile tarpon habitat initiative–tell us about this work.
JoEllen: When I started the initiative, we were learning the ins and outs of early life history habitat metrics for juvenile tarpon, since it wasn’t well documented in the scientific literature, to create a template of functional nursery habitat. That research led to a framework of nursery habitat conservation measures, including protecting natural habitats and restoring degraded habitats in order of priority. Over a decade later, our main focus is on integrating habitat into fisheries management plans and finding other innovative ways to conserve tarpon nursery habitat.
Flylords: As fishermen, we acutely understand the value of habitat to sustain fish populations and provide actual fishing opportunities. Can you shed some light on the different habitats tarpon utilize?
JoEllen: Tarpon use a coastal habitat mosaic throughout their life cycle, including embayments, backwater coastal ponds, and mangrove-lined tidal creeks as juveniles, estuarine coastlines and rivers as sub-adults, and coastal and offshore habitats as adults. Tarpon don’t mature until about 8-10 years old and live up to 80 years, so the adults that anglers are fishing for are likely decades old. That means that the impact that we’ve seen on juvenile habitats 20 and 30 years ago is just starting to impact the fishery.
Flylords: What about how these habitats are changing? What are the causes?
JoEllen: In Florida, especially, we’ve seen a substantial loss of our marsh and mangrove habitats and even bigger impacts to our water quality. These are effects from nutrient and contaminant runoff, pharmaceuticals leaching from septic tanks in coastal communities, changes in natural watershed flows, and coastal development causing habitat loss. We’ve already lost about 50% of mangrove habitat, which means about 50% of juvenile tarpon habitat.
Flylords: And why are quality habitats so critical to juvenile tarpon? What does the perfect nursery habitat look like?
JoEllen: A tarpon’s reproductive strategy is to produce many in the hopes that a few will survive. They spawn offshore with trillions of eggs, and a small percentage of those will eventually become larvae. The larval stage lasts about 30 days as they make their way from offshore back into the estuaries, and a fraction of those survive. Luckily, juvenile tarpon have evolved to inhabit some of the most inhospitable places with high water temperatures, salinity swings, and low dissolved oxygen levels bordering hypoxia.
But these juvenile tarpon habitats are dwindling because they’re in close proximity to human impacts. We know from previous research that just because we find juvenile tarpon in these habitats, it doesn’t mean they’re functional habitats. Often, we’ll get calls from anglers finding juvenile tarpon in ditches and golf course ponds that larvae can access during storm events, but don’t allow for tarpon to emigrate and rejoin the spawning population. They’re pretty much stuck with limited prey in a confined space. In the early days, we partnered with guides, anglers, and homeowners to identify juvenile tarpon habitats and characterize them as natural or altered. The natural habitats are innately the most productive.
We then recommended the natural habitats for protection and used a ranking system to prioritize the degraded habitats for restoration using factors like feasibility, biology, and connectivity. If we’re going to recommend habitat restoration as a means to combat habitat degradation and loss, we first need to know if it works. BTT tested three variations of juvenile tarpon habitats using characteristics that we observed in natural nursery habitats. We found that a shallow meandering tidal creek system with vegetative edge and connectivity at high tides produced juvenile tarpon with the fastest growth, while the design with constant connectivity and a 2m deep depression had the highest emigration rate.
Flylords: What’s been your/the Initiative’s focus as of late? I know you all have been devoting a lot of time and energy to Charlotte Harbor.
JoEllen: Charlotte Harbor/Boca Grande is known as the Tarpon Fishing Capital of the World, so it makes sense that we’d have a large tarpon conservation effort in this region. BTT currently has six potential juvenile tarpon habitat restoration sites in the area undergoing preliminary design, with permitting and restoration to follow. The other benefit to working in Charlotte Harbor is the many agencies – federal, state, and local – that are willing to partner on tarpon conservation projects. BTT is collaborating with these agencies to create an integrative map that can guide future development in Charlotte County with juvenile tarpon habitat in mind.
Flylords: Tell me more about how this initiative stands to benefit other fisheries or wildlife species?
JoEllen: The benefit of this research is that it is repeatable in other regions for juvenile tarpon and can also be adapted to different habitats and focal species. For example, we’re identifying and quantifying juvenile tarpon habitats, but this same framework can be used for a terrestrial species in upland habitats. Additionally, protected or restored juvenile tarpon habitats also support many other species with similar habitat needs. Like snook, for instance.
Flylords: How can anglers get involved and support this work?
