Lake Tarpon Fishing Charters & Guides

Lake Tarpon, FL

Lake Tarpon is a 2,500 acre freshwater lake located right on the shores of Tarpon Springs, Florida, which is about 10 miles west of Tampa. It has a unique watershed that covers about 52 square miles, including its two largest tributaries: South Creek and Booker Creek. The lake also has been plagued in the past with an unwanted water source — a 100-plus foot deep sinkhole on the northwestern shore of the lake which has brought saltwater into the lake. Fortunately, an earthen dike has been built around the sinkhole and through careful management that threat to the lake has been minimized. There is also a large outfall canal on the southern end of the lake which helps manage water quality and is often also good for fishing.

Fishing Lake Tarpon

Before we go any further, let’s get one thing straight. There are no tarpon in Lake Tarpon. If there are, nobody’s caught one so far. But what is in the lake are largemouth bass. Lots of largemouth bass, many of them over 10 pounds. The lake also has really good bluegill and redear sunfishing, which delight families with plenty of action. There is also a healthy population of black crappie in the lake. And, there is one other thing. Reportedly, there is a large yet-to-be-identified “lake monster” in Lake Tarpon. It is nicknamed “Tarpie” and the locals tell tales of the 10-20 foot long reptile consuming lots of local wildlife and roaming the depths of the lake. The lake is heavily populated and with its proximity to Tampa. It’s a busy place, especially on the weekends. There are also a lot of bass tournaments on the lake and just about any type of watersport is enjoyed. There is one sailing club located on the lake and sailing, canoeing, kayaking and just taking leisurely rides on pontoon boats are regular pastimes of lake residents and visitors. Swimming is not encouraged because there is a large population of alligators in the lake. When it comes to catching largemouth bass, the most popular lures for years have been live wild shiners. The shiners are especially effective in the 2-3 inch range and fished along the edges of the grassbeds around the lake. The lake has many contour lines and the deeper holes in the lake usually have grassbeds around the edges. These areas are top spots for bass with shiners or artificial lures. Some of the best bass have been caught on big plastic lures fished slowly over the grass, or using a drop-shot type method along the edges of the aquatic vegetation. The lake held the Florida State Record for largemouth bass for many years and anglers that regularly fish here feel like that is possible again. While regulations are subject to change, the lake has a five fish limit and only one lunker over 22 inches long may be kept. Those kinds of strict regulations and a lot of voluntary catch-and-release anglers have helped keep the quality of fishing here a bit higher than the average lake. This lake is called the “Jewel of Pinellas County”, and it is not just because it is a great place to live, but because of the fishing. Bass anglers can also turn to the long stretches of weeds around the lake’s shorelines to catch plenty of bass. Cattail, bulrush (locally called buggy whips) and tape grass are good spots to try. Anglers find the most success where there are points, holes or some irregular feature in the grass where the fish can hide and try to pick off an easy supper. Lake Tarpon also has a large number of piers and boathouses which also offer great bass fishing structure. Anglers use crankbaits, buzzbaits and plastic worms to fish the wood structure that these docks provide. Often there are tops and other man-made fish attractants that hold fish in these areas as well.

Visiting Lake Tarpon

There are several marinas and fishing/boating supply businesses along the shores of Lake Tarpon, as well as overnight accommodations nearby. There are also numerous restaurants, grocery stores and fuel stations to meet angler’s needs. There is camping nearby, but not directly on the lake’s shores. Visitors can also make a quick trip from the lake to the Gulf Beach or a large number of tourist attractions and historical areas. One of the most popular beach areas is Clearwater Beach, noted for its beautiful views. There are also two modern county parks on the lake, the 225-acre John Chestnut Park and the 128-acre A.L. Anderson Park. There is also another park on the outfall canal offering 186 acres of recreational opportunity. Access for fishermen and boaters is available at all three parks.

Book A Lake Tarpon Fishing Charter

Visit any time of the year and the fishing will be good - but spring and summer are peak seasons. Bring the whole crew for a great day of Florida fishing! Find a local Lake Tarpon charter today and start your adventure.