Type of trip
Migratory or Resident Fish
There is a big difference between fishing resident fish hanging in the everglades, fishing ocean side tarpon, and many options in between. Resident fish tend to be more difficult to find and sight fish. They also often come in a wider variety of sizes sitting together. Most migratory fish will be in a more consistent size range (kind of depends on where exactly you fish them) and will be more easily patterned with the tides and winds. They also show up in different places. Resident fish are most often fished in some sort of backwater locale. While migratory with are found cruising shallow water on beaches of moving through travel channels to migrate to spawning areas.
My preferred way to fish tarpon is targeting migratory fish off the beach April-July. To me, seeing a fish coming from as far as 100 yards away and knowing it’s going to give you an opportunity to feed it is as exciting as fishing comes. If you’re dreaming of a laid up fish in a backwater setting like the everglades I’m not your guy. Understanding what you’re looking for will certainly help you narrow down where you should be fishing and who you should be fishing with.
Sight Fishing or Dredging
Do you want a few highly visible shots at fish in a day? Or do you want to cast a whole bunch knowing that you’re around fish? Or maybe a little bit of both?
Sight fishing involves only casting to fish you see. Somedays there are a lot of fish you can see. Somedays there are zero. It just depends on the conditions, location, and part of the season. You have to be okay with the idea that there may be few opportunities if you choose to sight fish.
Dredging involves blind casting a fly into an area where there are lots of fish around but they are deep, or in dirty water, or both. Dredging in most scenarios is low odds fishing as the fly has to get in front of a fish. You have to fish all day for a bite or two. And you have to be okay with power fishing a heavy rod, heavy line, and a big fly. That’s demanding physically and mentally in a different way than sight fishing as your focus and strength must be high for when you get the bite.
Different guides and different location have differing demands. You might want to ask the guide what a typical shot looks like and what tackle you’ll be using, as well as whether most of your opportunities come by way of sight fishing or blind casting.
Demands of a skiff
Standing on a skiff all day fishing migratory fish is not easy. Understanding the type of boat you will be running can easily make or break your day. Some tarpon guides have a cage, lean bar, stool, or something of the like. Some might expect you to stand on an open deck or on a casting platform. Be clear with what you’re comfortable with and what your prior experiences with a flats boat and saltwater fishing are. It’ll help the guide be prepared for you.
Location
Tarpon Hotspot or vacation with the family
What are the other demands of your trip? There’s not a whole lot to do besides fish if you’re with a guide in Chokoloskee, but in return you’ll likely run into less boat traffic. However if you’re bringing the family as well you might be better suited fishing in Tampa where you can catch a baseball game and go to the beach. Some fisheries are going to give you more shots than others. All of them are going to give you some kind of headache. It’s still tarpon fishing no matter where you go. Tarpon fishing isn’t complete without a headache or two.
Guide
Developing anglers vs fish oriented guides
Do you need a guide who doesn’t mind an inexperienced angler? Some guides are okay with teaching casting techniques and helping anglers develop during trips. Some guides just want to steer you to a fish and that’s it. It’s important to be upfront with your guide about your experience so you can find out what their expectations are prior to you taking the first shot. If you need someone who is going to help you learn and develop then you might need to book a totally different guy than someone who has been around the block a few times.
Communication
Are you ok with how the guide wants to communicate? For instance, I won’t book a trip with a new client until – at minimum – I speak to them on the phone. Some guides might not even answer their phone and prefer email communication or text. Chances are if you don’t like how they communicate prior to the trip, you won’t like how it goes during the day.
Preparedness
Casting practice
No matter what tarpon trip you take, you need to be a proficient caster. Casting to small targets in all kinds of conditions will prepare you for your trip. It’s pretty easy to see from the poling platform whether or not someone has practiced for a trip. Typically anglers who practice regularly adapt much quicker to what the shot calls for than anglers who haven’t practiced much.
Physical Fitness
Again, standing on the bow of a skiff in big water is not easy. My anglers who are in good physical condition have much better days than guys who aren’t. It really doesn’t take much either. Most of my older clients who are in good shape do as little as going on a walk with their spouse every day. Anglers who can move and be on their feet will last much longer and take better advantage of shots throughout the day.
Fishing other species
I find a lot of guys who ask me how to get better just flat out don’t fish enough. If the only fishing you do is the 1-3 days a year you get on my skiff – then you’re going to be severely behind the eight ball when those fish start swimming. Chances are you live near some kind of fishing. Chasing bass and perch, rainbow trout, and redfish will all keep you more polished than sitting on the couch. Most folks miss the concept that just going fishing will better prepare you for many other kinds of fishing. Plus, bass fishing is kind of fun. Go have a good day with your local fish at your local body of water.
Weather/Other Options
Backup plan with crap weather?
If you book a trip 3+ months in advance there is a decent chance you’re going to run into weather that isn’t ideal. I’ve camped in the everglades 5 of the last 7 years. And out of those 5 years I’ve only gotten the weather I’d like to have once. And that was only 1 day of a 3 day trip. Dealing with weather on fishing trips is just how it goes. You need to be prepared to go fishing through wind, rain, heat, whatever really. It’s also helpful to understand backup plans. Are you Tarpon fishing or bust? Is there an option to chase juvenile tarpon or other gamefish if the weather hits a certain point? It’s likely that your guide isn’t going to have a whole lot of wiggle room to move your day back and forth. So what are you doing if plan A is unfishable? And are you okay with that?
Obviously I’m a tarpon guide and I’d love it if you booked a trip with me in Tampa this season or a later one down the road. I specialize in sight fishing migratory fish on the beaches. I hope to make every client become a better angler over the course of each trip and I am focused on doing that while you get quality shots at Tarpon. I want to earn your business, but it’s more important that you get the guide and the trip that’s right for you. I’m not everyone’s cup of tea. Nor is the fishery I choose to guide. I’d be happy to help point you in the right direction if that’s the case. Just because the trip and fishery I offer isn’t right for you now doesn’t mean it won’t be later.
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