Phil,
Yes it is a challange to catch the big tarpons at for instance Sandy Point. The first 5 days and last 2 days of our beautiful holiday we stayed at the Sandy Point Village appartments (they were much better than we expected and next time we will most probably go back to these appartments), so I have fished a lot (and watched a lot) with the flyrod a this place.
Perhaps also interesting to know - although I only fished at tarpon at this place - is that in the evening at the lights near the yetties big snooks are cruising in the shallow waters and by big I mean really big (between 70 - 90 cm) snooks.
Before our holiday I thought big flies can perhaps make a change, but now...
Make your flies the size the baitfish are (+/- 10 cm) en not too thick!! Just small flies, best colours, blue-black-white and some spranckle. But some other colours will be also ok. They like clousers more than the normal tarpon flies, I think the eyes of a clouser gives some vibration that attracts the tarpon.
Look at the holes in the black big scools. I do not know of you can understand me, but if you are there you will
)
Casting your flyline wherever you want is important. Almost all my hookups and followers where in 5 seconds after I saw a fish diving through the surface.
Although they are there... most of the time tarpon is just cruising through the baitschools. in 90% of the cases they really hunt if you see them in the surface. (they just cruise and the real hunt starts with a fast action towards the surface)
If you see small fish jumping it is most of the times no tarpon. In my opinion then the red snapper are hunting from the bottom to the surface and sometimes Horseye jacks.
If you have the time book a trip by King David (Sammy - what a great guy and a beautyful smile -if you do - give him my greetings - the flycaster from Holland
)
A tarpon hooked is completely different than a tarpon catched....I have hooked several big tarpons between 20-50 LB, but catched no big ones (only small ones untill the size of 70-80cm - babies)...so i will come back!! A norwegian guy and a Danish guy had the same experience.
These flies have been succesfull...
Take your flyrod with you, otherwise you will miss him
)
Edwin
Ps. I will finish this posting with the words from Sammy, Edwin - next time - JAAAAAACK them, even harder than you think you can!!! (We - Europeans - are not used to this kind of fishery - always a bit frightened of the strength of FluorCarbon / Nylon - dont be - use 100 / 130 pounds Nylon and JACK THEM!!
