Tarpon Fishing with Live Bait Tips and Tricks
Tarpon fishing with live baits is one of the best ways to catch some huge tarpon in the inshore waters from the Carolinas around Florida all the way over to Texas. The best live baits are mullet, pin fish, white baits, ladyfish and crabs. You need at least a 50 pound leader for any tarpon over 30 pounds.
Tarpon anglers come from all over the world to Florida and a few other Southern states to catch a bucket list fish species like the tarpon and live baits are the best way to target this fish species.
*Tarpon are ranked #2 behind the Blue Marlin on the world's greatest game fish list.
Tarpon a.k.a. the silver king, are the best fighting inshore fish which is probably why so many people spend so much money trying to catch one.
The annual revenue that is directly tied to sport fishing in Florida is more than 9 billion dollars a year. The silver king is literally worth its weight in silver for Florida's economy. They are my favorite inshore fish to catch and I will tell you all of the tips and tricks that I have learned over the years for catching tarpon with live baits.
I am a FISHING CHARTER CAPTAIN on the Treasure Coast of Florida. I have been fishing the mangroves and grass flats all over Florida for more than 40 years. Tarpon fishing with live baits is a blast and I will teach you everything that I know about the subject in the article below.
Let's get started.
Watch the video below and catch more tarpon with live bait.
Tarpon fishing with live baits is one of the best ways to catch some huge tarpon in the inshore waters from the Carolinas around Florida all the way over to Texas. The best live baits are mullet, pin fish, white baits, ladyfish and crabs. You need at least a 50 pound leader for any tarpon over 30 pounds.
Tarpon anglers come from all over the world to Florida and a few other Southern states to catch a bucket list fish species like the tarpon and live baits are the best way to target this fish species.
*Tarpon are ranked #2 behind the Blue Marlin on the world's greatest game fish list.
Tarpon a.k.a. the silver king, are the best fighting inshore fish which is probably why so many people spend so much money trying to catch one.
The annual revenue that is directly tied to sport fishing in Florida is more than 9 billion dollars a year. The silver king is literally worth its weight in silver for Florida's economy. They are my favorite inshore fish to catch and I will tell you all of the tips and tricks that I have learned over the years for catching tarpon with live baits.
I am a FISHING CHARTER CAPTAIN on the Treasure Coast of Florida. I have been fishing the mangroves and grass flats all over Florida for more than 40 years. Tarpon fishing with live baits is a blast and I will teach you everything that I know about the subject in the article below.
Let's get started.
Watch the video below and catch more tarpon with live bait.
Tarpon Fishing with Live Bait in Inlets
Do you want to catch some BIG tarpon? Then fish in the inlets early in the morning; late in the day; or at night around inlets that are well lit. The big bruiser class of tarpon like to hunt the inlets.
The biggest tarpon that I have ever seen have all been around inlet mouths. The incoming or outgoing tide doesn't seem to matter if you are using live baits. However, the outgoing tide is better for catching tarpon with lures.
If you want do some tarpon fishing with live baits in the inlet make sure to bring your 5500 to 6500 series reel sizes and a medium/heavy rod. If you don't have beefed up tackle, then you will either not catch any tarpon or have to spend an hour fighting each one that you hook.
The best live bait for an inlet tarpon is a ladyfish or a big mullet. The ladyfish is a cousin of the tarpon but that does not stop them from destroying them when they get the chance. The best way to fish a ladyfish is debatable but I like to free line them in the inlets.
You can either drift the inlet pass and mouth with the tide or anchor up and let the ladyfish swim behind the boat waiting for the tarpon to hit. Either way works just fine but many tarpon fanatics seem to like one way or the other.
When the mullet schools are running the tarpon become laser focused on mullet. So give them what they want and pitch a mullet to them. Try to match the size of the mullet in the schools for best results.
In other words, if the mullet schools are finger mullets less than 6 inches long, then use a mullet that is less than six inches long. If the mullet are 12 to 15 inches long, then use a big one for best results.
In general, big baits catch bigger tarpon, but I have seen 6 feet tarpon eating 3 inch anchovies.
WANT TO CATCH A TARPON? BOOK YOUR FISHING CHARTER TODAY!
Tarpon Fishing with Live Bait off of the Beach
Catching tarpon off of the beach is a blast but if you don't have a boat you will need to wait until the higher parts of the tide to get at them. Big tarpon will come right up to the shoreline if that is where the bait is. They might literally be at your feet during the highest part of the tide.
