The Indian River lagoon system is a fantastic place to fish year round. Several of the most sought after game fish can be caught here, including Snook, Trout, Redfish, Tarpon, Flounder and Sharks.
Table of Contents
How do you get a tarpon in the Indian River?
What is the best month to fish tarpon in Florida?
The best time to fish for large migratory tarpon in the Florida Keys is when the water temperatures reach and stay above seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit. That can be as early as mid-March, but usually equates to late March to as late as early April. May is all safe as well as most of June.
Where is the best place to tarpon fish in Florida?
Islamorada. The Florida Keys remain the most popular tarpon-fishing destination on the planet, and Islamorada is the fishery’s epicenter. Anglers target giant tarpon around the bridges with live bait and conventional tackle. Fly fishermen stalk the flats and shallow “lakes” sight-fishing for giant fish.
What is the best bait for Indian River?
Shrimp and small bait fish are perfect baits. Soft plastic jerkbaits and topwaters work well, too. There are many areas to wade; the key is finding an area that isn’t too soft to move around in. Search for bait and a hard sandy bottom.
What fish are biting in the Indian River?
As such the seagrass beds offer some of the most productive and exciting fishing opportunities in the lagoon system, particularly during the summer baitfish season when reds, seatrout, snook, tarpon, and other species are chasing the schools of juvenile finger mullet that crowd the flats each summer through fall.
What’s the best bait for tarpon?
The best baits for tarpon are chunks of ladyfish or mullet on the bottom or a live mullet or pin fish during under a popping cork during the first two hours after sunrise. The best lures for tarpon are 5 to 8 inch white paddle tails with 1/2 to one ounce jig heads or DOA Big One Terror Eyz.
Do tarpon bites hurt?
What is this? It’s relatively safe to feed tarpon by hand because unlike many large fish, Tarpon don’t have sharp teeth. Rather, their mouths are the consistency of sandpaper. Their bite hurts a bit – I got a good scrape from one massive “hit” which bled a little – but it didn’t stop me going back for more.
Is tarpon good eating?
Tarpon are rarely eaten because their flesh is filled with small, hard to clean bones. In the United States, the tarpon usually is caught for sport — and then released. As a bony, strong-smelling saltwater fish, it may be more trouble than pleasure to eat.
Can you eat fish from Indian River?
Fish in the St. Lucie River and Indian River Lagoon in Martin County contain the blue-green algae toxin microcystin, but in levels low enough they’re safe to eat — occasionally and in moderate amounts.
Do you need a fishing license to fish Indian River in Florida?
Anyone freshwater fishing, saltwater fishing and/or hunting in Florida must possess a valid freshwater fishing license, saltwater fishing license, and/or hunting license excluding those entitled to exemptions.
Is the Indian River in Florida saltwater?
The Indian River is not a river at all, but, more precisely, an estuary and a lagoon. It is a place where saltwater (from the ocean) and freshwater (from the mainland) meet to form brackish water. The saltwater comes from the ocean through inlets like the Sebastian Inlet.
What is the best time of year for tarpon fishing?
The best time for fishing is May to June, and that’s when people from throughout the world come and catch Tarpon. The flats that surround Crystal River and Homosassa Bay are packed full of huge Tarpon. Another good place to fish during June and summer is Apalachicola Bay.
What is the tarpon Capital of the world?
As most know, Boca Grande is known internationally for being the tarpon capital of the world.
What is the best time of day to catch tarpon?
Early morning is a great time to fish for tarpon. Because tarpon are mostly nocturnal feeders, lowlight conditions are the best times to target these fish. Most of the fishing charters will get out on the water before first light to make sure you are on the spot just as it is getting light out.
What fish are running in Indian River Inlet?
Fish you will find in the inlet: striped bass, sea trout, bluefish, seabass, tautog, flounder.
What is biting at Indian River Inlet?
Bloodworms, FishBite bloodworms and cut bait will do the job. Keep your rig moving across the bottom for best results. The Delaware Bay reef sites hold kings, triggerfish, flounder, croaker and spot. Clams, squid, live minnows and bloodworms all produce here.
What fish are biting in Titusville Florida?
The Titusville Inshore fishing is one of the most popular thing to do in Titusville. With Bays, Beaches the Titusville area has a lot going on. The fish caught inshore are redfish, snook, tarpon, sea trout, shark, cobia and others. Something everyone should experience once when visiting the area.
Are there lobsters in the Indian River Lagoon?
Can I eat fish from Indian River Lagoon?
Review the list of water bodies in this brochure to learn which fish can be consumed regularly and which should be avoided. Do not eat puffer fish caught in the Indian River Lagoon and from waters in Volusia, Brevard, Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin Counties.
What’s biting in Titusville Florida?
The inlet is holding a hot Snook (Snook, Common) bite into this week. Monster Bluefish are also around. They are New Jersey Bluefish holding up here and they are up to 20 pounds in big schools which is rare for the area.
What is Tarpons favorite food?
While juvenile tarpon are planktivorous, adult tarpon are strictly carnivorous and mostly feed on mid-water prey such as mullets, pinfish, marine catfishes, Atlantic needlefish, sardines, shrimp, and crabs. Tarpon feed during both day and night.
What size hooks for tarpon?
A 5/0 hook is the best size hook for catching tarpon. That hook size is perfect for hooking all of the tarpon’s favorites like finger mullet or large threadfin herring, ladyfish, pin fish, crabs or silver and striped mullet without affecting their swimming abilities too much.
Will tarpon eat dead bait?
Dead bait, yes that’s right, dead fishing bait for Tarpon can at times be the most effective way to Tarpon fish. At times throughout the day it may be the only way to productively fish for them. It takes a lot of dead bait to be really effective.
What is the largest tarpon ever caught?
The all-tackle world record (additionally certified as the 80-pound class record) for a giant tarpon is 286-pounds, 9-ounces caught by Max Domecq in Rubane, Guinea-Bissau, Africa on March 20, 2003.