If you have never done any tarpon fishing, then this page will  give you an idea of what tarpon fishing is all about. You can now also view some of my tarpon fishing charters on video. Check out the Home Page to see the tarpon fishing videos.  But until you've fished for tarpon in Southwest Florida yourself you won't  appreciate what is involved in catching a fish as special as a tarpon.

Fish On! The " first stage" of a tarpon battle is a series of magnificent jumps and powerful runs up to 100 yards or more.

   45 Minutes Later " Stage two" is a brute struggle between man and beast. There aren't many jumps and its just your will against his. I've seen this stage last as long as two hours but with the correct techniques and tackle 20-30 minutes is enough to break an average sized tarpon's will.

  Official Catch! The " third stage" is a very difficult time for the tarpon and angler. The knots and line has been worn from the long battle and your arms feel like Jell-O.  The tarpon will usually make a couple of last effort jumps and a run or two under the boat before he rolls over and submits.

  A Quick Picture.  These days I do not  remove a tarpon over 40lbs from the water. In fact, a new law is in place that make it illegal to remove a large tarpon from the water. However, if the battle is short then a tarpon in good shape will survive.

Fully Revived and Ready For Release!  I always make sure that a tarpon is in good shape before I release it. While reviving a tarpon at the side of the charter boat, it's a good time to get some quality photo's of the full length of a large tarpon!

* Some of these photo's show tarpon being held out of the water with a gaff. This was common practice when I started guiding for tarpon almost 15 years ago. I no longer do this for the purpose of take pictures of tarpon. I have used a gaff when competing in the Professional Tarpon Tournament Series. When fishing in a tarpon tournament we are required to purchase a kill tag in order to put a gaff through the lip of a tarpon even if we are releasing it. A photo along side of the boat or a photo out of the boat while holding a tarpon in the water is the best way to get a good photo and it's better for the survival of the tarpon as well.

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*Assorted Tarpon Fishing photo's*

  Uh Oh! This tarpon fishing battle is not over yet!  Good form! Always bow to the a tarpon when it is in the air.

That's a nice 80-pound beach tarpon!

A 60-pound Tarpon shakes it's head near the end of a great tarpon fishing fight!

That's me releasing a smaller 40 pound class tarpon off the southwest coast of Marco Island, Florida.

Who's Next!

Call 941-575-2389 to Book a Tarpon FishingTrip!