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Everglades Tarpon Fishing
Everglades National Park, FL
For the fly rodder in Everglades, tarpon really means one thing....sleepers. Big ones, and in the spring (March through June), when the conditions are right...lots of them. Many are well over a hundred pounds. They come into the 10,000 Islands to rest in the calm lagoons and feed on the mullet and crabs that live there. 
Loafing in the sunshine, they are often plainly visible and within easy range of a well-placed fly. Tarpon lie motionless at these times, just below the surface and many people say they are asleep. They do appear that way, but they also appear to be lazy and fearless, at the top of the food chain and bored. Teasing one of these giants into striking a fly is something everyone that fishes with a fly rod should experience. Let's go wake one up! Ten and twelve weight fly rods are about right, see the side bar for more information on rigging.
That's Tim Dandt in the photo on the left with an Everglades sleeper.
Tarpon are cyclical, just like every other creature in nature. There are great seasons, average seasons and slow seasons. One of the best years we had we jumped over a hundred giants, other seasons something less, it can be unpredictable. There are always some tarpon in the Everglades, these are fish that don't migrate, we call them 'residents,' and you can encounter a few of these fish anytime you're on the water, you might not target them specifically in the winter season but you might encounter one while fishing for reds or snook. We jumped an eighty pound fish last Friday, January 8, on a six weight! The 'season,' the Grand Migration begins in late February and schools of giants will move in and out of the Everglades backcountry until the first of July. Tarpon fishing is by no means over though, just a little different. By July the spawning period is over and the fish change their behaviour, staying closer to the beaches and coastal flats, we fish for them all summer and into October.....more coming...
"Hold your fire..."
All I could think was 'is he kidding?' as a double digit class snook lurked along the mangroves, oblivious to us just thirty feet from the bow of the boat.
Ned said, "He'll spook the tarpon when you catch him."
Sure enough, just a few minutes later, and a hundred feet down the bank, Ned pointed out a laid up tarpon that was quite interested in our fly and provided us with a flurry of mudsplattering jumps and tremendous runs into the mazes of mangroves. After landing that first tarpon on the fly with Captain Ned, I knew I was with a truly dedicated tarpon hunting guide.
Before that first trip with Ned, I had watched dozens of fly fishing shows, read an assortment of fishing reports, and heard repeatedly how special the sight fishing in the Everglades could be. All I wanted to do was to just have an opportunity to see and have a chance at a laid up tarpon. After a number of reccommendations from fellow fly fishermen, (and even several guides,) I knew Captain Ned was the guide for me. Now after several trips with Ned, I can honestly say that he has provided the most spectacular days of sight fishing for tarpon I could ever imagine. We've seen hundreds of rolling tarpon in back lakes, cruising tarpon around points and bars, and, of course, all the laid up tarpon in and around the mangroves I could ever have hoped for. All I can say is you've got to see it to believe it. What is even more amazing to me than the sheer number of fish Ned has put me on, is the fact that every spot we tried had tarpon! Clearly Captain Ned has spent his time tracking these fish, understands their habits, and more importantly, knows their whereabouts throughout the season. All of his hard work and time on the water means more opportunities for you to succeed.
If you are interested in a quality, low stress, tarpon hunting and sight fishing trip, I can highly reccommend Captain Ned. I can't wait until next year.....
Russell D. Briggs, M.D.
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Jim Ressmeyer on his first trip in the Everglades.