Tarpon from a Kayak–Anybody doing/done regularly?

[p.j. petiniot]

With the kayak talk going on, I was just wondering if any of the IA gang is doing or has done any fishing from a Kayak with Tarpon as the target species?

I would like to target Ooompa Loompa tarpon, but I have no desire to get my ass handed to my by very large tarpon from a yak, as I have had plenty of that from a skiff, and my feelings are still hurting;)

P.J.

[Bob Riggins]

Yes.

[Bob Riggins]

A bunch of us target tarpon out of kayaks in the Tampa Bay area.  Mostly it involves sitting out in the Gulf waiting for something to happen, but when you get one on, it is hard core pandemonium.

The real key to being successful is preparation.  Of course you have to have the right rod and reel.  I usually use a 12wt for tarpon and shark, with a good shock leader.  I use a 16# tarpon leader from a kayak in case I need to break them off.

You need a good stable kayak, preferably with a rudder (I don’t have a rudder on mine), a comfortable life jacket, a drift chute and a buddy in another kayak.  Never target them alone.  The life jacket should be worn for obvious reasons.  The drift chute keeps you from ending up in Cuba.  The buddy in the other kayak serves several purposes.  First as a safety precaution in case things get out of hand; second, as additional drag by tying onto the back of your kayak (make sure you have a quick release line); third, as a tow boat when you are reviving the tarpon; and forth, to keep an eye out for big sharks that like to eat hooked tarpon.

I wouldn’t suggest it unless you have some experience catching and landing larger reds and snook from a kayak.  Poor technique can get you in trouble real quick.

[Scott K.]

This is fascinating.

[Bob Riggins]

There is actually two types of tarpon fishing, backwater fishing for baby tarpon and fishing in the Gulf for big tarpon.

[Scott K.]

If you are posted up on a point, bar or whatever, it can get rough even on a skiff sitting and watching for them.  I stand in my kayak a fair amount doing striper and carp, with and without pontoons, and cannot imagine doing it on somewhat open water.   I guess, though, if you are tossing at rollers you’re doing it when the wind is down, the water is slick and the waves are way less than the 2+ feet that I initially imagined when you said gulf.  

Doing ocean-side stuff in a kayak is sort of fascinating, mostly because I’d think that unless you have a consistent string of rollers or you have a high sun and sandy bottom, it would be tough to see them far enough away to have an incoming, as opposed to outgoing, shot.   That would be tough, and fun, fishing.

I’ve thought about trying to go it alone down there on a yak, but have always decided that not living by the salt has its price, and that price is paying a guide as opposed to investing the time to beat the learning curve.  However, it is still really interesting to me.

[p.j. petiniot]

Thanks guys.

[Author]

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