Fishing with Capt. George Tunison | More tips to improve your chances of catching a tarpon
If you want to be successful at catching coastal tarpon moving along the beach to a mile or more offshore, learn not to get behind and chase them as this tactic only scares them.
If you’re new to this game and lucky enough to even spot a pod of tarpon, then the best plan is to motor out away and then ahead of the string of moving fish. Now that you’re a good distance ahead, pull back in taking your best guess as to their intended path. Set up off to either side of it within casting distance then shut down and quiet the boat while loading baits.
What to throw? A fresh and frisky sabiki-caught threadfin is always a good choice to present in front of an approaching school either freelined or under a small float. Take the time to sabiki threadfins around markers or bridges to get the best quality baits unmolested by the netting or the bait store holding tank process and never overload the livewell, which keeps them lively and simply too delicious looking to pass up.
A small pass crab is considered tarpon candy in most situations, especially in the passes as well as the beach, but now isn’t the time to find out your stiff 6-foot big game rod isn’t capable of casting tiny crabs more than 20 yards. Ideally, a longer spinning rod of 7 to 8 feet with a flexible tip and plenty of backbone does the job.
Spool up a quality reel capable of holding at least 250-300 yards of 40-60 pound braid and you’re half way home. I like to double about 10 inches of the end of my main line with a Bimini Twist (actually for the last decade I’ve had zero failures using the much easier to tie Spider Hitch although the Bimini remains the very best line doubling knot), then attach it to a 50 to 60-pound test fluorocarbon leader with a Bristol or FG Knot. Add the hook to the leader using your favorite knot.
When casting lures, try an Offshore Loop Knot which is very strong, easy to tie and allows maximum action for jig head type soft plastic swimbaits and eels.
Doubling your main line provides extra shock absorption on hard hits and hook sets. Many think it’s not necessary but it’s typically standard practice on most big game offshore riggings.
Pinfish are also coastal candy, especially when pinned through the shoulders just ahead of the dorsal fin and struggling against the small float keeping it from shelter and safety. Here again a flexible tipped rod allows casting small items good distances. Try not to hit the lead tarpon on the head, rather cast beyond and across the approaching pod’s path and then reel it into position before they get there is the ticket. Set up your own pinfish trap on a grass flat to obtain the best baits.
Here are some other tactics. Setting up and chumming the approaching pod might hold them and even convince one of them to inhale a free falling wounded baitfish hiding your circle hook or to pick up a dead bait from the bottom.
Try this offbeat tip from guide and TV personality CA Richardson. Remove the treble hooks and split rings from an old classic 51 series MirrOlure. Turn the line tie to the horizontal position then add a quarter-inch piece of shrink tubing to the line tie and heat to shrink it. Now simply push a 5/0 – 6/0 circle hook through the rubber and line tie from bottom to top which now holds the hook in position. Reel this rig back in a simple, very slow, straight line, non-erratic retrieve in front of the approaching school.
Unweighted Hogy eels nose-hooked with circle hooks or jig head weighted are always good choices, to try as well as a perfectly presented slow moving fly that looks too easy to pass up.
Capt. George Tunison is a Cape Coral resident fishing guide. You can contact him at captgeorget4@yahoo.com or (239) 440-1621.