Tarpon fishing arguably has the richest fly fishing history, sans trout fishing. Since the first tarpon caught on rod and reel in 1885, the Silver King has captured countless saltwater anglers in the pursuit of the perfect gamefish. They grow to giant sizes, readily eat flies, and can be sight fished in crystal clear water. Not to mention, the ensuing battle is something so special that even the best writers fail to capture the emotions of fighting a tarpon.
As the pursuit of tarpon continued to grow, so did its rich history. Anglers and guides pioneered techniques, chased records, and grew the sport of tarpon fishing. With three major tarpon fly tournaments every year, the Golden Fly, Don Hawley Invitational, and the Gold Cup, it’s easy to base this list on the winningest anglers. While some of the anglers on this list have been successful in tournament fishing, that is not what this list is about. Our list of tarpon anglers transcends the individual standing on the front of the skiff or poling a boat. This list is comprised of anglers, guides, and individuals who have played pivotal roles in advancing the pursuit of tarpon, laying the groundwork for others, and developing the techniques, gear, and flies we use today. These are the most influential tarpon anglers of all time.
Steve Huff
There’s an easy argument to be made that Steve Huff is the guide of all guides. Just ask any South Florida guide, and Huff’s name is spoken with reverence. He has been guiding for over 50 years in the Florida Keys and Everglades. As a tournament guide, Steve and his anglers have won 14 major tournaments, including three Gold Cup wins. Huff also played a pivotal role in pioneering the techniques and gear needed for record fishing. During the peak of Homosassa fishing, Steve Huff guided angler Tom Evans to six tarpon IGFA records, some of which still stand today. Huff was also the first guide to be inducted into the IGFA Hall of Fame in 2010. Monte Burke, author of Lords of the Fly, profiles Steve Huff best in his piece for Garden & Gun.
Andy Mill
Just as Steve Huff’s name is solidified as the greatest tarpon guide, Andy Mill’s name is synonymous with the greatest tarpon angler. Andy Mill grew up in Aspen, Colorado, where he skied and trout fished. He later went on to be a part of the Olympic Ski Team, before leaving it all and discovering tarpon fishing. Mill is credited with more major tarpon tournament wins than any other angler. Twelve in total with five Gold Cups, six Golden Flies, and A Don Hawley Invitational. Andy has written THE book on tarpon, A Passion for Tarpon, unveiling his wealth of knowledge to other inspiring anglers.
In addition, he hosts the Mill House Podcast alongside his son Nicky Mill, preserving the stories of other legendary guides and anglers forever. This is just a fraction of what Andy Mill has accomplished in his life of fishing, making him a sure pick for our list.
Flip Pallot
Many know Flip Pallot from his show The Walker’s Cay Chronicles, in which he traveled and fly fished around the world. While this series certainly inspired generations of anglers, that is not why he made this list. Born in South Florida in 1942, Flip quickly became obsessed with chasing saltwater species. From Biscayne Bay to the jungles of the Everglades, Pallot explored and pioneered early fly fishing for tarpon, bonefish, redfish, and snook. Flip even played a pivotal role in mentoring others, such as Rob Fordyce. He is a true student of the wild and one we couldn’t leave off this list.
Harry Spear
Any list of tarpon icons would not be complete without Harry Spear. He made a name for himself guiding in the Keys and is among some of the winningest guides in history when it comes to competitive fly fishing. Spear is credited with 43 tournament wins, including five Gold Cups. He helped mold people like Andy Mill into some of the best tarpon anglers the sport has ever seen.
Harry’s knowledge of fishing and ability to dissect new fisheries are evident. After he made a name for himself in the Keys, he left for the Panhandle of Florida, where he reinvented himself and resides today. Spear started his own boat company, Spear Boatworks, where he builds fine-tuned skiffs designed for serious anglers.
Stu Apte
If there’s one individual responsible for the techniques and tactics of modern tarpon angling, it would be Stu Apte. Born in Miami in the 1930s, Apte went on to be a fighter pilot before transitioning to a commercial pilot. The whole time he flew commercially, Apte would take every free moment he had to fish the Florida Keys and Everglades in search of tarpon. He later became a guide and pioneered early techniques, gear, and flies needed to tangle with the Silver King. Apte’s legacy extends much further than tarpon fishing. In fact, he set 44 line class records across tarpon, sailfish, mahi-mahi, and more. He is an inductee of nearly every fishing club there is, including the IGFA and the Fishing Hall of Fame.
In addition to his fishing accolades, Stu Apte is also an accomplished author with works featured in Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, and Sports Afield. He also hosted several shows and published books, including My Life in Fishing: Favorite Long Stories Told Short. In the early pursuit of saltwater fly fishing, few figures have made such an impact as Stu Apte.