I have seen them nearly beach themselves to get at the bait schools that will run the trough right at the shoreline. If you had a cane pole that was tough enough, then you might be able to catch one because they get that close.
The best way to fish live bait off of the beach is to bring a bubbler to keep them alive and net the bait right there. It is hard to move live bait up and down the beach effectively. When I am tarpon fishing with live bait I let the birds tell me where the bait is.
Once you find the birds that are diving on the bait, then you will know where the tarpon will be too. You can often see them blasting up through the middle of the schools becoming airborne. It is an amazing sight to see.
If the tarpon are out a little too for to cast your free lined live bait to, then add a weighted cork. Sometimes a couple extra ounces will help you get a smaller bait out to where the fish are. If you are already using a big mullet or ladyfish, then you are out of luck if you can't cast it far enough.
Learn more about how to catch a tarpon here.
The best time for live bait fishing off of the beach for tarpon is at sunrise or at sunset when the tide is high. The tarpon and other predators will usually have pushed any bait in the area up against the beach. That way you can cast to them.
If you have a boat, then getting at the tarpon isn't an issue when you target beach tarpon. All that you need is a day when the waves will let you get inside the sandbar to target those tarpon that are too far for surf casters to get at.
Sometimes that first sand bar is 100 yards off of the beach and the best beach fisherman in the world won't be able to get a live bait out that far. Those tarpon are just out of reach.
Catching tarpon off of the beach is a blast but if you don't have a boat you will need to wait until the higher parts of the tide to get at them. Big tarpon will come right up to the shoreline if that is where the bait is. They might literally be at your feet during the highest part of the tide.
I have seen them nearly beach themselves to get at the bait schools that will run the trough right at the shoreline. If you had a cane pole that was tough enough, then you might be able to catch one because they get that close.
The best way to fish live bait off of the beach is to bring a bubbler to keep them alive and net the bait right there. It is hard to move live bait up and down the beach effectively. When I am tarpon fishing with live bait I let the birds tell me where the bait is.
Once you find the birds that are diving on the bait, then you will know where the tarpon will be too. You can often see them blasting up through the middle of the schools becoming airborne. It is an amazing sight to see.
If the tarpon are out a little too for to cast your free lined live bait to, then add a weighted cork. Sometimes a couple extra ounces will help you get a smaller bait out to where the fish are. If you are already using a big mullet or ladyfish, then you are out of luck if you can't cast it far enough.
Learn more about how to catch a tarpon here.
The best time for live bait fishing off of the beach for tarpon is at sunrise or at sunset when the tide is high. The tarpon and other predators will usually have pushed any bait in the area up against the beach. That way you can cast to them.
If you have a boat, then getting at the tarpon isn't an issue when you target beach tarpon. All that you need is a day when the waves will let you get inside the sandbar to target those tarpon that are too far for surf casters to get at.
Sometimes that first sand bar is 100 yards off of the beach and the best beach fisherman in the world won't be able to get a live bait out that far. Those tarpon are just out of reach.
Tarpon Fishing with Live Bait around Bridges
Tarpon can be found around structure like bridges and docks if there is bait there. This is especially true at night if the bridges and docks are well lit. There are tarpon around during the day and night around structures that hold a lot of food for them.
Predators like structure. It is as simple as that. Underwater structures hold little fish which in turn attracts bigger fish and eventually big predators like tarpon come to eat those fish. That's how the ocean food chain works.
Bridges and docks are great places to target tarpon with live bait. Bridges are usually deep because big boats have to be able to go under them. Tarpon like to be near deep channels. They don't always hunt in deep channels but they like to be close to them.
They might run up on a grass flat, sand bar, mud flat.... that is only 3 feet deep if there is food for them there. BUT they aren't going to stay there very long. That is what makes bridges such a great place to catch tarpon with live bait.
Tarpon like to let the current do the work for them and funnel food right into their hungry mouths. Bridge pilings do a wonderful job of this and they know it. Those tarpon are waiting for the tide to bring them crabs, mullet, ladyfish, threadfin herring, scaled sardines, shrimp...….
Any of those live baits mentioned above will catch some big tarpon if they are feeding in the area. You can free line these baits and let it swim with the tide to great effect. Sometimes a bobber is the way to go. You will have to try both to figure out what is working the best on that day.
WANT TO CATCH A TROPHY TARPON? Give us a call and BOOK YOUR KAYAK FISHING CHARTER TODAY!
Tarpon can be found around structure like bridges and docks if there is bait there. This is especially true at night if the bridges and docks are well lit. There are tarpon around during the day and night around structures that hold a lot of food for them.
