Tarpon along Florida's "Space Coast" are most often overlooked by anglers, as they are hidden behind the huge hype over redfish and trout.   Don't get me wrong, I love fishing for reds and trout - and fish for them almost exclusively 6 months out of  the year.  However, from Cocoa Beach down to Sebastian there is a unique tarpon fishery during the summer and fall months that is relatively unknown, even by the local anglers. . . and the tarpon fishing is now just starting to heat up! 

What makes this fishery in so unique, are the different habitats that the fish are living in, and the scenery surrounding them.  The two situations that have been holding the biggest groups of fish, are depressions on the inside of flats, and within mangrove lined creeks.  The schools and groups of tarpon have been mixed with a variety of different sized fish from 3 pound "mosquito ditch" fish, to 80 pounders.  The best areas have been  in the Indian River around Merritt Island, and Sebastian.

I have been starting out the mornings back inside of the creeks, casting to the rollers.  These creek fish have been shutting down by late morning.  I then have then been moving out to the flats, and sight-fishing the groups of fish laying up in the 2-3 foot holes (on the inside of very shallow flats).  It seems as though the outer shallow flat acts as a protection buffer from boats and predators.   Most of these fish are quite willing to bite a fly, and shiny baitfish patterns  have worked the best.  The bait of choice would be a live mullet or pogie.

Photo #1 is of a nice 50inch fish caught by Lorie.  This fish was a very fun catch, in that we caught it back inside of a creek not much wider than the boat.  It was laying about 15 feet from the boat with a dozen of its friends before it inhaled Lorie's bait - what an incredible bite! Photo # 2 is another fun 50inch fish that was caught at the entrance of a creek near Sebastian.  This fish was tamed by Mariah, a very talented lady angler - it was brought in and released very quickly to fight another day.

For more info or to book a trip with Capt Peter Deeks visit Native Sons Fishing

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