JoEllen: BTT relies heavily on the involvement of anglers and guides to provide knowledge and input on our research. We are still collecting juvenile tarpon locations (tarpon 12” and under) to add to our database, and all sites are kept confidential. We also appeal to residents in coastal communities to be a voice for habitat, which includes converting septic tanks to sewer and advocating for upgrading treatment facilities, foregoing lawn fertilizers, especially in the rainy season, developing in ways that leave natural water flows unaltered, and keeping mangrove habitats intact. Without healthy habitats, we won’t have healthy fisheries.
Tarpon, despite their size, are fragile creatures. Fighting one on the fly and bringing it to the boat is a taxing endeavor. With water quality issues, an increase in angling pressure, and sharks already an issue for tarpon, it’s important to take care of these precious fish. Knowing what to do when the fish is boatside can mean the difference between a healthy release and a belly-up tarpon (and no one wants that). Next time you’re chasing the Silver King, here is how to handle and release a tarpon properly.
Fighting a Tarpon
The first step in safely releasing a tarpon is properly fighting a tarpon. Once you hook a fish, the clock begins. Every minute you spend fighting a tarpon to exhaustion is a minute that leaves them susceptible to predation from sharks. Both bull sharks and hammerheads are known to prey on the Silver King, and a thrashing fish on the end of your line serves as a dinner bell. If you do manage to avoid sharks after a prolonged fight, you leave the tarpon outright exhausted, dramatically reducing their chance of survival. Just because they swim off doesn’t mean they will survive.
The best way to combat both predation and overexhaustion of a tarpon is to fish with the proper gear and fight the tarpon hard and fast. Proper tarpon fly gear consists of 11-weight rods and matching reels. With that also comes using the proper leader. All anglers fishing for tarpon should use a break section or a class tippet of 20-pound or less. This is a lighter piece of tippet or leader material before the bite tippet. If a shark comes after your tarpon, point the rod at the fish and break it off.
An angler pulls on a tarpon with the butt section of the fly rod for maximum fish fighting power.
Lastly, tarpon fly rods are made to put the brakes on these fish. To do so, you have to use the rod to its full potential, meaning utilizing the backbone of the rod. In fly rods, the lower third of the rod is considered the backbone and is where the fighting power comes from. Never high-stick a tarpon; instead keep your rod tip low and pull against the tarpon with the butt section of the rod. When done properly, you can tire out a fish in short order. Keeping fights under 30 to 40 minutes is ideal.
Handling a Tarpon
You’ve survived the jumps, endured battle with a tarpon, and the fish is now boatside, so what’s next? If it’s your first tarpon, chances are you are going to want to take a picture. That’s understandable, but you must follow the proper handling requirements to ensure the fish is released safely and healthy.
Tarpon handling falls into two categories: fish under 40 inches and fish over 40 inches. For these smaller fish, under 40 inches, you can take them out of the water, albeit very, very briefly, for a picture. Handle the fish as little as possible, make sure the camera is ready to go, and quickly lift the fish while supporting its body with your hands (never hold them vertically). The fish should be dripping wet while you snap your photos and return it to the water for a release. Now, while you can take these fish out of the water, it’s best to practice Keep Fish Wet principles.
Even for fish under 40 inches, keeping them in the water as much as possible will ensure their survival.
For tarpon over 40 inches, an entirely different set of rules applies. For starters, never remove these fish from the water. Once they get over 40 inches, the weight of their body out of their water will crush their internal organs, resulting in a dead tarpon. Instead, hold the fish alongside the boat, lean over, and take a quick picture as the tarpon remains in the water and you hold it by the mouth. If you want to know how much your fish weighs, quickly take a length and girth measurement and use the BTT Tarpon Weight Calculator.
Releasing a Tarpon
It’s now time to release your tarpon. To do so, you’ll want to hold the tarpon alongside the boat and allow water to flow over their gills from the head of the fish to the tail. This allows them to breathe and recover before releasing the fish. Never let water run from the tail to the head over the gills; this can actually cause the fish to “drown” and not get the needed oxygen to recover. If you’re in current, hold the fish with its head into the current. For areas with no current, you can put the boat into forward gear and use the least amount of forward throttle necessary to move the boat. Once the fish starts kicking and can swim upright on its own, you can release the tarpon. These release steps apply to all tarpon regardless of their size.
In the newest episode of the Flylords Podcast, we sit down with Andy and Nicky Mill from the Mill House Podcast. Together, they have created one of the biggest fishing podcasts around, exploring the history of fly fishing, particularly tarpon fishing. They have given legendary guides and anglers a place to share their stories and solidify them as part of fly fishing history forever. During this podcast, we get a chance to do the same with Andy and Nicky.
