As dawn breaks, and that first caffeine hit of the morning begins to take effect, this is the time of the silver king… Although the light is flat at this time of day, this makes it optimum for searching for tarpon. The inky black surface gives nothing away and anglers rely on surface activity which the tarpon duly obliges. Leaving the tangle of mangrove roots, the silver king moves in schools into open water. They roll through the surface like porpoising dolphins hunting large shoals of sardines, flashes of silver catching the early morning light. A 1/0 white Tarpon Toad grabs the fish’s attention and soon the calm of dawn is smashed by large, angry fish taking to the surface. As many fish are lost as landed, but by bowing to the king those odds often shift towards the angler.
Tarpon thrive in the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean and inhabit a huge variety of water systems. Many saltwater anglers cut their teeth on the “baby tarpon”, ranging from 5 to 30lb, these are found in extensive mangrove lagoons and channels. The smaller tarpon use a network of hidden channels to navigate the mangrove forests, often feeding deep in the tangle of branches and routes. Anglers can catch glimpses of them at the edges of the mangroves or when the fish move out at low tide to feed in open water. In the open lagoons, larger resident tarpon, 30-60lb can be found as they move in from deeper channels to target shoaled up baitfish.
The silver king is not just restricted to the salt flats and mangroves, they will move into brackish and even fresh water to feed when conditions and environments allow. This allows anglers to target this special fish in unique jungle environments. The tarpon in these settings can far outsize the those in the mangrove lagoons, with fish ranging from 5 to 200lb in the smallest of jungle streams.
The ultimate goal is to chase the huge migratory fish as they navigate the warm currents of the Atlantic between west Africa and the Caribbean. These fish can be anywhere from 60-250lb+. They are true tackle-testers and can be targeted in deep water currents, coastal surf, river estuaries and even the clearwater flats. Just to see these fish is awestriking, let alone actually hooking one!
Tarpon inhabit some of the most intriguing destinations in the world, making their pursuit an international adventure. Your hunt for the silver king will take you to:
Antigua, The Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Gabon, Mexico, Nicaragua, Venezuela
Our Best Tarpon Destinations blog gives further information on where you might head to fish for these exhilarating fish.
To discuss bonefishing ideas, please contact Alex Jardine or Peter McLeod or call the office on +44 1980 847389.
About the author: Alex Jardine