The waters surrounding Anna Maria Island in May are host to one of the most popular game fish in Florida.
Yes.
You guessed it.
Tarpon.
The silver king.
The notorious tackle-busters take up residence along our local beaches and in the bays, wreaking havoc on unsuspecting bait schools and helpless crabs as they wash into the passes on outgoing tides.
There are resident tarpon that live in our waters year-round, but most migrate here from southern waters and from the deep depths of the Gulf of Mexico.
In anticipation of spawning, the fish gather in local waters with one thing in mind. And that one thing requires a lot of energy.
So the fish are on the feed.
Gathering in the passes and in the bays provides an ample supply of food — crabs, shrimp and bait fish — for the pre-spawn fish to forage upon.
And that’s where we come into play.
Targeting the large game fish can be quite enjoyable for some, while for others it becomes an obsession. They are considered “big game” and they fall into the category of a “bucket-list” fish.
I can attest to this — having been guiding charters for the past 10 years.
A lot of my regular clients who typically target backcountry fish — snook, redfish and trout — have fancied hooking up with the elusive tarpon. And after successfully hooking and landing a trophy photo at the boat, they were happy to go back to catch the smaller species on the flats.
On the flipside, I have experienced anglers who, once they have hooked into one of these majestic silver kings, become addicted and lose interest in “small fry.”
The thrill of the hunt consumes them as they yearn for that fix of the battle, hooking into a fish that can weigh in excess of 150 pounds. The initial strike, followed by numerous leaps from the water and a drag-screaming run of 100 yards is a thrill that cannot be matched. And then settling in for the long fight ahead, drenched in sweat, arms shaking from fatigue, just to get a glimpse of the silver flash in the clear emerald green waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
“I see color!” they exclaim.
The fish is close, tired and ready to submit to being landed, and finally —sometimes after 45 minutes or more — the fish is at the surface ready for me to remove the hook from that large bony mouth.
And in the moment, as you look into that large eye, it seems to be looking back at you. Examining you, analyzing you, just as you are. It’s a moment of respect, remorse and nurturing mixed with the exhilarating sensation of successfully entering this animal’s world, only to release it back to its habitat to flourish and strike again.
Bittersweet, but mostly sweet.
“OK fish, settle down. I’m just going to pull this big circle hook out of you and let you go.”
And with the boat in gear, I’ll hold that big fish alongside for a while and gently flush some water through its gills.
Ahh, that’s better. Re-energized and, after a successful release, a celebratory high-five to the lucky angler who completed this task. It’s time to cherish the moment and motor back to the lineup of boats to wait and, hopefully, hook another one.
And if that doesn’t get you wanting to go tarpon fishing, I don’t know what will.
For those of you who are intrigued, May and June are prime time to tangle with these magnificent fish.
Just remember to practice proper etiquette on the water and to take great care in handling these gentle giants.
Although they are big, they’re delicate. So use proper gear that’s heavy enough to reel these fish in quickly, to put the least possible stress on them. Try not to lift them out of the water when dehooking them and always try to revive them before setting them free. Exhausted tarpon are prime targets for large bull and hammerhead sharks and can typically fall prey to predators if not fully revived before the release.
And the crowds. Don’t forget there can be crowds of boats, all targeting tarpon. This is especially apparent when fishing the passes. Use your best judgment on being courteous to other anglers. We all catch more fish when we work together and respect one another.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.