Predators like structure. It is as simple as that. Underwater structures hold little fish which in turn attracts bigger fish and eventually big predators like tarpon come to eat those fish. That's how the ocean food chain works.
Bridges and docks are great places to target tarpon with live bait. Bridges are usually deep because big boats have to be able to go under them. Tarpon like to be near deep channels. They don't always hunt in deep channels but they like to be close to them.
They might run up on a grass flat, sand bar, mud flat.... that is only 3 feet deep if there is food for them there. BUT they aren't going to stay there very long. That is what makes bridges such a great place to catch tarpon with live bait.
Tarpon like to let the current do the work for them and funnel food right into their hungry mouths. Bridge pilings do a wonderful job of this and they know it. Those tarpon are waiting for the tide to bring them crabs, mullet, ladyfish, threadfin herring, scaled sardines, shrimp...….
Any of those live baits mentioned above will catch some big tarpon if they are feeding in the area. You can free line these baits and let it swim with the tide to great effect. Sometimes a bobber is the way to go. You will have to try both to figure out what is working the best on that day.
WANT TO CATCH A TROPHY TARPON? Give us a call and BOOK YOUR KAYAK FISHING CHARTER TODAY!
Tarpon Fishing with Live Bait by Mangroves
The mangroves are another great spot to target tarpon with live baits. This is especially true when those mangroves are lining man made saltwater canals and rivers with strong tides. Man made canals are usually very deep close to the banks. That is true with rivers with strong currents.
This is important because the tarpon can get right under the branches of the Red Mangrove Trees to search for food. They will prey upon the shrimp, crabs and fish that are hiding in the roots of the mangroves.
Many mangrove banks have a gentle sloping bottom that has them high and dry during the lower parts of the tide. The tarpon can only search for food during the higher parts of the tide under these conditions.
That is why I like man made canals and rivers with decent tides that cut the banks creating a steep drop off that the mangrove branches hang over. The tarpon can hunt this kind on set up on any tide. This means that I can hunt tarpon on any tide.
Learn more about the best lures for tarpon fishing here.
Live baits and dead baits are the best way to catch tarpon consistently. Yes. There are days when they will hit any lure that you can pitch to them, but they are often finnicky and suffer with severe cases of lock jaw.
My favorite way to catch tarpon along mangrove lines is with a live bait like a big shrimp, mullet or white bait under a float. The float lets you control the bait more effectively to keep it from tangling in the roots of the mangrove trees.
A float also impedes the mullet from escaping the attacking tarpon. I am always amazed that a mullet with a hook through its face or tail can still evade getting eaten by snook, tarpon and redfish. Adding a float will increase your hook up ratio by slowing down your live bait.
It is also important to use a long leader when catching them with live bait. The bobber will sometimes spook them away from your bait. I like to use 3 to 5 feet of leader for larger tarpon. The small ones are not usually as spooky and you can get away with 18 to 24 inches but the big ones are usually more wary.
Try to use as light of a leader as you can get away with. Tarpon have huge eyes and excellent eyesight. I typically try for tarpon in the 50 pound or less category so my leaders are from 30 to 50 pounds most of the time. If you are going for the big bruiser class of tarpon, then you might need 80 or 100 pound leaders.
Tarpon Fishing with Live Bait on Grass Flats
The grass flats during the higher parts of the tide are another great place to catch hungry tarpon. They will head to the flats to find food when there is enough water for them to feel comfortable.
A flat that was 2 feet deep might be 3 or 4 feet deep during high tide which gives them enough water to work with. A great place to find tarpon out on the flats is near a deeper cut or channel adjacent to the grass flats.
Tarpon like to be near a deep water area. They will run up into the shallow water to feed then retreat back to the deeper channels. Your job is to find bait and current adjacent to a deep channel.
It can be hard to figure out where all of the life is out on a big grass flat. You will want to look for feeding fish or diving birds usually. Sometimes the tarpon will be gulping in one area and you will see their silver sides reflecting in the sunlight.
The key to fishing the flats is avoiding dead zones. Most of the fish on a grass flat will be in the same area. This means if you catch one type of predator, then there will often be lots of predators there.
Your job is to keep moving until you find feeding fish. Once you start catching fish then you know that you are in the right spot. I like to drift the flats with the wind or tide with a free lined mullet. Tarpon love mullet. Once you start losing mullet to predators you can toss out your anchor for a while because you have now found feeding fish.
