Megalops atlanticus. The most prized inshore gamefish on Earth. May through July, a
few hundred feet off the Sarasota beach and through Boca Grande Pass, fish in the
80–150 pound class roll, eat live bait, and jump six feet out of the water on the
hookset. Here's what you need to know — and how to book the trip.
There is no inshore gamefish like a tarpon. The first time one eats your bait and
clears the water — six feet of mirror-bright fish, gill plates flared, head shaking
— you remember it for the rest of your life. They live 50+ years, swim from
Venezuela to Virginia, and most years a few hundred of them stage right off Lido and
Siesta Key in May and June. Catching one is a rite of passage on the Gulf Coast.
🎯
Why People Fly to Sarasota
Tarpon are catchable from Texas to Africa, but the Sarasota–Boca Grande corridor
offers a unique combination: warm shallow staging beaches, deep concentrated
passes (Big Pass, New Pass, Boca Grande), and decades of captain knowledge of
where they roll and when. Trophy fish are realistic; numbers are reliable.
🪝
The Boca Grande Angle
Boca Grande Pass — 30 miles south of Sarasota at the mouth of Charlotte Harbor —
is widely called the Tarpon Capital of the World. Concentrated outgoing-tide
schools stage in the deep hole there in May and June. Our captain network
includes Boca-based captains for dedicated trips on the world's most famous
tarpon water.
♻️
Pure Catch & Release
Tarpon are catch-and-release only in Florida. Every fish goes back. Our captains
keep fish in the water for photos, support the body horizontally, and revive
thoroughly before release — the population needs every fish back swimming.
Know Your Quarry
Biology & Anatomy
Megalops atlanticus
Atlantic Tarpon
Large, deeply compressed, mirror-bright body. Massive scales the size of poker
chips. Distinctive upturned mouth — they feed by inhaling prey from below. The
single dorsal fin has a long trailing filament. Adults run 4–8 feet long; the
largest fish exceed 200 pounds.
Range: Nova Scotia to Brazil (western Atlantic) and west Africa coast
Lifespan: Documented to 60+ years
Sexual maturity: ~10–13 years (~80 lb)
Air-breathing: Lung-like swim bladder lets them gulp surface air — that's the famous "roll"
The Migration
Why They're Here in May
Atlantic tarpon spawn offshore in early summer. The spring migration up the Gulf
Coast and down the Florida Atlantic coast stages fish on warmwater beaches and
in passes adjacent to deep spawning grounds. Sarasota and Boca Grande sit on the
primary corridor — fish move north along the beach, eat heavily on baitfish, and
push through the passes on outgoing tides.
April: First arrivals at Boca Grande Pass
May–June: Peak concentration, heavy beach feeds
July: Fish thinning out, late-season window
Aug–Sep: Most fish gone offshore to spawn
Oct–Mar: Rare; resident fish only in deep canals
The bony mouth · why circle hooks matter
Month by Month
When to Fish Tarpon
Tarpon fishing in Sarasota and Boca Grande is a tight seasonal window. The fish move
through; you don't get a year-round shot. Plan your trip in May or June for the
best odds, with April and July as shoulder windows.
Jan – Mar
Off-Season
Tarpon are offshore or down in the Keys. Resident fish exist in warmwater outflows
and deep canals but they're not a target species. Snook, sheepshead, and
redfish are the inshore game in winter.
April
First Arrivals
Late April brings the first reliable catches at Boca Grande. Sarasota beaches
start producing rolling pods by late month. Fish are scattered, captains scout
heavily. Numbers up by the last week.
May – June
Peak
The window. Hill Tide schools at Boca Grande, daisy chains on
the beach, hot bites in Big Pass and New Pass on outgoing tides. Book trips 2–4
weeks ahead — the calendar fills.
July – Aug
Fading Window
July still produces, especially the first two weeks. By August most fish have
moved offshore to spawn. Late-season trips trade reliability for solitude — fewer
boats on the water.