Join us as we learn more about their lives, angling journeys, and love for tarpon fishing. This is an episode you don’t want to miss and the perfect way to kick off Tarpon Week!
Every year, anglers head to the Florida Keys in May and June in search of one thing: tarpon. Anglers and guides stake out along the ocean from Key Largo to Key West, patiently waiting to see a string of tarpon making their way into range for a shot at the Silver King. But fast forward a few months, and these strings of ocean-side tarpon are all but gone in the Keys. So, where are they coming from, and where are they going? The answer lies in the annual tarpon migration.
Every year, tarpon undergo a complex migration before making their way to the Florida Keys, the final stop along their migration. To better understand where to find tarpon throughout the year, it’s important to understand the entire migration. In this overview of the tarpon migration, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to target the Silver King.
The Tarpon Migration
Tarpon Biology
In many ways, tarpon are the ultimate big game fish. They grow to massive sizes, will readily eat a fly, and offer abundant sight fishing opportunities. To understand their migration and how to best target them, understanding their biology is important.
Tarpon, along with bonefish, ladyfish, and eels, are part of the suborder leptocephali. This means they have leptocephalus larvae, which are small, ribbon-like larvae that are free-floating. As a result, tarpon will lay their eggs offshore, allowing the free-floating larvae to drift into protected mangrove areas where they spend their early lives.
A juvenile tarpon, photo courtesy of BTT and John Rohan.
Tarpon are slow-growing creatures, living upwards of 50+ years. As juveniles, they don’t reach sexual maturity until roughly six or seven years old. At this point, they range from roughly 30-50 inches. Once they reach this size, they join in on the migration, making the annual journey to their spawning grounds.
Migration Routes
Every year, as water temperatures creep towards 75 degrees, the tarpon migration begins. Tarpon across Florida’s east and west coasts leave their wintering areas like creeks, rivermouths, and channels to head south. The fish start the migration as early as February and will continue to grow in size until they hit their peak in May and June. Along the way, some fish will stop in areas like Boca Grande, where they will stay and embark on their own spawning runs. The remaining fish will continue south along either coast, eventually meeting in the Florida Keys.
As the West and East Coast fish meet in the Keys, they continue to migrate south. This is the moment anglers eagerly await every year. Like the tarpon, fly fishermen from around the world migrate to the Keys and the bow of a skiff. Through May and June, tarpon are around in impressive numbers, giving anglers a fair number of shots at fish stringing down the ocean. Many of these fish will congregate at bridges and channels like the Bahia Honda bridge in the thousands. Here they wait for the full moon and begin the journey to their spawning grounds, often traveling over 100 miles offshore. In large groups, the males and females will lay their sperm and eggs, giving rise to the next generation of tarpon. Now, not every tarpon will go offshore at once to spawn, but this is generally the accepted theory.
The work BTT conducts, tagging tarpon, provides crucial insights into their migrations. Photo courtesy of Andrew O’Neil.
While we know a lot about the tarpon migration, there are still a lot of questions about specifics. This is where organizations like Bonefish & Tarpon Trust come into play. Their ongoing tagging efforts and research projects offer insight into the life history of tarpon. If you want to know more about the tarpon migration and new findings, visit BTT for more information.
The Journey Home
After tarpon spawn, they return to the inshore waters they call home. Again, they migrate back to where they came from. Traveling up Florida’s coast and beyond every summer. Some fish will continue west to Louisiana and Texas, while others will continue north to Georgia and the Carolinas, and the remainder disperse throughout Florida. As water temperatures begin to cool in the fall and into winter, tarpon will begin to retreat back to the warmer waters of South Florida. Staging in rivers, channels, and bays they wait for water temperatures to warm up before beginning the cycle again in what is known as the annual tarpon migration.
It’s been a while since we last saw each other—three weeks to be exact, not that I’ve been counting. You remember, right? That time you were swimming by, coyly feigning disinterest in my fly, and then suddenly turned and inhaled it? And then corkscrewed into two breathtaking leaps? And then sent my fly whistling back to me, via airmail?
I miss you. Here I sit in my office, staring at this stupid little screen, thinking about you and your spring/summer getaway in South Florida. That vast white sand flat, that opaque water, that cerulean sky.
