When the conditions are too windy for long periods of time, some people need to fish to fulfill their addiction….especially for the Tarpon junkies out there. Tarpon fishing on fly can be one of the most addictive things on earth and we only get to target them a few months out of the year in my area during their migration. There is a way to get your Tarpon fix if you go to the right place at the right time, in my case it’s just a short drive inland. It is also the cheapest way to catch Tarpon on fly….you don’t need high end flyfishing equipment, and you don’t need a super expensive skiff, just an old pair of sneakers and any kind of 5 or 6 weight rod since these fish only range from 5-15lbs. Early morning or late afternoons are the best times to target these little poons and you can find them in some ditches or canals that line the rivers and lagoon systems. Any kind of fly that mimics a small minnow will work. We have caught them on browns, blacks, whites, and chartreuse patterns. Since the water is dark and dirty most of the time, you can’t see the fish underwater, the best way to catch one is to wait for the fish to roll and cast to the bubbles.
Dominic Agostini got me into the ditch fishing thing, at first I thought it sounded boring catching small Tarpon but with a 5wt it can be a blast! Dominic has all the lighter flyfishing equipment from when he used to live up north and fish little streams so I would always use his stuff. This type of fishing is only to get your Tarpon fix, so only an hour or two before or after work is enough to get you by until the winds calm down and you can take your expensive skiff out with your high end 11-12wt flyfishing equipment and get you that 100-150lb+ Tarpon that you’ve been waiting all year to catch and release.
Capt. Willy Le
321-303-7805
nativeflycharters@gmail.com
