Miami Tarpon Fishing on the Fly
By Fishing Only in Tarpon Fishing, Fly Fishing
For those seeking the ultimate tarpon thrill, nothing compares to catching one on fly. And Miami’s skilled fly-fishing guides can turn newcomers into successful tarpon fishermen in one day.
Look for the best opportunities on a mild or calm, cold day after a front passes. That’s when tarpon are easiest to cast to, says Capt. Louis Cruc. From late winter to early spring, "It’s nothing to see as many as 70 pods working in every direction off Fowey Light," says Cruc, who likes to begin his fishing day with the tide change during early morning.
"Between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m., there’s almost no wind," says Cruc. "The surface is often slick, making it easy to spot rolling fish, but tough to cast a fly without spooking the fish. From about 8:00 a.m. to mid-morning, you don’t see as many fish on the surface because, once the wind comes up and tide comes in, more oxygen in the water means the fish don’t have to gulp air as much."
This creates a challenge for the tarpon fisherman trying to sight-cast to tarpon and makes an experienced guide invaluable. Once Cruc gets an idea of the direction of movement and where the fish likely will surface, he instructs his client where to cast.
"You have to anticipate where the fish will be and position the fly so it is ready to strip as soon as the fish shows. Ideally, you want to make a head-on shot at the fish by placing the fly about 30 feet in front of the fish."
A common tendency is to start stripping and working the fly too soon, but you want to avoid that, says Cruc. "You have to tell yourself to wait, to let the fly sit until the fish breaks water before starting to strip it." Often, Cruc adds, the lead fish will pass up the fly. The second fish is the one that usually turns and grabs it. Then hold on for a real fight!
Miami is full of shallow-water fly-fishing opportunities. In addition to tarpon, fly fishermen can also find 3- to 9-pound bonefish, permit and redfish on Miami’s flats.