I think about the fact that you, as a species, have been on this blue ball for fifty million years, a demonstration of the resilience that heaven knows you’re going to need now. I think about the fact that you, as an individual, will—God-willing and the creek don’t rise—get your AARP card and live into your seventies. I think about your physical grandeur, that power and might concealed by those gleaming scales. I think about the fact that you gulp air to replenish yourself and how, in some way, you are a symbol of the evolutionary link between dwellers of the sea and land. I think about how just the knee-knocking sight of you swimming down a flat can turn PhD’s into mental midgets and captains of industry into tantrumic toddlers. I think about how you’ve enticed many of us otherwise squared-away folks to take leave of our sanity and senses.
You are on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, painted by Michelangelo. You’ve inspired some of our finest wordsmiths—McGuane, Harrison, Hiaasen. “Immediate unreality” is how Brautigan, the poet, described an encounter with you.
I know we haven’t done right by you, polluting the water, destroying the mangroves, electing leaders corrupted by greed. But I pledge to do better, to try harder. In a world measured by worth, you remain invaluable.
I guess what I’m saying here is that I think about you a lot.
And that I really hope to see you again soon.
With gratitude and admiration and love,
-Monte
Lords of the Fly, Rivers Always Reach the Sea and Saban.
When it comes to brown trout, there is one holy grail—a 30-inch wild brown. In Colorado, tales of 30-inch fish are whispered amongst overzealous anglers; these tales are told over drinks after a day of floating, with few being more than a trout story. But one place exists in the world where anglers have a realistic chance of catching a 30-inch brown trout on any cast—the Limay River in Patagonia. This river holds some of the biggest brown trout in the world. Thirty-inch fish are not uncommon, and 40-inch trout are caught every year. This spring, we headed to the Limay River Lodge with Patagonia Outfitters to see this fishing first hand and try our luck with a true 30-inch brown.
Fighting a brown trout on the Limay River.
Now, there are other places in the world where anglers can catch big brown trout; this is no secret. The Rio Grande in southern Patagonia holds giant sea-run brown trout, as do the tributaries of the Great Lakes. While these fish deserve respect in their own right, there is something about floating big rivers for giant browns. The Limay River, more specifically the Middle Limay (or Limay Medio), is a 50-mile stretch of river positioned between a lake and a tailwater damn. Here, anglers have a realistic chance of catching a 30-inch fish on any cast.
History:
The Middle Limay River is a world-class tailwater fishery.
The Limay River has always had big fish, but in 1993, a dam was constructed on the Middle Limay. The dam created a tailwater fishery and brought with it giant brown trout migrating from the Ezequiel Ramos Mexia reservoir. Now you may be wondering how these lake-run fish are different from Lake Ontario fish or even sea-run browns. In principle, they aren’t different, but in their life history, they are. The Limay River fish can be caught in the river year-round—a river that’s sheer size is nothing short of impressive. With that, they take on many of the characteristics of river fish, readily eat streamers, and have the same buttery color as resident fish, but they grow to massive sizes.
Travel:
One of three flights required to get to the Limay River.
If you want a realistic chance of catching a 30-inch brown, you’ll have to travel. Thankfully, the team at Patagonia Outfitters makes this process as seamless as possible. For us, this meant three plane rides and four destinations: Denver, Houston, Buenos Aires, and finally San Martin. When you reach your destination, you’ll meet the guides at the airport, pack up the truck, and head down the road to the fly fishing center. This rustic, wooden cabin-style building is a launching point for any adventure with Patagonia Outfitters. Inside, you’ll be greeted with drinks, charcuterie, and images of world-class brown trout before embarking on the final drive to the Limay River.
Every trip starts with a stop at the Fly Fishing Center.
Chasing 30’s:
Anglers come to the Limay for the brown trout of a lifetime, and that’s what we were after. With a river system as large as the Limay, fishing for lake-run fish presents its own challenges. They are constantly on the move, so finding productive water can be tricky. That is where the Limay River Lodge comes into play. The lodge is positioned in the middle of the Limay River, a perfect jumping point to fish different sections depending on where the highest concentrations of fish are. One day you may float one stretch of the river, and the next a totally new one.
The Limay River Lodge is positioned at the heart of the Limay River.
After a much-needed night’s rest, day one of fishing the Limay was upon us. A short 30-minute drive above the lodge had us eyeing the river, wondering what was in store for us that day. We wadered up, pushed off from the launch, and were off. Within the first ten minutes, we got a taste of what the river had to offer. In the first run of the day, Jared Zissu hooked a 27-inch male, the fish of a lifetime for many, but we were after a true 30.
