Suspending or gliding crankbaits are the way to go! We were using the storm jointed and the gliding rap in combination with a Hogy soft plastic bait that we picked up in Florida. Along the bridges in the Keys in the afternoon the Tarpon seemed to follow and not chomp the cranks...drop a 10" Hogy on them they hit every time! Also deadly for Snook, Jacks and everything else that swimming...have fun so jealous!!
Get yourself some small crabs from around the area at night. With a pair of pliers, pull off the pincers but leave them alive. put a barbless hook though the outer edge of the shell. Cast them out and let them run around on the bottom. Drives the Tarpon crazy! This technique was demonstrated on the show "fishing the flats" if you want to search the episode.
When I was in Key West, I used a big fresh cut fillet from a small baracuda on a large circle hook, threw it out in the current to drift with a large float with the bait down around 5' caught a tarpon over 100 lbs what a blast. I also caught a nurse shark using this set up. Have fun!
I should have worded that differently. From what I was told fresh bait works noticeably better then cut bait. This is just what I was told though, it could be a load of bs for all I know.
All I know is that as soon as I caught a baracuda, which I was targeting to use as bait, I filleted it immediatly with the skin on put it ona a very large circle hook and threw it out with my rig ASAP. Worked like a charm! First Tarpon I hooked was a giant and I will never forget it hehe
Anyone have a favorite tarpon plug / lure
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