When you are drifting you can figure out what water depth the tarpon are in. Once you start catching fish make sure to note the water depth and try to stay in roughly that depth when drifting.
Watch the video below and catch more tarpon in tidal creeks.
The grass flats during the higher parts of the tide are another great place to catch hungry tarpon. They will head to the flats to find food when there is enough water for them to feel comfortable.
A flat that was 2 feet deep might be 3 or 4 feet deep during high tide which gives them enough water to work with. A great place to find tarpon out on the flats is near a deeper cut or channel adjacent to the grass flats.
Tarpon like to be near a deep water area. They will run up into the shallow water to feed then retreat back to the deeper channels. Your job is to find bait and current adjacent to a deep channel.
It can be hard to figure out where all of the life is out on a big grass flat. You will want to look for feeding fish or diving birds usually. Sometimes the tarpon will be gulping in one area and you will see their silver sides reflecting in the sunlight.
The key to fishing the flats is avoiding dead zones. Most of the fish on a grass flat will be in the same area. This means if you catch one type of predator, then there will often be lots of predators there.
Your job is to keep moving until you find feeding fish. Once you start catching fish then you know that you are in the right spot. I like to drift the flats with the wind or tide with a free lined mullet. Tarpon love mullet. Once you start losing mullet to predators you can toss out your anchor for a while because you have now found feeding fish.
When you are drifting you can figure out what water depth the tarpon are in. Once you start catching fish make sure to note the water depth and try to stay in roughly that depth when drifting.
Watch the video below and catch more tarpon in tidal creeks.
Tarpon Fishing with Live Bait in Tidal Creeks
I like catching tarpon in tight tidal creeks. It is very challenging to keep them out of the mangroves and to be stealthy enough to get right up on the tarpon. Sometimes the tarpon will jump right over my kayak as I am fighting them.
Tarpon are my favorite fish to catch for this reason. You never know what they will do once you hook one. Some will jump a half a dozen times. Others will head deep and just pull and pull. Tarpon are a very challenging fish to catch.
The mouths of the tidal creeks are usually the best place to target tarpon. The early mornings and late evenings are the best times to catch a good one.
Learn more about the best tackle for tarpon fishing here.
I love to troll a live mullet behind my kayak. This is a great way to find the feeding tarpon in a tidal creek setting. You will want to nose hook the mullet and paddle or pedal your kayak at a normal walking pace.
Slower is better usually. I will often go about the same speed that the tide is moving. So if the tide is moving you fast enough and in the right direction, you won't have to paddle at all. It usually doesn't work out that way but sometimes you might luck out.
Make sure to use a circle hook when trolling for tarpon. Tarpon are notoriously hard to get a good hook set with because of their bony mouth structure. The circle hook solves this problem by letting them hook themselves.
I put the rod in the rod holder with just enough drag to let the tarpon hook themselves but not so much that they will break the line. I just paddle away until I hear drag getting pulled. Then the fun begins.
PRO TIP: When you see a tarpon roll to take a gulp of air make sure to notice what way the bubbles are heading. If you pay attention to the bubbles, then you can pitch your live bait directly in the path of the tarpon.
You will want to lead the fish by 5 or 6 feet. This is a great way to catch tarpon with live bait. To do this you have to have one rigged and ready. It can be any type of live bait like fish, shrimp or even a crab but you only have a few seconds to get it out in front of the tarpon before it will be gone.
Conclusion:
Tarpon fishing with live baits is a blast. If you have never done it, then it is time to give it a go because tarpon are the best inshore fighting fish that there is.
Tarpon are a warm water fish and can be found throughout Southern waters in the hot summer months but as the water temperatures cool they will head south to the tip of Florida and the Caribbean.
The best time to catch tarpon in big numbers throughout Florida is August and September. Once the first cold fronts move through in October and November they will migrate south.
I hope that this article helps you catch more tarpon. You can get helpful articles to make you a better fishermen every week if you want them. Just sign up for our email list below.
Tarpon fishing with live baits is a blast. If you have never done it, then it is time to give it a go because tarpon are the best inshore fighting fish that there is.
Tarpon are a warm water fish and can be found throughout Southern waters in the hot summer months but as the water temperatures cool they will head south to the tip of Florida and the Caribbean.
The best time to catch tarpon in big numbers throughout Florida is August and September. Once the first cold fronts move through in October and November they will migrate south.
I hope that this article helps you catch more tarpon. You can get helpful articles to make you a better fishermen every week if you want them. Just sign up for our email list below.
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