The first fish of the trip.
We continued to float and fish, coming across the river’s resident rainbows and browns. A healthy consolation prize for any angler. Then, I slung a cast downstream, made two big mends, and came tight to the swing. Two short strips later, it happened. I felt a violent strike as my line cleared instantly. The ensuing chaos led us to the bank, where we anchored the boat as I fought the fish to the net. This brown trout was a perfect specimen, dark, with a full kype jaw, and the attitude to pair with it. I waited eagerly as we taped the fish—28 inches, just two inches shy of the mark we were after.
Healthy resident brown trout like this would be the fish of the day anywhere else, but nothing to write home about on the Limay.
The next two days, we floated, landing big browns every day, wondering when or if our chance at a 30-inch fish would come. Then, on day three, we heard the radio crackle as our guides spoke in Spanish. While we couldn’t understand what they were saying, we could sense the excitement in their voices. Our guide looked up at us and in perfect English said, “Jared caught a 30.” Thousands of casts later, it happened, a true wild 30-inch brown. The fish taped out at 31 inches and was everything you’d want in a brown trout. Thick shoulders, a massive kype jaw, and buttery color–the ultimate specimen. During our time on the Limay, we landed 11 fish over 26 inches, with the biggest being 31—a trip nothing short of epic.
A perfect specimen and the 30-inch brown trout we were after.
The Guides:
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Nan Zúñiga is a young and upcoming guide at Patagonia Outfitters.
Releasing a lake-run brown on the Limay.
Riverside lunches spare no expense in Patagonia.
Refueling before an afternoon on the Limay.
What meal is complete without a meat and cheese plate in Argentina?
The guides of Patagonia Outfitters are some of the best we’ve fished with in Argentina. Passionate, well-versed in English, and fishy beyond belief. For our trip, we fished with a father/son duo, Nestor and Nan Zúñiga, as well as Diego Gonzales. Expect to spend full days floating on the water, with riverside lunches midway through the day (we highly recommend trying the Dulce de Leche).
Patagonia Outfitters is also an Orvis-endorsed outfitter. This means anglers have access to premium rods, reels, and waders. In addition, Patagonia Outfitters works with local boat builders to ensure you have a comfortable and spacious drift boat for your float. At the fly fishing center, your guides will outfit you before hooking up the drift boat and heading to your final destination. They even have Starlink in their trucks for full-service off the grid.
Locally tied patterns, crafted over decades of targeting Limay River brown trout consistently produce strikes.
The guides have intimate knowledge of the river system. They know which holes hold fish and can teach even novices casters where to place the fly and how to fish it. If you take a look at any guide’s fly box, you’ll see locally tied patterns that have been carefully curated over years of fishing the Limay, to consistently produce giant brown trout.
Techniques:
The thrill of hunting for trophy brown trout on the Limay is that on any cast, you may hook into a 30+ inch trout. You always need to be focused, and fish every cast like it’s the one.
This type of fishing is more hunting than anything, specifically looking for “the one.” Luckily, the Limay holds a healthy population of rainbow trout ranging from 16 to 24 inches. A great consolation prize, when you see a football field’s worth of rising trout. Not to mention the healthy resident browns.
One of the countless resident rainbow trout in the Limay.
The guides target these fish with single-handed 7 and 8-weight rods and heavy 300-grain sink-tip lines. Position your cast at a 45-degree angle before making two big mends. Come tight to your line, swing it through the deep runs and pools before stripping it in. Almost all our strikes came within the first two strips. There are a lot of fish in this river, but getting a strike is not always easy. Keep your fly in the water and in the zone as much as possible to maximize your chances.
The Lodge:
The Limay River Lodge, founded by the legendary Jorge Trucco, is positioned a short walk from the water. While there are other operations on the river, none match the accommodations, guides, and program that Limay River Lodge offers.
Jorge Trucco, the founder of Patagonia Outfitters.
Accommodations:
There are fish camps and then there are full-on lodge operations, catering to your every need. The Limay River Lodge is the latter. Step out of the truck after a day of fishing, and you’ll instantly be greeted with fresh drinks, hors d’oeuvres, and a wash towel. Now, when it comes to fishing, I don’t need much, but coming back from a long day on the river to full-service like this is something any angler could get used to.
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A communal fire place is a gathering point for anglers.
Inside, anglers are greeted by comfort and style.
Relaxing by the fire after a long day of fishing.
Every room is comfortable and clean, perfect for a week of fishing.
The Limay River Lodge is positioned on the heart of the Limay River.