Spots Near Sarasota
Where We Find Them
Three primary patterns: deep passes on tide changes, the surfline at first light, and
the Boca Grande Pass deep hole during peak season. Each requires a different boat
position, bait choice, and presentation. Our captains pick the pattern based on
conditions on your day.
26.7197° N, 82.2599° W
Boca Grande Pass
The flagship spot · 30 mi south
The deep hole between Gasparilla Island and Cayo Costa where Charlotte Harbor
empties. Concentrated outgoing-tide schools in May and June. Hill Tides — the
outgoing tides during full and new moons — produce the most legendary bites. Best
for live mullet free-line, live crabs, and big jigs in the deep hole.
27.3083° N, 82.5806° W
Big Pass (Sarasota)
Home water · 5 min from the marina
The cut between Lido Key and Siesta Key. Tarpon stage at the mouth on outgoing
tides in May and June and feed actively as bait gets pushed out of the bay. The
channel edges and the rock jetties hold fish. Ideal for live bait free-lined or a
weighted egg-sinker rig.
27.3304° N, 82.5878° W
New Pass
Lido / Longboat cut · less pressure
The pass between Lido Key and Longboat Key. Smaller and less pressured than Big
Pass, with similar tarpon staging behavior in season. Excellent for fly anglers —
the cleaner water and lighter boat traffic make sight casting more reliable on
calm mornings.
🎣
The beach pattern: Don't overlook the surfline. From the last
week of April through June, daisy chains and rolling pods of tarpon move along the
Gulf-facing beaches of Lido, Siesta, and Longboat, often within 100 feet of the
first sandbar. A quiet boat, polarized glasses, and a long cast with a live mullet
can put you on a 100-pound fish before 7 a.m.
The Map
Where, When & How — Tarpon Spots from Bradenton to Boca
Twelve named tarpon spots from Anna Maria Island down to Boca Grande Pass — color
coded by habitat (passes, beaches, backcountry flats, harbor). Click any marker to
see the spot's peak months, ideal tide stage, the bait we run there, and how to
access it. Built on satellite imagery so you can read the structure of each pass and
pick lines for yourself.
Habitat
PassesStrong currents · deep · tide-driven · the iconic tarpon water
BeachesSight-fishing pods at first light along the Gulf-facing surfline
Backcountry / FlatsCalm-water laid-up fish · fly-and-spin sight-casts
HarborProtected staging water adjacent to the famous passes
BridgesStructure + lights · summer tarpon · year-round snook at night
Tarpon are visual feeders that key on natural prey movement. The captain matches bait
to conditions: live mullet for big fish, threadfin or pinfish for finicky fish, live
crabs at Boca Grande on outgoing tide. Hooking method matters as much as bait choice.
01
Live Mullet — Free-Line
Beach & passes · The primary technique
An 8–12″ live mullet, back-hooked just in front of the dorsal fin on a 7/0–8/0
circle hook, drifted on a 5-foot 60-lb fluorocarbon leader behind a barrel
swivel. Cast past a rolling pod, let the mullet swim to the strike zone. The fish
approaches from below and inhales the bait. Wait for the line to come tight —
don't set the hook on a circle.
Setup: 50–60 lb braid → barrel swivel → 5 ft 60 lb fluorocarbon
→ 7/0–8/0 in-line circle → live mullet, back-hook.
02
Live Crab — Boca Grande Specialty
Outgoing tides · Hill Tide weeks · Boca Grande Pass
Pass crabs (live, palm-sized, captured at the surface in current lines) free-lined
on a 7/0 circle through one of the corner points of the shell. The single most
iconic Boca Grande tarpon technique. Effective in the deep hole on outgoing tide
because crabs ARE what the staging tarpon are eating — flushed out of the bay on
the dropping tide.
Note: Crab availability peaks during Hill Tides (full and new
moon outgoings). Captains capture them with long-handled dip nets while running
the channel.