Billy Pate
Billy Pate is known as one of the greatest record fishermen of all time. He traveled the world searching for new records and eventually went on to catch 225 world records on the fly. Of these records, the chase for a 200-lb tarpon was at the top of his list. While Pate never caught the 200-lb fish he was after, his legacy in tarpon fishing was forever solidified.
He could be found standing on the front of a skiff in Homosassa during the glory days, eagerly awaiting schools of giant tarpon. In 1982, he caught the 16-pound test tippet record, at 188 pounds—a record that stood for 22 years. While Pate’s obsession with records drove him to great lengths, it also revolutionized the sport of tarpon fishing on the fly. With the help of Ted Jurascik, the two developed the first anti-reverse fly reel. This was the perfect tool for fighting record-sized fish effectively. Billy Pate’s legacy and lasting impact on tarpon fishing solidify him in any conversation of the greatest tarpon anglers ever to swing a fly rod.
Tom Evans
The story of Homosassa and its legendary giant tarpon would not be complete without Tom Evans. Starting in the late 1970s, Tom Evans fished with Steve Huff in search of a record tarpon. On one particular day, while Evans was dealing with stomach issues at the back of the boat, he beckoned Huff to cast at incoming fish. Huff did, and after an ensuing battle, they landed and gaffed a 186-lb fish. It would have bested the current record by 16 pounds, but Huff refused to submit it.
And so, the ensuing chase for giants was on. Word got out, and the best fly anglers flocked annually to Homosassa in search of record fish. Over the course of the next 40 years, Evans would return annually to Homosassa, eventually catching and recording seven tarpon fly records, some of which still stand today. Evans unwavering drive and obsession with tarpon fishing have led him to become one of the greatest anglers to ever chase “the poon.” Today, he is an IGFA Trustee, promoting record fishing rules and ensuring lasting integrity in the pursuit of world records.
Ted Juracsik
Ted Juracsik is an accomplished angler in his own right, but it’s not what solidified him on this list. Juracsik was born in Hungary, eventually leaving for the United States when the Hungarian Revolution began. Here, he established himself as a renowned tool and die maker. One day, things would change forever with a chance encounter with Billy Pate at World Wide Sportsman.
Pate discussed how he needed a fly reel capable of landing fish. With Juracsik’s knowledge, the two got to work and developed the first anti-reverse fly reel. A necessary piece of the puzzle to land record-sized tarpon. Now, anglers had the gear they needed to pursue giants, and Juracsik’s reel became the choice of the best anglers everywhere. That company went on to become Tibor Reels, and they are still some of the leading reels today.
Lefty Kreh
To many, Lefty Kreh is the best fly angler ever. A true master of all, Lefty revolutionized fly design, casting techniques, and much, much more. Through a lifetime of fishing, he took this knowledge and turned it into useful information for all anglers, authoring books and teaching seminars worldwide.
While he may not be known for one particular style of fishing, his contributions to tarpon fishing are nothing short of impressive. Kreh designed the Deciever fly, one of the best tsaltwater flies of all time. In addition to that, he played a pivotal role in early tarpon fishing, helping elevate the sport to where it is today. Lefty Kreh’s dedication to all things fly fishing and passion for the Silver King make him a sure fit for any debate of the best tarpon anglers.
Rob Fordyce
When it comes to tarpon tournaments, it’s easy to make a case for Rob Fordyce as one of the best guides to ever pole a boat. He has won every tarpon tournament multiple times and is the only guide ever to win all four of the major tournaments. In fact, he’s already won the Golden Fly this year.
His knowledge and dedication to tarpon fishing are a 365-day-a-year job. Fordyce is constantly fine-tuning gear, hooks, and anything he can use to get an edge over the competition. His unwilling determination shows, and the results are there to back it up as one of the greatest tarpon guides ever.
Jared Raskob
Jared Raskob is one of the younger individuals on this list, but don’t let his age fool you. He jumped into the tournament scene with a bang, winning a Gold Cup and Golden Fly out of the gate. He soon went on to start his show, Silver Kings, dedicated to the exact fish Tarpon Week is all about. He is not just an incredible guide and angler, but a true steward of the sport. He uses his platform to promote organizations like Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. His love for tarpon and the places they live, along with his passion for conservation, earns him his spot on this list. People like Jared Raskob fighting for the future of tarpon fishing are what we need now more than ever.
David Mangum
To be great at something, you have to be obsessed, and David Mangum is that. Based in Apalachicola, Mangum gained notoriety after a YETI Presents film, 120 Days. The film showcases Mangum’s unwavering passion for catching giant tarpon… and we mean giants.
Mangum has built a reputation in Apalachicola as one of the most dedicated tarpon guides there is. Recently, Mangum has also fallen in love with permit fishing, a testament to being the best at hard things. If there’s one person who has shaken up the tarpon fishing scene in recent years, it would be David Mangum.