The lodge features a main dining area and a large living room, in addition to an outdoor fireplace. After a day on the water, these serve as a gathering place for guests to come together and share stories. Aside from the main community space, guests are treated to spacious and comfortable rooms, full-service maid service, and anything else they may need.
Dining:
Come hungry at the Lima River Lodge.
One of the benefits of fishing in Patagonia is the dining experience. Every evening, the lodge gathers around a grand dining table for a communal meal. The chefs here are world-class, utilizing local ingredients to deliver an exceptional dining experience. Steak, lamb, shrimp, pork, and more are all on the menu. And trust us, they won’t let you go hungry. Every meal is three courses ending with freshly made desserts and paired with local wines.
The Trip of a Lifetime:
Patagonia Outfitters and its team of seasoned guides offer more than just the chance at a 30-inch brown trout. Traveling to the Limay River Lodge is the ultimate full-service experience. From the time you touch down in Patagonia to the first casts on the drift boat, you become immersed in the culture of Argentina. The sights, sounds, and flavors of this fabled part of the world become ingrained in you.
Yet, the best-in-class accommodations, knowledgeable guides, and exquisite dining make you feel as if you’ve been right at home the whole time. In retrospect, the Limay River Lodge and Patagonia Outfitters made this a trip of a lifetime; the giant brown trout are just an added bonus.
If you’re interested in winning a trip to the Limay River, enter the giveaway below:
The Amazon, an endless network of rivers, streams, and lakes, is one of the most captivating destinations on the planet for sport fishing. Teeming with biodiversity, it offers not only the thrill of trophy catches but a profound connection to the wild heart of the rainforest. Read along as Pedro Hartmann takes us through his story of targeting Cichla Pinima on the fly!
During a conversation with Rubens de Almeida Prado, better known as Rubinho, a legendary figure in Brazilian sport fishing and one of the country’s earliest advocates of fly fishing and catch-and-release, I learned about his long-standing operation on the Acari River. Rubinho, who trained under fly casting icon Mel Krieger in the 1990s, has spent over 30 years navigating and protecting this remote, pristine stretch of the Amazon. The Acari, a 300-kilometer tributary of the Canumã River in the state of Amazonas, winds through flooded forests, hidden lakes, and narrow channels. Rubinho knows every bend, eddy, and pool.
Fishing on the left bank of the Amazon River meant targeting the formidable Cichla pinima, a species of peacock bass that can reach up to 22 pounds and over 30 inches in length. Alongside them, we would also encounter Cichla monoculus, a smaller cousin found throughout much of Brazil, and countless other species that thrive in these fertile waters.
Our expedition would last two weeks aboard the Doutores das Águas, a floating lodge now dedicated to delivering medical aid to underserved Amazonian communities. (You can learn more HERE). The day of departure arrived, and with it came the nerves. We boarded a floatplane, my first time flying in one, and as it lifted into the sky, the immensity of the Amazon unfurled below us: a living, breathing mosaic of greens, broken only by winding rivers and scattered clearings. The closer we got to the forest, the more immense it felt. Towering trees reached up as if to greet us, and a quiet tension filled the cabin. Sweat beaded on my brow as we descended, but the landing on a mirror-still stretch of river was smoother than many I’ve experienced on tarmac.
Awaiting us on the water was the vessel that would be our home. The skiffs were already en route to shuttle us to our new basecamp. For the next 14 days, life would revolve around one thing: chasing the legendary pinima. Much of the fishing took place in tucked-away oxbow lakes, flooded jungle backwaters, and tight, overgrown creeks. Getting there often required muscle, cutting through branches, dragging boats, and bushwhacking into areas untouched by other anglers. We fished with 8- and 9-weight rods, using floating lines for poppers and intermediate lines for Clousers and streamers.
The days blurred together in the best way. The action was nonstop, with double-digit mornings and fish between 7 and 15 pounds being common. We bent hooks, snapped leaders, and lost count of the strikes. And while not every fish made it to the boat, the sheer energy of each encounter kept us coming back for more.
But the Amazon is more than just fish. It’s the golden light of dawn reflecting off the water. It’s the cry of howler monkeys in the trees, the flash of macaws overhead, and the surreal beauty of a world that feels almost untouched by time. The fish are the bonus. Two weeks passed in what felt like hours. And I know this for certain. I’ll be back. Huge thanks to Rubinho, Mauro, and the team at Doutores das Águas for one of the most immersive, awe-inspiring experiences I’ve ever had in the greatest rainforest on Earth.