03
Threadfin Herring or Pinfish — Finicky Days
When mullet aren't producing
On days when tarpon are present but won't commit to mullet, drop down to a
5–7″ live threadfin or pinfish on a 5/0–6/0 circle hook. Smaller bait,
faster swim action, often gets a tighter eat. Pin-hooked through both nostrils
for free-line presentations or back-hooked for free-fall.
04
Cut Mullet — Bottom Rig (Boca Hole)
Heavy current · Deep hole presentations
Where strong current keeps live bait too high in the column to reach the staging
fish, switch to a cut mullet head on a 8/0–10/0 circle hook below a 4–8 oz egg
sinker. The head sits on the bottom in the strike zone where outgoing-tide
tarpon hold. A traditional Boca Grande technique that still produces big fish.
Artificial Presentations
Lure & Fly
Tarpon will eat artificial — and on the right day, eat them aggressively. The choice
between lure and fly is mostly about the experience you want and the conditions on
the water. Both are 100% catch and release; both demand precise presentations.
Lure Fishing
Soft-plastic swimbaits (5–7″) on heavy jigheads, large topwater plugs at
first light, and white bucktail jigs deep in passes are the productive Sarasota
lure choices. The key is matching the swim profile of natural prey — slow,
steady, deliberate.
Topwater plugs: Sunrise on the beach over rolling pods
Soft swimbaits: Mullet imitations free-lined in passes
Bucktail jigs: Boca hole, jigged on the bottom
Lipped diving plugs: Trolled along beach edges
Fly Fishing
12-weight rod, intermediate or floating line, hand-tied tarpon flies (Black
Death, Toad patterns, EP Mullet) in 3/0–5/0. Sight-cast to laid-up or rolling
fish from a poled flats skiff. The most rewarding way to catch a tarpon — and
the most demanding. Not a first-timer pursuit.
Rod: 12-wt with anti-reverse reel
Leader: 60 lb butt → 16 lb class → 60 lb shock
Patterns: Black/purple in low light, tan/white midday
Conditions: Calm wind, clear water, sunlit fish
Gear Provided
Tackle & What to Bring
Every tackle item below is provided by the captain. The list is here so you know
what's on the boat — and so you can match it if you want to bring your own
favorite outfit.
Provided on Every Charter
50–80 lb class spinning rods (8'–8'6″)
Saltwater spinning reels (5500 size, 80 lb braid)
60–100 lb fluorocarbon leader material
7/0–10/0 in-line circle hooks (Owner, Mustad)
Live bait — mullet, threadfin, crabs as available
Cooler with ice for drinks
Polarized fishing license (covered by captain)
USCG-compliant safety gear, first aid
What You Bring
Reef-safe sunscreen (SPF 30+)
Polarized sunglasses (no exceptions — you need them)
Sun hat or buff
Non-marking soft-sole shoes
Snacks and drinks (no glass)
Camera or pro photo/video add-on
Cash for tips (industry standard 15-20%)
Strong arms and a willingness to fight
Bait Effectiveness
What Tarpon Actually Eat
Bait
Rating
Best Conditions
Best Spots
Live Mullet (8–12″)
★★★★★
Beach pods, pass tides
Big Pass, New Pass, beachfronts
Live Pass Crabs
★★★★★
Hill Tide outgoings
Boca Grande Pass deep hole
Live Threadfin / Pinfish
★★★★★
When mullet not producing
All passes, beach pods
Cut Mullet (head)
★★★★★
Heavy current, deep hole
Boca Grande, Big Pass channel
Soft Swimbaits (artificial)
★★★★★
Sight-fishing rolling pods
Beach, calm mornings
Topwater Plugs (artificial)
★★★★★
First light, calm surface
Beach pods at sunrise
Tarpon Fly (12-wt)
★★★★★
Calm, clear, sunlit
Backcountry laid-up fish, beach
By the Numbers
Records & Stats
286
IGFA All-Tackle (lb)
243
Florida Record (lb)
60+
Years (lifespan)
10
Yrs to Maturity
12M
Eggs / Spawn
"First-time client books a 6-hour. Hour two, they hook a 110-pound tarpon in the
mouth of Big Pass. Forty-five minutes later, the fish is at the boat — three jumps,
one near-spool, the angler is shaking. We get the leader, snap a photo, the captain
revives the fish, off it goes. They're crying. They book another trip on the
spot. That's tarpon. That's why people fly to Sarasota in May."
