Tarpon season this year was absolutely stunning considering that the weather only had us off the water a couple of days this season. Splitting my time up in between Homosassa and St. Joseph sound was a delight. Water temperatures were unusually warm for May, hovering in the mid 80’s and leaving me and a lot of other anglers with the impression that things were a little off, with the lack of fish beach side. Mother nature always prevails and the fish operate on a lunar schedule rather than a temperate one. Tarpon on the west central part of Florida spawn on the last moon in May and the two Lunar cycles in June. If water conditions and temperatures stay comfortable, a large amount of fish will continue to fluctuate through the area all the way through July and into August some years. The more active days being around the moons, translating to larger tidal cycles.
Fly Fishing for tarpon is a game of your ability to adapt to the fish. This years big ticket to success, was the clear sink tip as it kept the fly on plane, in a portion of the water column, that made it exceptionally easy for the fish the grab. A fly fished with a full floating fly line, especially when brought into the tide, has a tendency of elevating too much, making it too much work. All of this combined with a full fluorocarbon bite and butt section seemed to almost make the fish “giddy.”
Thank you to everyone who joined me this season and for your patience! It was an eventful one. Time to start counting down the days for next.
