Daylight Techniques: For cuts, passes, or deeper channel ledges, use either Berkley Gulp or Power Bait 4" Pogies or Shrimp, depending upon the targeted forage- either crustaceans or smaller bait fish. Other options can include the new Berkley Powerbait pre rigged mullet or pre rigged shrimp in various sizes. These baits should be fished in the section of the water column where the tarpon are staging. Typically the best feeding zone is near the bottom, and the most productive technique involves the baits mentioned in a ‘dredging’ presentation – either with the pre rigged, weighted versions, or the standard, unrigged baits being fished on jigheads varying from ¾ oz to 2 ounces, dependant upon the depth and current speed .

• Rod: Fenwick Inshore Live Bait rods 7 to 8’/ 25 to 40 lb class
• Reel: Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 7000 and 9000 Big Game series
• Line: Stren Duratuf 30 to 40 lb class
• Leader: Stren Tinted Fluorocarbon Leader – 80 to 100 lb

Nocturnal Techniques: Tarpon are more nocturnal in activity so they can be targeted in several areas and in different fashions including the ocean inlets, cuts, passes and basins with deep presentations involving heavy jigheads and Berkley Gulp! 4" Shrimp or Pogies.

They can be also be fished around docks, bridges and seawalls with good lighting, and a resulting shadow line. The tarpon in this case will hold in the top 5 feet of the water column and can be easily targeted on the upcurrent shadow lines using either the Berkley Powerbait shrimp or the Berkley PowerBait or Gulp Jerkshad in a weightless fashion. Tackle can vary in these cases, with the deeper method using the same tackle as suggested in daylight techniques.

However, for nocturnal shadow line presentations, a large spinning outfit is recommended for added casting distance with lighter baits.

• Rod- Fenwick Inshore 7 ½ to 8’ spinning series (14 – 20 lb class)
• Reels- Abu Garcia Cardinal 807 spinning reel
• Line- Either Stren Duratuf mono in 17 to 20 lb, or Stren Superbraid in 20 to 30 lb.
• Leader- Stren Tinted Fluorocarbon leader material ranging from 40 to 60 lb class.