— A Sarasota.fish captain, May 2024
Captain's Clip
Tarpon on Film — The Best of Boca & Sarasota
Captain's-shot footage · boatside silver king · sarasota.fish captain network
Below: a curated archive of public YouTube footage of Sarasota and Boca Grande
tarpon fishing — from raw 200-pound fights to fly-fishing instruction to
first-timer adventures. Click any thumbnail to play the video in place. We add new
clips as captains and creators publish them.
boca grande
Florida Fishing MUST! Tarpon Fishing in Boca Grande Pass
YouTube
Boca Grande hailed as the Tarpon Capital of the World. A solid orientation video for what to expect on a pass trip.
boca grande
Tarpon Fishing Boca Grande with 40-Year Legend Capt. Robert McCue
YouTube
Time on the water with Capt. Robert McCue — one of the longest-tenured tarpon guides in Boca Grande. Hill Tide and Gulf Spawn fishing.
boca grande
Tarpon Fishing Boca Grande: The Most Insane Experience!
YouTube
Modern, action-heavy edit of a peak-season Boca Grande trip. Good for first-timers wanting to see what the fight looks like.
boca grande
Bow To The King! Tarpon Fishing Boca Grande
YouTube
"Bow to the king" is the move when a tarpon jumps — drop the rod tip toward the fish. This video shows the technique and the fish that triggers it.
boca grande
Fishing For 200 lb Tarpon in Boca Grande Pass — LIVE
YouTube
A real-time fight with a true trophy fish. Long, raw, unedited — the closest you get to "what it actually feels like."
sarasota
Tarpon on the Beach — Capt. Blair Wiggins & Capt. Jeff Hagaman
Addictive Fishing
Sight-fishing tarpon on the Gulf-side beach. Same beach pattern that runs in front of Lido and Siesta Key in May–June.
boca grande
Fishing with Pierce: Thrilling Tarpon Adventure in Boca Grande
YouTube
Younger anglers, fast pace, accessible angle on Boca Grande tarpon for a first-timer audience.
boca grande
Fishing for Tarpon in Boca Grande Pass — Bumper Boat Style!
YouTube
Hill Tide week. Crowd of boats, tight tarpon staging — the chaotic side of peak-season Boca Grande.
fly fishing
How to Fly Fish for Tarpon — S3 E6
YouTube (educational series)
Educational walkthrough of fly tackle, leader formula, fly selection, and the cast for tarpon. Watch before booking a fly trip.
Videos credited to their original creators. Click through to YouTube to subscribe and
support the channels making this content.
Tip of the Hat
Notable Tarpon Guides of the Region
Sarasota.fish is a captain network — but we know we're not the only people
catching tarpon on this coast. Here are some of the most respected guides working
Boca Grande, Sarasota, and the broader Southwest Florida fishery. If our calendar
is full, or if your style fits theirs better, give them a shout.
Capt. Bo Smith
Legend · Boca Grande
Historical legend. Widely cited as one of the all-time great Boca Grande Pass tarpon captains.
Capt. Robert McCue
Boca Grande
40-year career on Boca Grande tarpon. Featured in dozens of fishing television and YouTube features.
Capt. Greg Penix
Boca Grande
30+ years guiding Charlotte Harbor and Boca Grande Pass. Full-time tarpon specialist.
