For a lot of anglers, tarpon fishing is the ultimate inshore big game thrill, easily accessible and a reason that many of us live in the area. From backyard Cape canals to famous Boca Grande Pass, to coastal migrations and resident golden hued river fish, we definitely have a tarpon for everyone. Dead and live baiting, lures, fly rods, day and or night fishing all have their place, and all methods produce at one time or another with each presenting its on challenges. Fortunately, with local pass, river, coastal and backcountry opportunities, you get to practice your favorite angling method.

If you’ve caught your fair share of tarpon over the years, try this challenge to get the blood flowing again. To me any tarpon on my line from two pounds to a hundred and beyond is just awesome. If it’s fought using a fly rod, automatically add 100 points to the awesomeness scale. Now, try it at night around our river bridges, for the ultimate, two-man-team skiff challenge. Over the years I’ve had a core group of repeat fly rod guests that wait all year to make their summer trip to enjoy the thrill and at times, the complete chaos of night bridge battles with some really big fish that just love to shred expensive fly lines or reel backings on crusty pilings and concrete supports.

This team challenge is best done from a nimble flats boat with a snag-free casting deck and more importantly, with an experienced boat-handling captain that can communicate with the angler to help read the direction of the fish and if need be, get you and the boat safely through the pilings hopefully still attached to the fish.

Fly line management is hard enough for the non-experienced caster, and, of course, a steady breeze and the dim lights of the bridge at night don’t help. It’s a law of nature that if you pick up a fly rod you know it’s probably going to blow at least 15 so a belt-worn or deck-mounted stripping basket really helps allowing you to concentrate on your presentation.

Strip several rod lengths of line into your basket or mat and stand at the ready with fly in hand while scanning the shadow lines created by the overhead bridge lights looking for rollers ready to fire off a cast. If there’s no visible action then blind casting to high percentage areas is the obvious deal.

Suddenly you’ve hooked up; the fish is in the air, now back in the water and probably heading one of two ways. If you’re lucky the panicked fish will stay and fight on “this side” of the bridge. If the fish decided that freedom lies on the other side of the bridge and is already jumping on the other side, this is where communication with the captain makes or breaks the fight. At this point everything rests on not letting that line, which is under maximum pressure, touch that concrete, which shreds and typically pops it. Your new hundred dollar 90-foot fly line is now 23 feet but if you’re lucky, you’ve made it through the bridge heart-pounding moment and are now on to enjoying the rest of the fight and careful release.

For night duty, I want to present a larger profile fly so I typically rely on 5-inch, white with silver flash Seaducer-style flies or the same pattern in black. Gear up with a 12-weight rod, heavier leader and a captain that can communicate and handle a skiff under pressure, to enjoy this summer tarpon night challenge.

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Having constant maintenance problems due to ethanol caused fuel contamination? You may need the services of a fuel polishing/tank cleaning service to drain and clean the fuel as well as cleaning out your tank. Afterwards replace all filters, fuel up and change the water separating filter 3 to 4 times a year.

Capt. George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide. Contact him at 239-282-9434 or captgeorget3@aol.com.