Tarpon Springs Fishing Charters & Guides

Tarpon Springs Fishing Charters

Sometimes it is obvious why certain places have the name they do. Tarpon Springs, FL, is one of those. Settlers who originally moved here were amazed by the sheer number of silver kings that cruised the shallow waters of the creeks and bayous. Tarpon Springs is also unusual, but not unique, in that it offers superb freshwater fishing as well as saltwater fishing. Lake Tarpon, on the east side of town, is freshwater. Tarpon Springs fishing charters can take you either place. The community is also famed for the Greek influence. Coming from a similar climate in the Mediterranean, the Greeks felt right at home. They brought their culture, which included food and diving for natural sponges. Both of these influences are still found here. In other words, this is a great place for the whole family to visit.

Tarpon Springs Freshwater Fishing

Since Lake Tarpon is freshwater, it holds largemouth bass. The world record bass caught by George Perry is thought to be a Florida strain bucketmouth. The more recent tie for the world record, caught in Japan, and other contenders for the title are Florida-strain or Florida hybrids. Does a world record cruise these waters today? Hard to say, but double-digit fish are there. If you want one of these wall-hangers, you'll need heavy bass tackle and appropriately sized lures and baits. Big live shad, also called shiners, is the surest way to land a lunker. Striped bass also inhabit these waters. Stripers can get much bigger than largemouth. The lake is also home to a healthy panfish population. These easy-to-catch fish are perfect for introducing children to the sport of fishing. They also make great table fare. Florida's generous possession limits for panfish means kids can keep what they catch and enjoy them at supper. A good bream pole, some worms, crickets or minnows is all you need for these fish.

Tarpon Springs Inshore Fishing

With a name like Tarpon Springs, tarpon lead the list of top inshore fish. The silver kings are voracious predators. Live blue crabs, pinfish and mullet will attract attention from the big ones. For some people, landing one on a fly is the ultimate challenge. If that's your thing, you need a nine-weight rod, a reel with at least 200 yards of backing and big flies in baitfish, crab and shrimp patterns. You can also find snook, trout and reds all over the place. When the Anclote River turns brackish, snook are found in the main channels and bite best when there is current. Use big lures. Bucktails can be tipped with bait or soft-bodied lures for more action. Live bait like menhaden, mullet, or sardines will draw strikes from reluctant fish. Redfish will gather in numbers along the banks and off the points of islands in the river. A bit further out, you'll find speckled trout. Both fish hit a variety of hard and soft-bodied lures, but the best is a life-like artificial shrimp. If the water is murky, add a popping cork to attract their attention. You can also use shrimp, live and cut bait under the cork. Mangrove snapper are found along the edges in the tree limbs, roots and other structures. Cast jigs, swimbaits and the fake shrimp lures as close as you can to the underwater obstructions. The three barrier islands just west of Tarpon Springs are excellent places to fish for reds, trout, snapper and tarpon.

Tarpon Springs Offshore Fishing

Out in the Gulf of Mexico, you can find pelagics and reef-dwellers that will test your mettle as an angler. The two options for offshore fishing are trolling and finding reefs to drop a line straight over the gunwale. Trolling will catch mahi mahi, tuna, sailfish, king mackerel, wahoo and even grouper and amberjacks when the lure is pulled behind a downrigger past a reef. Always keep two or three rods rigged with big bucktails. If you find a school of mahi mahi, then grab a bucktail and cast to the fish. As long as you keep one on the line, the rest should hang around. When you find a reef or a shipwreck, it is time to drop lines. Live bait is best. You can get bait in the same place you are fishing with a bait chaser or Sabiki rig. If you don't have bait, jigging also brings fish up from the bottom.

Book A Tarpon Springs Fishing Charter

Tarpon Springs fishing charters are ready to put you on fish, from largemouth bass up the river to silver kings inshore and a variety of inshore to offshore species. Ready to make some memories? FishAnywhere is here to connect you with the charter captains who make that happen.