Credit and links provided as a courtesy to the regional fishery. Inclusion here is
not a paid arrangement and does not imply affiliation with sarasota.fish.
Captain's Photos
From the Boat — Real Sarasota Tarpon
Hero shots and night catches from our captains and from anglers we've put on
fish. Every fish in this gallery was released after the photo.
Boatside · big silverThe lookNight charterSpinning · boatsideRough night, big fish
From the Blog
Tarpon Reports & Stories
Latest tarpon-tagged posts from our captains. Fishing reports, conditions, peak
windows, and stories from the boat — published as the season unfolds.
Tarpon-tagged posts will appear here as captains publish
fishing reports through the season.
Tag any post with tarpon in the admin and it surfaces on this
page automatically.
Tarpon are catch-and-release-only in Florida saltwater. A
$50 IGFA tarpon kill tag may be purchased to retain a single fish ONLY if it is a
potential IGFA world or state record. All other tarpon must be released, and any
tarpon over 40″ must remain in the water during release. Always verify
current rules at myfwc.com before
your trip.
♻️
Best release practices: Fight the fish quickly with appropriate
tackle. Keep the fish in the water — never lift a tarpon over 40″ out of the
water. Support the body horizontally with both hands during photos. Revive by
holding the fish facing into the current until it kicks free under its own power.
Tarpon populations are slow to mature (10+ years to spawn) and every released
fish matters.
When is the best time to fish tarpon near Sarasota?
May through July is the absolute peak. Fish in the 80-150 pound class start staging on the beach and through the passes in late April, peak through mid-June, and stay catchable into July. By August, most fish have moved out — late-season trips can still produce, but May-June is the window.
Where is Boca Grande Pass and why does it matter?
Boca Grande Pass is the deep cut between Gasparilla Island and Cayo Costa, about 30 miles south of Sarasota at the mouth of Charlotte Harbor. It is widely called the Tarpon Capital of the World — concentrated outgoing-tide schools of tarpon stage in the deep hole there in May and June. Our network includes captains based out of Boca Grande for dedicated trips.
How big do tarpon get in Florida?
The IGFA all-tackle world record is 286 pounds, 9 ounces (Guinea-Bissau, 2003). Florida's state record is 243 pounds. Realistic Sarasota and Boca Grande catches range from 60 to 180 pounds, with typical fish in the 80-130 pound range. Anything over 150 pounds is a trophy.
Can you keep a tarpon?
No — tarpon in Florida are a catch-and-release-only species (with one narrow exception for an IGFA record kill tag, which costs $50 and can only be obtained for a specific potential record fish). Treat every tarpon as a release. Keep them in the water for photos, support the body horizontally, and revive thoroughly before letting go.
Do I need experience to catch a tarpon?
No — most of our tarpon clients are first-time tarpon anglers. The captain handles boat positioning, bait selection, and rigging. Your job is to follow instructions, hold on, and stay on the fish through the jumps. That said: tarpon fights are physically demanding (often 30-90 minutes), so be ready for a workout.
What tackle does the captain provide?
Everything. Heavy spinning or conventional rods (50-80 lb class), high-capacity reels with 50-80 lb braid and 60-100 lb fluorocarbon leader, the right circle hooks for the bait used that day, and live bait (mullet, threadfin, or crabs depending on conditions). All you bring is sun protection, water, and a willingness to fight a big fish.
How much does a tarpon charter cost?
Rates vary by captain, vessel, trip length, and group size. Tarpon trips are typically 6-8 hours and priced higher than standard inshore due to the specialized gear and bait. Call or text 941-294-4144 for current rates and availability.
Can I sight-fish tarpon on the fly?
Yes — our fly captains run dedicated fly trips during peak season targeting rolling pods on the beach and laid-up fish in the backcountry. 12-weight rod, intermediate or floating line, hand-tied tarpon flies. Spot-and-cast presentations only; not for first-timers but the most rewarding way to catch a tarpon.
